Fish Creek Kindergarten has created a healthier environment for their students and has been recognised by the Victorian Government. They are the first early childhood service in South Gippsland to achieve every health priority area within the state-wide Achievement Program.
The Achievement program is a free evidence-based health and wellbeing framework that helps workplaces, schools and early childhood services create a healthier environment. It is supported by the Victorian Government and delivered by Cancer Council Victoria. The program is implemented locally by the South Coast Prevention Team (Health Promotion workforce of Bass Coast Health, Gippsland Southern Health Service and South Gippsland Hospital).
Fish Creek Kindergarten has been recognised for meeting best practice benchmarks in all six health priority areas under the Achievement program. This includes Healthy Eating and Oral Health, Physical Activity and Movement, Mental Health and Wellbeing, Sun Protection, Safe Environments and Tobacco, Alcohol and Other Drugs.
Paul Greenhalgh, Chief Executive Officer at South Gippsland Hospital, acknowledges Fish Creek Kindergarten’s achievements.
“Congratulations to Fish Creek Kindergarten on their achievement and commitment to creating a healthier environment for our local children and the wider Fish Creek community. They have taken the lead, reviewing and building on the great work they deliver to support the health and wellbeing of our community," he said.
Some examples of the key activities they have implemented to improve physical activity include:
• looking at safe transport and active travel, with a new footpath built to encourage walking and cycle access
• improving staff and educator knowledge and easy access to health and wellbeing information now available on display in the foyer
• updated policies
• provided a child-initiated space for yoga.
Education Leader, Kim, encourages other centres to get involved in the Achievement program.
“Go for it! I loved that you can work at your own pace, as well as there being so much information to support with meeting each health and wellbeing benchmark. It also fits into our quality improvement plan and strengthens this," she said.
Dimity Gannon, Cancer Council Victoria’s Head of Healthy Places, has congratulated Fish Creek Kindergarten on achieving Victorian Government recognition for their commitment to health and wellbeing.
“I applaud Fish Creek Kindergarten on achieving every health priority area in the Achievement Program, and especially for being first early childhood service in South Gippsland to do this," she said.
“The Achievement Program supports services to create healthy environments that benefit children, educators, and families."
The Achievement program is available to all early childhood services, schools and workplaces. For local support, and more information contact the South Coast Prevention Team on 0409 798 861 or email prevention@basscoasthealth.org.au.