From ambition to reality

Future directions in Early Childhood and the Maternal and Child Health ReviewMAV Human Services Directors’ Forum24 April 2013

Improving the quality of

education for all

Positively engaged young

people

Safe and resilient families

More positive outcomes

Early Years Primary SecondaryEarly intervention and prevention from pre-birth, until children grow up to become parents themselves

Youth work: active, engaged, informed, prepared, safe, healthyKeeping children safe when necessary

Post-16

Positively engages with excellent teaching throughout primary and

secondary school

Range of positive

activities outside the classroom

Great start in Early Years – arrives at school ready to

learn

Vulnerable people supported to develop

independence and social networks

Excellent post-16 provision

Early intervention and prevention: identifies children at risk of negative outcomes, works with

the whole family, and addresses the situation accordingly

Support provided to families before birth where

needed Additional support

needs identified early

Age

Moving to the top tier – developing an Early Childhood Strategic Plan

Purpose• Improve outcomes for children• Make sure children and families are

best able to benefit from services to achieve this

• Clarify the state government’s strategic priorities in coming years

Scope• Period up to 8 years of age• Focus on services in the portfolio of

children and early childhood development

• Relationships with local government• Interface across state government • Advocacy with federal government

Victoria should aim to be globally in the top-tier for children’s learning, health and development outcomes. Victoria should be the best place to raise a child and for children to grow up.

Where are we at? Where do we want to be?

We have many strengths:• AEDI indicates 4 in 5 children are

developmentally on track at entry to school (across 5 domains)

• High participation in MCH• High participation in Early Childhood

Education • Substantial reform through early

childhood national partnership agreements is challenging but progressing well

• Increasing the local evidence base about ‘what works’

We also have 3 key challenges:

1. Strengthening the quality of early childhood services

2. Earlier and better support for the most vulnerable

3. Integrating systems and services

Focus areas

• High quality early childhood learning and health services

• Taking the next steps with the early childhood workforce

• A positive home environment

• Sustained support for vulnerable children and families

• Improved support for children with disabilities and developmental delays

• Supporting local government in early childhood provision

• Integrating early childhood services and practice

• Working nationally to clarify roles and responsibilities

• Building community capacity to respond to children’s needs

Improving the quality and responsiveness of

services

Earlier and better support for those who

need it most

Seamless and cohesive early

childhood sector

A sector-wide Outcomes Framework

An outcomes framework for all children can support: • services and communities to be rigorously outcomes-

focused• a shared approach for improving outcomes for children• the delivery of measurable improvements for all

children• high quality identification of, and early intervention for,

all children who need additional help• monitoring of changes in children’s outcomes

Early Childhood Outcome Framework – Four Inter-related Domains

Children:

• are born healthy

• receive nutrition, care, time for play and rest

• are increasingly responsible for their health

• are supported when ill

Being Healthy

Children:

• are connected, included & contribute to their world

• develop empathy & can establish and sustain relationships

• develop a sense of culture and identity

• are valued and inform decisions

Building Wellbeing

Children:

• are confident & involved learners

• develop skills for life & learning

• engage with quality education & achieve positive outcomes

• are effective communicators

Learning & Developing

Children’s:

• environments are nurturing, safe and secure

• neighbourhoods are child friendly

Children:

• are environmentally-responsible

• are protected from harm

Staying Safe

ConsultationExpert Advisory Group

Experts across a range of disciplines providing high-level advice and guidance

Whole-system event

Will bring together key stakeholders, including parents, services providers and local government

Discussion Paper

Will provide stimulus to facilitate broader stakeholder submissions and conversation

Targeted stakeholder discussions

Victorian Children’s Council, Early Childhood Development Advisory Group, Municipal Association of Victoria

MCH Review: Links with the EC Strategic PlanThe MCH Review work will be consistent with the Early Childhood Strategic Plan

A number of issues identified as part of this work will be considered by the MCH Review including:

• The need to embed a more systemic approach to multi-agency collaboration to ensure services for young children are linked

• identifying ways that universal services can be strengthened to more effectively prevent vulnerability and intervene early when risks are identified

• the need for more flexible and responsive service delivery and better tracking of vulnerable clients

• the limited funding for universal and early intervention services between the ages of 1 and 3 and the critical role MCH can play in maintaining contact between the universal system and vulnerable families during this period.

Review of MCH structure and delivery

Constantly improving knowledge base and higher quality information

Greater need and capacity to focus on outcomes of individual children and cohorts

Supporting and nurturing all children’s learning and development from birth is crucial to long-term outcomes

Improving service efficiency and effectiveness is vital in a constrained fiscal environment, and with increasing service demands

New and emerging approaches to service delivery

- Progressive universalism- Multi-Agency Support Teams

Vulnerable Children’s Inquiry recommendations to improve outcomes for vulnerable children including through the delivery of DEECD services

The need for change (the ‘burning platform’)

Components of the MCH Service to be examined

MCH Review consultation strategy

The review of MCH Services arises from the significant partnership between the Victorian Government and the Municipal Association of Victoria

Aims:• Identify and engage key stakeholders

and experts, in particular those in Local Government, to determine means of addressing key reform challenges for the MCH program

• Secure the commitment of key stakeholders to the reform process

MAV/DEECD

Local Government

Local Gov’t Management MCH Service

Other stakeholders

Gov’t Dep’ts

External experts

etc

MAV is leading the consultation with Local Government

MCH Review timelineMarch April JuneMay July August September

Consultation

Synthesis of consultation and research base

Draft options to Minister and MAV

Change program

Reform options for 2014-2015

budget

Short-term: Immediate actions

Medium term: Substantial pieces of work and further

consultation

Long term: Vision and reform goals