Communities for Children: Language and Literacy Early Years Literacy and Language Development Strategy

Developed in consultation with over 15 organisations across Bendigo, including local government, early years, education and health service providers.

Our Vision:

• Each child in Bendigo has rich, nurturing language opportunities
• Children’s language (development) is everyone’s business

The Early Years Literacy and Language Development Strategy aims to improve literacy and language development for 0-5 year olds across Bendigo from all socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.

 Download a summary of the Early Years Literacy and Language Development Strategy 
 Download the full version of the Early Years Literacy and Language Development Strategy  

What does a 'Whole-of-Community-Response' look like?

• Community campaign and involvement to raise awareness of and celebrate Early Literacy 
• Early years website – provision of information and resources to families, community members and professionals.
• Education programs – through universal and targeted support for families, including HIPPY, Mother Goose, Goldfields Library – Rhyme Time and Story Time, Talking Matters Speech Pathology drop in  clinics and ‘Let’s Read’ program .
• Increased access to books for children – through Imagination Library, Books for Babies, Book Boxes-Little Libraries Program, Book Cubby programs, etc. 

Read, sing, talk and play with your child every day.

Bendigo Reads Website

The Bendigo Reads website is an initiative of the Communities for Children: Language & Literacy Project.

Vision: 

• Children’s literacy is everyone’s business
• Every child in Bendigo has rich, nurturing language opportunities to empower communication

The Bendigo Reads website is a community hub for children’s literacy in Bendigo.

Find out more about early literacy and language development, local literacy programs and ways to support children reading more at Bendigo Reads!  

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library is now in Bendigo! Find out how to donate and sponsor a child.