Council backs early years review in push for “fair start” for every Melbourne child

The City of Melbourne will undertake a comprehensive review of its early years services after councillors unanimously backed a notice of motion from Deputy Lord Mayor Roshena Campbell at the February 17 Future Melbourne Committee meeting

Titled Fairer Melbourne – Better Early Years, the motion calls on council CEO Alison Leighton to report back within two months on how the council can strengthen early literacy, increase physical activity, improve access to nutritious food and family violence support, and provide earlier interventions for children experiencing developmental delays.

Moving the motion, Cr Campbell described the issue as urgent and deeply personal for families across the municipality.

“In the City of Melbourne, around 24 per cent of children are starting school developmentally vulnerable. In some parts of our municipality, that is much higher. In Carlton, the figure is over 50 per cent. More than half the children starting school are developmentally behind.”

The motion notes that early childhood development – particularly from birth to five years – is critical to lifelong wellbeing, with around 90 per cent of brain development occurring before a child turns five.

Cr Campbell said that while the City of Melbourne already played a significant role through immunisation, maternal and child health services, playgroups, kindergartens and libraries, “it is clear that we as a council can do more to set up every child to thrive.”

“Fairness in Melbourne starts when everyone gets the best possible start in life,” she said.

“The best place to level the playing field in the early years, it’s local government. We are the level of government that is closest to children from birth to school.”

The review will examine best international models and identify opportunities to improve early years literacy through existing services, boost physical activity, expand access to nutritious and affordable food, and strengthen family-centred support. It will also explore partnerships and pathways to provide timely access to early interventions for children with developmental delays, including through maternal and child health centres.

During the meeting, Parkville resident Aaron Moon addressed councillors in support of the motion, highlighting the importance of daily movement in children’s routines.

“Every Friday morning, I run a bike bus from Parkville Gardens to Flemington Primary School,” he said, describing how children ride together in a supervised group.

“They are energised, they’re laughing, they’re talking to each other … some of them literally have jumped for joy when they’ve come to the bike bus.”

“For many, it’s their main burst of physical activity before 9am. It builds independence, road awareness, social connection, and confidence.”

Mr Moon urged councillors to consider “school street style interventions” to create safer environments for children during drop-off and pick-up times.

“Behaviour shifts when the safest option becomes the easiest option,” he said.

Seconding the motion, Cr Gladys Liu – portfolio head for community health and city services – said the statistics were “alarming” and local government was “best placed to do something”.

“As a mother of two and a grandmother of one, I know the importance of early childhood development,” she said.

She added that physical activity was particularly vital “for any age … and especially for young children as well.”

Cr Andrew Rowse successfully proposed a minor amendment to include “innovative diagnostic tools” in the review’s exploration of partnerships and pathways to early intervention, pointing to emerging work in Melbourne’s biomedical precinct.

The motion was carried unanimously.

Cr Campbell said she hoped the City of Melbourne would become a leader in the space.

“A fair Melbourne starts with a fair start for every child,” she said. •