Service Development

In the light of social change and emerging research evidence, there is growing recognition of the need to reconfigure services for young children and their families so as to achieve better outcomes.

In facilitating this process, CCCH promotes the establishment of community partnership groups involving services and community members, agreeing on common outcomes, gathering information about local circumstances and needs, and developing action plans involving evidence-based strategies.

Current projects

Title	Year	Description
Linking Schools and Early Years Project (LSEY)	2007-2012	With funding from The R.E. Ross Trust, the Linking Schools and Early Years Project is working with schools, early years services and the community in three sites in Victoria to develop new models of working collaboratively to ensure that all children enter the formal education system ready to engage and develop. The project aims to ensure that schools are prepared for children of all abilities and backgrounds when they first attend, and that families, services and communities are ready to support the development of children.
Australian Early Development Index: Building Better Communities for Children	2004-Ongoing	The Australian Early Development Index: Building Better Communities for Children is a national program which provides communities with a population measure of children's developmental progress as they enter school. Based on teacher completed checklists, the AEDI assists communities to understand how their children are doing in crucial areas of development such as language and communication, emotions, behaviour and social competence. The AEDI provides a basis for reviewing the services, supports and environments that influence children in their first five years of life. Visit the Australian Early Development Index website
Platforms	2003-Ongoing	Platforms is a set of research-based practical resources which have been developed to assist communities to refocus services for children and families.

Completed projects

Title	Year	Description
Good Beginnings Resource Development	2003-2004	Best practice resource and training for Good Beginnings programs around engaging with communities and an antenatal program for fathers.
Parenting Information Project	2003-2004	Research undertaken to identify what parenting information and programs are currently available in Australia, what parents want, and at what transition points.

Last Updated 27-Oct-2009. Authorised by: Frank Oberklaid. Enquiries: Penny Miller.