Smarter Services Provide a Brighter Beginning For Children

Member for Kiama Gareth Ward MP has announced that an initiative to better support families that are navigating the first 2,000 days of their child’s life has today been launched by the New South Wales Government.

Mr Ward said that ‘Brighter Beginnings’ aims to ensure children in NSW have the best start in life.

“Crucial to achieving this goal is simplifying and improving the way families access information and services, through a number of parenting life navigator tools and a Whole of Government web page,” he said.

“This will provide local families with a one stop shop of resources for when they are expecting a baby and will support them throughout their child’s early life.

“This includes keeping track of health and development milestones, accessing financial support, finding early childhood education and care, starting primary school, returning to work and emotional and legal support for parents.

“It is important to assist parents during the first 2000 days, as this time has such an impact on every decade of a child’s life.

“We also understand this is a challenging and often overwhelming time for parents.

“We are helping them save time and hassle, so they can spend more time with their newborn.

“This initiative focuses from conception through to age 5, allowing our children to have the best start from the very beginning,” Mr Ward said.

The NSW Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning Sarah Mitchell MLC said that this initiative is a long-term approach that will have a multitude of generational benefits.

“We know that the first 2,000 days of development are vital for children,” Ms Mitchell said.

“Early intervention, tailored health services, parental support and access to education are all things Government can improve through better collaboration, and when this happens the benefits for our children increase exponentially,” Minister Mitchell said.