Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Outreach Program
The CALD Outreach Program supports 3 and 4 year old children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, refugee, asylum seeker and newly arrived families to provide supports to enrol their children into kindergarten.
The CALD Outreach Worker assists families to:
Kindergarten Registration and enrolment
- Register and enrol children into 3-and 4-year-old kindergarten.
- Assist families to complete enrolment forms and supporting the child’s kindergarten attendance.
- Collaborating with kindergartens/ childcare centres educators to support families who need assistance or face barriers to regularly attend kindergarten and childcare.
Engagement with other local services
- Facilitating access to children and families by providing early years supports such as referrals into Maternal and Child Health (MCH), Immunisation and Playgroups.
Support with Transition from Kindergarten to Primary School
- Collaborating with kindergartens, childcare centres, families and schools to ensure a smooth transition for children starting primary school.
- Assisting families to find their local primary school and assist families to complete enrolment forms.
The services are free and confidential.
Interpreters are used in families first language.
For further information telephone 8571 1000 or email childrenservadminsupport@cgd.vic.gov.au.
Best Start
Best Start and the Child and Family Partnership
Supporting children and families to thrive
Best Start is a prevention and early intervention initiative that supports the health, development, learning, and wellbeing of Victorian children from birth until they start school.
The program has a strong focus on ensuring all children have the best possible start in life, with particular attention given to:
- Children experiencing vulnerability
- Aboriginal children and families
What we aim to achieve
Through collaboration and early support, Best Start works towards ensuring that:
- Children participate in quality early childhood education, including kindergarten and supported playgroups
- Children begin school as confident, capable, and engaged learners
- Families actively engage with Maternal and Child Health (MCH) services
- Children receive timely health and developmental checks that support their wellbeing, safety, learning, and development
Working together through partnerships
Best Start is delivered through formal partnerships between local agencies, organisations, and service providers. These partnerships use local data, community knowledge, and evidence-based approaches to identify needs and improve outcomes for children and families.
By working together, local services can better support children and families, particularly those who may require additional assistance.
Child and Family Partnership
In the City of Greater Dandenong, the local Best Start partnership is known as the Child and Family Partnership.
The partnership brings together approximately 40 community organisations that support children and families. Members work collaboratively to strengthen services, share knowledge, and respond to emerging community needs.
Partnership opportunities
Members of the Child and Family Partnership can:
- Attend quarterly partnership meetings
- Participate in working groups focused on emerging issues and priorities
- Share information, resources, and professional learning opportunities
- Contribute to local data collection and access community research and insights
- Provide feedback and collaborate with other organisations to improve outcomes for children and families
Get involved
The Child and Family Partnership welcomes new members at any time.
Whether you are:
- A service provider supporting children and families, or
- A parent or community member living in the City of Greater Dandenong, we encourage you to get involved and help shape positive outcomes for local children and families.
Contact us
• Phone: 8571 1000
• Email: ChildrenServAdminSupport@cgd.vic.gov.au
Find out more
For more information about the Best Start program, visit the Victorian Government's Best Start webpage.
Children and Young People Leading Healthier Communities
Greater Dandenong City Council has partnered with VicHealth on a three-year project to create communities where children and young people grow up active, socially connected and healthy.
Greater Dandenong is home to approximately 55,000 young people aged 0-25 years, representing 31 percent of our population which is projected to increase to 66,500 by 2030.
Local research shows many children and young people in Greater Dandenong experience several barriers to practising healthy lifestyles.
- Only 1.5 per cent of residents eat the recommended amount of vegetables per day
- Only 38 per cent of residents eat the recommended amount of fruit per day
- 7 per cent of residents have low rates of physical activity, three times the Victorian average
- 53 per cent of adolescents lack positive psychological development
The VicHealth partnership will strengthen Council to work closely with local children and young people to understand, identify and prioritise actions that will drive positive change for better physical and mental health.
Where can I learn more about the project?
To learn more about the partnership with VicHealth visit the VicHealth website.
For further information about how to get involved, email the Children’s Services Partnerships Team at ChildrenServAdminSupport@cgd.vic.gov.au.
Where can I learn more about what Council is already doing in this space?
Read further information in Council's:
