Northern Grampians Shire residents can provide input into the future of Early Years services in the shire through a range of community engagement activities.
Feedback from these activities will help shape the Municipal Early Years Plan 2026-31, which will bring together local government, early years and community health services, schools and families under a shared vision for Northern Grampians Shire.
The plan will include provisions for the development and coordination of early years programs, activities and other local community support processes that affect children up to eight years of age across the municipality.
Mayor Karen Hyslop said the plan was designed to enable equitable access to quality early childhood opportunities, ensure early identification and intervention for developmental needs, and support families to provide strong and nurturing environments.
"This plan will help council to clearly identify future servicing needs based on real community insights," she said.
"These insights will help us to adequately plan for things such as facility and infrastructure management, people and programming resources, and health and social services that may involve industry partners.
"We want to ensure all children in our shire get a great start in life, have great childhoods and that parents and carers get the support they need. The development of the plan will help inform council's design of services as well as our advocacy to other levels of government."
The Municipal Early Years Plan 2026-31 will include plans for potential future community needs in areas such as antenatal care and support; immunisation programs; long day care programs; kindergarten and pre-prep; primary school; child health; and childhood education and learning.
Council has launched a community survey aimed at collecting anonymous insights from parents and carers of children aged up to eight years, along with early years professionals.
You can complete the survey online here or via hard copy at council's customer service offices and libraries in Stawell and St Arnaud, along with the Stawell Maternal and Child Health office.
At the end of the survey, there is an opportunity for participants to express interest in a one-on-one interview with council's planning partner, eQIPd.
Cr Hyslop said opportunities were limited and eQIPd would reach out to people who expressed interest at random.
"Council and eQIPd staff will also be available to answer questions at a range of drop-in sessions throughout the shire in mid-March," she said.
The sessions include:
Monday, March 16
10am to noon: Navarre Playgroup, Navarre Primary School, High Street, Navarre.
2.30pm to 3.30pm: St Arnaud Kindergarten Listening Post, outside St Arnaud Kindergarten, 8 Dunstan Street, St Arnaud.
3.30pm to 5pm: St Arnaud Early Learning Centre Listening Post, outside St Arnaud Early Learning Centre, 7/3 Walker Street, St Arnaud.
Tuesday, March 17
10am to noon: Stawell Playgroup - Babies and Crawlers, Stawell Neighbourhood House, 42 Sloane Street, Stawell.
Wednesday, March 18
10.30am to noon: Stawell Playgroup - Babies and Crawlers, Stawell Neighbourhood House, 42 Sloane Street, Stawell.
Friday, March 20
10am to noon: St Arnaud Playgroup, St Arnaud and District Lawn Tennis Club, 17-23 Melbourne Road, St Arnaud.
Project leaders will host a workshop for regional early years professionals in Stawell on Wednesday, March 18, which will involve further discussion of some of the insights and themes garnered via the community survey.
The workshop will be from 5pm to 6.30pm at Stawell Town Hall.
Registrations will be required and the registration link will be available on council's website and Facebook pages in the near future.
"We encourage people to participate in this community engagement period, as it is vital we hear directly from families, parents, caregivers and the professionals who work alongside children and families to ensure the plan is shaped by lived, local experiences," Cr Hyslop said.
"The early years are critical for lifelong development, and your experiences and insights will directly inform our Municipal Early Years Plan.
"Together, we can ensure every child and family in Northern Grampians has what they need to thrive."
You can visit the Early Years' Have Your Say webpage, here.
