Communities For Children

The Cranbourne Communities for Children is a federal government initiative established to address the needs of disadvantaged families with young children in the Cranbourne region.

Our aim is to assist children in our local community aged 0 – 5 years as well as their families by working together towards a better future where the promise and potential of every child is realised, where families and the community are strong, and where children’s services are valued and well resourced. We support families and communities because children’s lives and development are enhanced when their families and communities are strengthened.

Cranbourne CfC will assist the community to value and respect children, and do all in its power to provide them with the building blocks of health, well being, early learning, development, nurture and care to achieve their greatest potential.

Cranbourne is one of the largest communities in the City of Casey.

The City of Casey is the fastest growing municipality in Victoria, and the third fastest-growing municipality in Australia. Cranbourne’s population is expected to increase from around 50,000 to more than 100,000 by 2020 as a result of new housing development.

In 2001, some 5,578 (or 13.7%) of Cranbourne’s population were children aged five years or under. The Federal Government has identified communities like Cranbourne as areas where young families with children are likely to face disadvantage.

As the facilitating partner of the program, Windermere works to ensure an integrated approach which means working with children, parents, family and child services, businesses and all levels of government to deliver a better future for Cranbourne’s kids.

In 2007, after a phase of community consultation, Cranbourne Communities for Children began implementing more than a dozen projects designed to enrich the lives of children aged five years or under, by recognising and supporting the important role of early year educators and parents. So far, the array of projects has included:

• Transition to Parenthood
• Mothergoose for All
• Overcoming Pre and Post natal Depression
• Dads Matter
• Linking Early Years
• The Library has Legs
• Enriched Communication
• Sustainable Child and Family Places
• School as a Hub
• Innovative Local Initiatives
• Cranbourne Info Link
• Healthy Volunteering
• Strengthened Service Links.

Each of the projects is managed by various Community Partners and overseen by Windermere’s Cranbourne Communities for Children Project Team.

This Windermere initiative is an excellent example of the value and importance of truly collaborative partnerships in the lives of children, their families and their communities.

The work we are now doing is reaching and beginning to have a positive impact upon the lives of many local parents who might not have previously been able to access services that could enhance the lives of their children.

Click here to view PDF Brochure

Click here to view Final Evaluation Report 2010 for Cranbourne Communities for Children

To find out more about the project go to www.cranbournecfc.com.au