The Shire is approximately 4,600 square kilometres. It extends from the spectacular limestone cliffs at Port Campbell and Princetown to the historic town of Skipton, in the north, near Ballarat. The Shire's eastern boundary is the shore of Lake Corangamite, a huge inland lake just north of the Stony Rises, and it extends to the west of Terang. The name 'Corangamite' is said to be derived from the local aboriginal word for ‘bitter’ or 'salt water', as it refers to the high salt level of the water, usually about three times that of sea water.
Corangamite Shire Council will be offering Let’s Read program via our:
- Maternal & Child Health First Parent Group (the importance of early literacy session)
- Mobile Day Care sessions
- Family Day Care sessions
- Supported Playgroup sessions
- 3 year old Kindergarten sessions
New parent group. Run 3-4 times per year. One session run at local library. Families encouraged to become member to access free books. Participate in Rhythm time at the library. Discuss literacy and the importance of reading and handling books on a child's development and long term well-being. Look at age appropriate books.
Rebecca Thompson
November 2019
Maternal and Child Health nurses and Children’s Services coordinators were trained in Let’s Read at the beginning of 2017. When children receive their immunisations at 8 months, 2 years and 3.5 years they receive a Let’s Read pack. The Maternal Child Health nurses and parents/carers find this a useful way of distracting the child whilst receiving the injection. We have set up specific Let’s Read areas in the Maternal Child Health facilities with the books and posters on display, which is helping raise the community awareness of the importance of early literacy with families with young children. We are also making sure that these spaces are culturally inclusive, with a variety of Indigenous books, posters and toys.
We offered free training to early years staff in the Corangamite Shire with 21 staff from Mobile Child Care, Family Day Care, Kindergartens and Long Day Care being trained. This allowed educators to confidently engage with families about their child’s emerging literacy development, the books that they have been interested in, along with songs and rhymes they have been singing.
We are presenting Let’s Read at our Annual Children’s Services Conference where we will be talking about the importance of literacy in the early years, the program, and upcoming training. We will also have those who have been trained come and talk about how they have implemented the program in their service. This will also enable us to remind staff of our upcoming Let’s Read Training which will be held in May 2018.
September 2018
E Cassie.Austin@corangamite.vic.gov.au
P 03 5593 7158