A Village for Every Child

A Village for Every Child

A Village for Every Child believe that children are the heart of our community and deserve the best possible start to life. That’s why we focus on improving the systems across Belconnen that supports children to be physically healthy, socially adaptable, emotionally resilient, fully prepared for lifelong learning and growth.

Our mission is to improve the support network for children and families by bringing families, community members, child and family support organisations, education providers, and government agencies together to increase:

  • Awareness about early childhood development,
  • Connections between families and early years services, and
  • Engagement among parents, families, and support services.

When working together, the community is stronger, the early years sector is more connected, and therefore the system is better able to meet the needs of the children and families. We want every family to feel supported, empowered and equipped for raising children.

We are bringing together sectors that support families and children to collaborate on targeted actions aimed at achieving meaningful outcomes
A Village for Every Child is bringing together sectors that support families and children to collaborate on targeted actions aimed at achieving meaningful outcomes.

Why we do what we do

Early childhood is a period of rapid change, particularly in the development of a child’s brain. These early years are critical for lifelong learning and wellbeing, laying the foundation for a successful start to school and beyond.

In Belconnen, approximately one in three children don’t start school ready school. This insight comes from the study conducted by Australian Early Development Census 2021, which gathers data on children in kindergarten to measure a range of developmental areas that begin forming as early as the womb. When children struggle in one or more of these areas, they may face challenges in engaging fully in learning and life.

In Belconnen, approximately one in three children don’t start school ready school. This insight comes from the study conducted by Australian Early Development Census 2021, which gathers data on children in kindergarten to measure a range of developmental areas that begin forming as early as the womb. Hence, A Village for Every Child

Children can physically cope and have energy to get through the school day, are generally independent and have excellent motor skills.

Children can get along, work, or play with other children, are respectful to adults, are self-confident, and able to follow class routines.

Children are rarely aggressive, anxious or show impulsive behaviour, they do have good concentration and often help other children.

Children are interested in books, reading and writing, and basic math; capable of reading and writing simple sentences and complex words. Will be able to count and recognise numbers and shapes.

Children have excellent communication skills, can tell a story and communicate easily with both children and adults.

There are over 110 child and family services in Belconnen. Yet, despite these efforts, many children are still falling behind. Village is working to change the system to better support families with young children by connecting these services and programs, making them more accessible and effective during the crucial early years.

Belconnen is program rich and system poor. Together we are working to change the system.

Village history

In 2015, several organisations across West Belconnen came together to establish the West Belconnen Local Services Network (WBLSN), a collaboration aimed at building a stronger, more connected community. Early childhood quickly became a priority area, recognising the potential for a lasting, positive change.

There are over 110 child and family services in Belconnen. Yet, despite these efforts, many children are still falling behind. A Village for Every Child is working to change the system to better support families with young children by connecting these services and programs, making them more accessible and effective during the crucial early years.

This led to the birth of A Village for Every Child, exclusively focused on early intervention and early childhood. In 2017, with support from the ACT Education Directorate, UnitingCare Kippax secured funding to establish the Village Backbone Team. Village adopted the Collective Impact Framework to bring people together in a structured way for social change. Since then, Village has been built on a solid foundation of community consultation, research, and guiding principles, ensuring our work remains informed and driven by the needs of our community.

A Village for Every Child is working to change the system to better support families with young children by connecting these services and programs, making them more accessible and effective during the crucial early years.

Village Structure

Village is comprised of a Leadership Group, Working Groups, and a Backbone Team.

This structure follows the Collective Impact model, with the Leadership Group guiding our direction, the Working Groups focusing on specific initiatives, and the Backbone Team providing essential support to drive Village’s mission forward.

The Leadership Group (LG) is responsible for setting the strategic direction, aligning member organisations’ work with the common agenda, evaluating progress, overseeing the Working Groups, supporting the Backbone Team, and implementing strategies and activities aligned with Village goals.

The LG meets regularly and is comprised of key decision-makers – typically CEOs and Directors from the community sector, along with Executive Branch Managers or Directors from government – who hold the authority to drive meaningful change.

Working Groups (WGs) are the heartbeat of our collective impact, where action takes place and goals come to life. The WGs brings together service providers and a range of stakeholders, drawing on their time, expertise, passions, and lived experiences. The WGs drive the initiative’s impact by advancing actions toward the goals.

The collaborative efforts of the WG members directly contribute to the Village Theory of Change and the overarching vision of A Village for Every Child.

The WG members may include practitioner or community member with first-hand knowledge or experience with the issue the WG is focused on. They may also bring research expertise or other skill sets that can support the work.

The Backbone Team is a crucial component of the Collective Impact framework, hosted by UnitingCare Kippax. This team is dedicated to aligning and coordinating the work, embedding Collective Impact practices, and maintaining a strong focus on the common agenda. They support the Leadership and Working Groups, provide administrative and secretariat assistance, facilitate reporting, and foster community engagement.

Currently, the Backbone Team consists of a Manager, Graphic Design & Communications Officer, and Administrative Officer.

Village Cycle of Action

A Village for Every Child's Cycle of Action is a guiding framework that maps out how the Backbone Team supports and enables collaborative action to address the needs of children and families.

Village Cycle of Action is a guiding framework that maps out how the Backbone Team supports and enables collaborative action to address the needs of children and families. It represents a step-by-step approach, starting from a shared understanding of issues and moving through a collaborative decision-making process to implement effective solutions.

This structured yet flexible process allows Village and its partners to adapt to new challenges, creating a responsive support system for families and young children.

What is Collective Impact?

Collective Impact is based on the belief that no single policy, government department, organisation or program can tackle or solve the increasingly complex social problems we face as a society. It brings together people from different sectors who have a shared agenda and they, along with community members and residents, work together to achieve the agreed outcomes. Collective Impact operates outside of service and program delivery, acting to facilitate, support and action system-level change. The concept was first articulated in by John Kania and Mark Kramer in the Stanford Social Innovation Review in 2011.

Five conditions of Collective Impact

A Backbone Coordinating Organisation

Creating and managing Collective Impact requires dedicated staff with specific skills to coordinate the efforts of participating organisations and agencies.

A Common Agenda for Change

All participants share a vision for change, which includes a common understanding of the problem and a joint approach to solving it through agreed upon actions.

Shared Measurement for Data and Results

Consistently collecting data and measuring results across all participants ensures alignment in efforts and promotes accountability among participants.

Mutually Re-enforcing Activities

Participant activities should be distinct yet coordinated through a mutually reinforcing plan of action.

Open and Continuous Communications

Consistent and open communication among all participants is essential for building trust, ensuring shared objectives, and creating common motivation.