Latest News
New Report from CoLab Telethon Kids Institute
Changing how early childhood development and learning is understood in Australia
There are significant challenges to communicating information about early childhood development in Australia. Public thinking about early childhood filters how messages are received and our communications often do not have the impact we aim for. While we know that early experiences have lasting effects on the development of children’s brains and biological systems that can influence learning, health, relationships throughout life, research suggests the significance of early childhood development is not yet realised by the Australian public.
How we, as Australian organisations and service providers, communicate on early childhood impacts how people understand early childhood development in Australia.
To read the report click here.
Monthly Newsletter – September 2020
B4 Early Years Community Storyteller Grants Open.
The B4 Early Years Coalition (B4) Grants initially opened in February 2020 but where placed on hold due to the impact of COVID -19. The Grants have now reopened from Tuesday 1 September 2020 to eligible organisations for grants of up to $20,000 to enable communities to share early years story and promote actions that community members can take to ensure every Tasmanian child gets a great start.
Guidelines, online application form and other supporting information available on the B4 website B4 Community Grants. Applications will be open until Wednesday 30 September 2020 March with successful applicants to be notified by November 2020. Previous applicants need not reapply.
Making Marks –
A Celebration of Children’s Art Travelling Exhibition
The Making Marks—A Celebration of Childrens Art Travelling Exhibition is recommencing its touring schedule around Tasmania, and is currently at the Devonport Regional Art Gallery until Friday 18 September.
The exhibition celebrates the art of very young Tasmanian children, birth – 4 years. It showcases their ideas through their mark making.
The Exhibition was initially launched in Hobart in September last year receiving overwhelmingly positive reviews, as described by one attendee:
“An amazing collection of children’s creativity, such a beautiful representation of the importance of children’s art”
National Child Protection Week 6-12 September
The theme of this years 30the National Child Protection week is Putting Children First!
Putting children first means prioritising the safety and wellbeing of children. To grow up well children need to feel safe and loved, have a chance to play and explore, have a say in decisions that affect them, and access to essential things like food, shelter and healthcare.
For children to thrive we need to come together as a community and put children’s needs first during National Child Protection Week and every week. To get involved NAPCAN have a range of ideas and activities at https://www.napcan.org.au/ncpw-get-involved/
Latest research news
New research from the Centre on the Developing Child has been released confirming the link between early childhood development and lifelong health.
A great InBrief explores how the brain is connected to the rest of the body and how interactions between all biological systems and their adaptions to context impact the developing child—for better or for worse.
Monthly Newsletter – August 2020
Welcome to our first B4 monthly newsletter, keeping us connected engaged and up to date with B4 happenings.
B4 continues to add to its great range of tools and resources to assist everyone support and take action in the early years. B4 Tools and resources can be accessed at:
If you have any resources you would like to share or ideas for resources please contact the B4 Support team.
Making Marks –
A Celebration of Children’s Art Travelling Exhibition
The Making Marks—A Celebration of Childrens Art Travelling Exhibition is recommencing its touring schedule around Tasmania. You can enjoy the exhibition at the following dates and locations:
- Devonport paranaple Centre 1 –18 September
- Queenstown West Coast Hub 5 -16 October
- Launceston Library – November – dates to be confirmed
The exhibition celebrates the art of very young Tasmanian children, birth – 4 years. It showcases their ideas through their mark making.
The Exhibition was initially launched in Hobart in September last year receiving overwhelmingly positive reviews, as described by one attendee:
“An amazing collection of children’s creativity, such a beautiful representation of the importance of children’s art”
B4 Early Years Community Storytellers and Community Grants
B4 is currently training the first 10 Community Champions – local leaders and early years champions who are willing to train B4 Community Early Years Storytellers back in their communities and ensure everyone understands the importance of the early years.
The B4 Community Early Years Grants have been on hold since the end of March due to the impacts of COVID 19.
B4 is working to secure a new date to reopen the grants, watch this space and an email will be sent to all B4 Members when the grants reopen for applications.
Members News
B4 has a membership of 238 individuals and organisations working together to ensure all children pregnancy to four years get a great start.
In a recent B4 Members survey 96% of Members took action to raise awareness of the early years with 55% sharing B4 resources including website, B4 toolkit and B4 Core Story.
B4 Members promoted B4 widely through events and meetings with over 52% encouraging others to join B4.