What is Best Start?
Best Start is a Victorian Government prevention and early intervention initiative. It brings local services and communities together to improve the health, development, learning and wellbeing of children from pregnancy through to the transition to school.
Find more information on the VIC Government website.
Key outcomes
The Casey Best Start Partnership is working towards two key outcomes for local children and families:
1. Early learning
More children participate in early childhood education and enter school as confident, engaged learners.
2. Health and development
Children and families actively engage with MCH services, attending key ages and stages visits to optimise health, wellbeing, safety, learning and development.
How the partnership works
Casey Best Start does not deliver one stand-alone program. It brings partners together to
identify local priorities, improve service pathways and test practical solutions for children and families.
Partners working together will:
- use local data, evidence and the experiences of children, families and services to understand community needs.
- agree on shared priorities, actions and measures through an annual logic model.
- test, learn from and improve solutions using Plan–Do–Study–Act cycles
- improve access, participation and referrals across local services.
- prioritise Aboriginal children and families and children experiencing vulnerability.
Joining Casey Best Start
Joining Best Start connects your organisation with a network of local services that share a commitment to Casey's children and families.
As a partner, you can:
- build relationships with local decision-makers and frontline services
- access professional learning, resources and local evidence
- share expertise and learn from other partners
- help design and test solutions to shared challenges
- shape priorities that reflect the needs of Casey's children and families.
Who is already involved
The Casey Best Start Partnership is made up of a diverse range of local organisations and services. Could your organisation be next?
- Kindergarten, long day care and playgroup providers
- Victorian Department of Education
- Maternal and Child Health services
- Aboriginal Best Start and Koorie Engagement Support staff
- Culturally and linguistically diverse community organisations
- Early intervention, allied health and family services
- Connected Libraries and other community services.
How to get involved
Best Start welcomes participation from early years services, health and allied health providers, community organisations, family services and other local partners who can contribute to collaborative action across Casey.
If your organisation works with children, families or communities, or can contribute knowledge, resources, cultural perspectives or connections to support Best Start priorities, we would love to hear from you.
Contact the Best Start Facilitator at beststart@casey.vic.gov.au
Resources and downloads
Explore practical information for families, educators and services supporting children's learning, health and development in Casey.