Mission Australia today launched an early learning literacy program for young children 0-5 years, which aims to provide a strong foundation for children learning to read when they enter school.

The Let’s Read Literacy Program launch was part of a family fun day held at Oatlands to raise awareness of Mission Australia’s Communities for Children early intervention program which is currently running in the Southern Midlands area in Tasmania.

Mission Australia State Director Noel Mundy said the Communities for Children program takes an early intervention and prevention approach to improving the health, development and wellbeing of children, aged 0-5, and their families by focussing on local needs and community participation.

“Early intervention programs help develop a child’s communication and behavioural skills from an early age and prevent social problems, including crime, occurring later in life,” Mr Mundy said.

“Communities for Children takes an integrated approach to the problems many children and their families face in disadvantaged areas, building on local collaborative partnerships between families, children’s playgroups, pre-schools, schools and other important community groups.

“Australian and international evidence confirms that the early years of a child’s life are critical to their future development and it is at this time that a child’s brain is rapidly developing and the foundations for learning, behaviour and health over the life course are set.”

Mr Mundy said activities carried out through Communities for Children in the Southern Midlands area include home visiting, parenting and family support programs, early learning and literacy programs, child nutrition, programs to assist the early development of social and communication skills and community events such as today’s Oatlands family fun day.

“The Oatlands family fun day was held at the high school gym in Church Street to bring literacy and the arts to the early years of children in the Southern Midlands,” Mr Mundy said.

“Activities for the children included Mystical Makebelieve Entertainment performances, a playgym area, jumping castle, face painting and giveaways and lucky door prizes.”

Mission Australia is the Community Partner for the Communities for Children program delivered in the Southern Midlands.

Media contact: Lucinda Bray, Beyond PR: 6223 3333 or 0438 280 486