Executive Summary Municipal Association of Victoria [MAV] Response to Victorian State Government reform initiatives: The Education State Early Childhood Consultation Paper, September 2015. – The State for Education in Victoria is to outstanding Government’s aim have a ‘truly the the Early Years the to tip the developmental system…that will lead world’. For goal ‘is scale for by stacking the positive side by supporting parents and all Victoria’s children – families as the central players in a high quality M&CH service and children’s lives, providing ensuring all children benefit from excellent early childhood education and care’. Roadmap for Reform: Strong Families, Safe Children, August 2015. The reform Project intends to to providing better outcomes for develop ‘a new way forward vulnerable children and and in this process the Project the full families’ ‘will consider how range of universal and targeted services can better prevent neglect and abuse, intervene early to prevent issues escalating, support families in crisis to recover, and respond most effectively for children who can’t live at home.’ Introduction The Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) is the peak representative and advocacy body for Victoria's 79 councils. The MAV was formed in 1879 and the Municipal Association Act 1907 incorporated the MAV to represent the interest of of local government in Victoria Today, the MAV is a driving and influential force behind a strong and strategically positioned local government sector. Our role is to represent and advocate the interests of local government; raise the sector's profile; ensure its long-term security; facilitate effective networks; support councillors; provide policy and strategic advice; capacity building programs; and insurance services to local government. As the legislated peak body representing local government in Victoria, the MAV welcomes the State announcement of these two major reform projects and embraces the Government’s opportunity to contribute to the transformation of [i] the Education system and [ii] the system that supports vulnerable families and children with a view to delivering better education, health and wellbeing outcomes for all Victorian children. The emphasis on the early years and on universal services as platforms for change articulated in both reform agendas places local government in a unique position to contribute to the initiatives. Where childhood development is at the heart of the Victorian ‘Early Government’s vision for the Education local government is the beating heart of early childhood State’, development.
Executive Summary Municipal Association of Victoria [MAV] Response to Victorian State Government reform initiatives: The Education State – Early Childhood Consultation Paper, September 2015. The State Government’s aim for Education in Victoria is to have a ‘truly outstanding system…that will lead the world’. For the Early Years the goal ‘is to tip the developmental scale for all Victoria’s children by stacking the positive side – by supporting parents and families as the central players in children’s lives, providing a high quality M&CH service and ensuring all children benefit from excellent early childhood education and care’. Roadmap for Reform: Strong Families, Safe Children, August 2015. The reform Project intends to develop ‘a new way forward to providing better outcomes for vulnerable children and families’ and in this process the Project ‘will consider how the full range of universal and targeted services can better prevent neglect and abuse, intervene early to prevent issues escalating, support families in crisis to recover, and respond most effectively for children who can’t live at home.’ Introduction The Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) is the peak representative and advocacy body for Victoria's 79 councils. The MAV was formed in 1879 and the Municipal Association Act 1907 incorporated the MAV to represent the interest of of local government in Victoria Today, the MAV is a driving and influential force behind a strong and strategically positioned local government sector. Our role is to represent and advocate the interests of local government; raise the sector's profile; ensure its long-term security; facilitate effective networks; support councillors; provide policy and strategic advice; capacity building programs; and insurance services to local government. As the legislated peak body representing local government in Victoria, the MAV welcomes the State Government’s announcement of these two major reform projects and embraces the opportunity to contribute to the transformation of [i] the Education system and [ii] the system that supports vulnerable families and children with a view to delivering better education, health and wellbeing outcomes for all Victorian children. The emphasis on the early years and on universal services as platforms for change articulated in both reform agendas places local government in a unique position to contribute to the initiatives. Where ‘Early childhood development is at the heart of the Victorian Government’s vision for the Education State’, local government is the beating heart of early childhood development.