Victoria Invests $8.9 Million To Support Early Learning At Home Initiatives
A Brumby Labor Government sponsored study will help up to 2000 vulnerable families across Victoria to provide positive learning environments at home for their young children.
Minister for Children and Early Childhood Development Maxine Morand today announced 14 of the 20 local government areas where the $8.9 million Early Home Learning Study will be conducted.
“We know that one of the strongest influences on a child’s development is the quality of the home learning environment and the strength of parent-child interactions, particularly during the crucial early years of a child’s life,” Ms Morand said.
“We want to ensure that disadvantaged families – including low income single parents, young parents and Aboriginal families – are supported to nurture their child’s development from birth.
“Simple, everyday interactions such as listening or talking to your child, tuning in to their learning and following their lead can have a significant impact on their development.
“This study will shed light on how to best support vulnerable families to provide this valuable learning at home and will provide high quality research on a large scale about what parents can do in the home to give their children the best start.”
So far, the study will involve families who volunteer to take part in:
- New supported playgroups in Brimbank, Cardinia, Colac, Corangamite, Darebin, Greater Dandenong, Hobsons Bay, Melton, Moonee Valley, Wodonga and Yarra Ranges, for toddlers aged one to three years; and
- New parent groups through maternal and child health services in Bendigo, Knox and Wyndham, for infants aged six to 12 months.
“This study, an Australian first which is being carried out by the Parenting Research Centre, will make a significant contribution to the Victorian and international knowledge base on how to assist parents to strengthen the early home learning environment,” Ms Morand said.
“Research shows parents have the biggest influence on a child’s development and learning in the early years.
“This pivotal time in a child’s life provides the foundation for education and success later in life.
“The Brumby Labor Government has put considerable investment and resources into developing high quality early education and care settings for children, from maternal and child health, and childcare centres, right through kinder and school.
“This research will go one step further and look at the best learning and development opportunities in the first place children learn – in their home.”
Topics: 2010, Aboriginal families, Australia, Brumby Labor Government, business, care settings, childcare centres, children, disadvantaged, Early Childhood Development, Early Home Learning Study, economic development, economic growth, Economy, education, Governance, government, home learning, international knowledge base, investment, Kinder, learning, Maxine Morand, moniter, monitor, news, school, single parents, Victoria, vulnerable families
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