Community
11 April, 2024
Healthy changes for little learners
MORTLAKE’S Ready Set Go early learning centre has continued its rapid progression through a Victorian initiative designed to create healthier places to learn and work.
The centre has completed four priority areas in the past 12 months under the Victorian Government’s Achievement Program, with the most recent milestone being its safe environments accreditation.
The Achievement Program, supported by the Victorian Government and delivered by Cancer Council Victoria, is a free health and wellbeing program which aims to create a healthier environment for working and learning.
Resources and tools are provided to encourage whole-service changes in areas such as healthy eating, physical activity and mental health and wellbeing.
Thousands of schools, workplaces and early childhood services have joined the program, working towards health priority and benchmark areas to earn recognition from the Victorian Government for implementing positive changes.
Ready Set Go early learning centre acting director Kylie Sheaves said she was proud of what staff had achieved in such a short period of time, having already reached the benchmarks required to achieve recognition for healthy eating and oral health, sun protection and mental health and well-being.
“We’ve worked to make sure our equipment is secured, all in order, that nothing is broken, and that there are shade sails outside, appropriate clothing, available sunscreen,” she said.
“It feels good to know we’re going quite well.
“The next one is tobacco and vaping, so we’re doing plenty of work towards it which has begun with updating our policy and procedures.
“It is early but we hope to get through it quickly.”
Terang and Mortlake Health Service health promotion officer Tanya Glossop said the staff at Ready Set Go had done a “terrific job” working towards positive change.
“This program is free and open to any workplace, school, early childhood, club or out of school hours care,” she said.
“It can be completed in part or whole.
“The biggest benefit for childcare is that it directly aligns with their national quality safety standards, so it sets them up to perform well at accreditation.
“It is easy to follow, has all of the resources they need to create policy, asks consumers for feedback, and helps make informed decisions that meet their quality improvement requirements.”
