Newborns

Midwives are available at our Caboolture site Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 9-12 to assist with weighing baby, new born tests, support with feeding and general support / advice for parents (Caboolture site only).

Community Child and Family Health

Child Health nurses are available at our Caboolture site Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 9-12 (and other times by appointment) to provide support and advice with child and maternal health. First time parents in this EYC region can also have a child health nurse visit them at home soon after the birth. (for more information call Caboolture Community Health on 5433 8300).

Family Support

Qualified family support staff are available at our Caboolture, Woodford, Narangba, Deception bay and Morayfield sites to provide 1 to 1 assistance. Parents and carers of young children can drop in to any of these sites or ring to seek support and assistance with issues affecting their children, and difficulties they are experiencing in their family or parenting role.

Family support can assist anyone caring for young children such as teen parents, fathers and those who are grandparenting full time. Practical information and support from staff, along with sharing ideas and experiences with other parents can help with feeling more confident and knowing you are not the only parent in your situation.

Parenting Programs

Family support staff facilitate a number of programs such as parenting courses and an Indigenous parents support group. Free child minding is provided to enable attendance at some courses / programs. (for information about courses / programs and when they are available  Phone (07) 5428 1477.

Community Champions

A number of people from various cultures volunteer with the EYC to assist local families to understand the benefits of young children attending kindergarten, child care, play groups and early childhood education and care services.  They can speak with families at a convenient place such as school, church, shopping centre or their home. They can also help families by linking them into the support EYC provides to assist children access kindergarten or other types of support the families may benefit from.

Education Support

Our qualified early childhood educators provide a range of services and programs to assist children’s learning and development. They include:

Play Time

Family Play Time is a short term playgroup facilitated by qualified EYC staff and volunteers to promote children’s learning and development in an exciting, fun environment. This program also helps parents (including foster carers) to learn simple, cheap activities they can do at home and strengthen relationships with their children.

Early Childhood Specialist

The early childhood specialist assists children with low level disabilities attending kindergarten in this EYC region. Kindergarten staff + families can ring the EYC direct to speak with the early childhood specialist about the support that maybe provided to best respond to their situation. The aim of this service is to reduce potential barriers for children with low level disabilities accessing kindergarten, and enable them to experience optimal learning and development experiences.

Pre-Kindy and Families Program

The Pre-Kindy and Families programs is designed for children 2 1/2 – 3 1/2 to attend with their parents. A qualified teacher and assistant provide this program and promote learning and develpment through play and a semi-structured format. This program is provided on a weekly basis at our Woodford, Narangba, Deception Bay and Caboolture sites.

Early Childhood Site

Our early childhood educators visit to assist effective intervention responses for young children in this EYC region our ecec staff visit schools, child care centres + other ecec services to speak with staff. The staff can provide information about new resources and services the EYC can provide, peer support and discuss potential early intervention strategies to respond to issues teaching staff and / or educators have identified with young children. To arrange a vist ring EYC.

Kindergarten

A licensed kindergarten is soon to begin at the EYC Caboolture site! to enrol drop in or Phone (07) 5428 1477.

Building Capacity and Child Friendly Communities

The EYC works collaboratively with many local organisations and groups to assist them in providing effective prevention strategies and early interventions for young children and their families. Examples include providing cross-sector professional development training, providing targeted programs at schools for children in  Prep – year 3, supporting projects / community events and hosting student work experience / placements.

The EYC also strives to build the capacity of local parents and communities to be more child friendly. Examples include providing parenting first aid classes, “Talking realities” presentations about becoming a parent as a teenager, hosting Under 8′s Week activities for families with young children.

If your group or organisation wishes to seek support for a project, event or other initiative you are planning for young children and / or their families in this region please contact the manager of EYC.

Toy and Resource Library

EYC has numerous toys and resources that can be borrowed. They include:

• Items children love to play and learn with,
• CD’s DVD’s and books parents find useful on a wide range of topics,
• Resources and texts for educators and services providers who work with families with young children.

NOTE: Free borrowing for parents – small annual fee for educators / service providers.

To join Phone EYC on (07) 5428 1477.

Programs

EYC facilitates numerous programs at various sites during each school term in this region. Most are short term and any family with young children can attend. To ensure they are high quality and effective we regularly review programs and where they will be delivered. Because they are popular and spaces are limited, we ask families to register their interest in attending at the end of each term. Examples of what is currently available are in the newsletter. To find out what is on next term ring EYC or look on our Facebook page (soon to be live).