Early Years Edit - October 2026

In this edition:

• Children's Week
• Thriving Kids
• Preventing Gender-Based Violence: Early Years 
• Nature Nurtures 
• Storybox Wellbeing Playlist 
• Physical Literacy Week
• Supporting children's health through the built environment 
• Best Practice Guide for Early Childhood Education and Care Food Environments 
• Helping Families Navigate the Online World 
• Kindy Ready 
• Royal Life Saving Society WA Heart Beat Club
• Early Years Conference Brings Communities Together

Children's Week 2026: Celebrating culture, identity and belonging

From 24 October to 1 November 2026, communities across Western Australia will come together to celebrate Children's Week, recognising the rights, voices, achievements and contributions of children. This year's theme is based on Article 30 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC): "Children have the right to use their own language, celebrate their culture and practise their religion." 

The Department of Communities is proud to support Meerilinga Children and Community Services to deliver the Children's Week WA Community Grants Program, that supports organisations deliver activities that strengthen community connection and celebrate children's rights. 

As part of the WA Government’s commitment to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people, the Department of Communities has launched a social media campaign and a suite of resources to expand community awareness of the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations, directing new audiences to the Child Safe Organisations Knowledge Hub. The Campaign has been developed to support families, parents, carers, children and young people to know what to look for, and questions to ask organisations who engage with children, so parents and carers can feel confident their child will be safer when participating in organisations. 

During Children’s Week, you can help support organisations to become safer for children by sharing the campaign throughout your networks. For information about Children's Week activities across Western Australia, including local events, resources and ways to get involved, visit the Children's Week WA website. 

Thriving Kids

The national Thriving Kids program is underway and the first service in WA commenced on 1 October with the launch of Thriving Kids Connect WA. This new information, advice and navigation service and the broader Thriving Kids initiative will support children aged up to eight years with developmental delay and/or autism who have low to moderate support needs, along with their families, carers and kin. 

Jointly funded by the Commonwealth and State Government, the program aims to strengthen families, build community connections and support children's participation in everyday life through accessible, community-based services. 
Thriving Kids Connect WA is a ‘no wrong door’ entry point for families seeking support. Families do not need a diagnosis to access this free statewide phone and online service being delivered by Uplyft (formerly Wanslea). 

When a family contacts Thriving Kids Connect WA, an experienced Navigator will listen to what is happening for the child and family. They will provide information and advice, explain available options and help the family make informed decisions and connect with the appropriate supports that can best meet their child and family's needs. 

To contact Thriving Kids Connect WA, call 1300 WA KIDS (1300 925 437) or visit the website at www.thrivingkidsconnectwa.org.  

Other Thriving Kids services, referral pathways and support options will be progressively established throughout 2027, with full implementation anticipated from January 2028. To learn more about Thriving Kids in WA, visit the Department of Communities’ website at www.communities.wa.gov.au/thrivingkids. 

Get involved in Physical Literacy Week 2026!

From 2–8 November, early childhood services, families and primary schools across Australia are invited to join Physical Literacy Week – a free celebration of active play and helping children aged 0-12 years develop the movement skills, confidence and love of being active that can set them up for life.

Register for free daily Play. Move. Explore. movement challenges for babies, toddlers and preschoolers, practical educator resources and activities to share with families. Plus, there are fantastic prizes and equipment packs to be won!
Supported by Healthway and powered by the team at University of WA's KIDDO program. Register for free on the Physical Literacy Week website.

Supporting Children's Health Through the Built Environment 

The Kid’s Research Institute Australia is bringing global experts together for a free webinar and policy brief launch exploring how neighbourhoods and urban environments influence children's health, development, and opportunities for play. 

Keynote speaker Tim Gill will open with insights on rethinking childhood in an increasingly risk-averse world, followed by international presentations with key insights from Perth-based research, and a panel discussion featuring leading voices in urban design and children's health from across the globe.
Speakers include:

• Tim Gill (Keynote) -author of Urban Playground: How child-friendly planning and design can save cities
• Dr Melanie Lowe - Co-Director, Global Observatory of Healthy and Sustainable Cities
• Professor Hayley Christian AM - Head of the Child Physical Activity, Health and Development team at The Kids Research Institute, University of Western Australia
• Skye Duncan - Executive Director, Global Designing Cities Initiative
• Dr Mads Rosenkilde - Novo Nordisk, Cities for Better Health

Tune into the webinar on Wednesday 28 October, from 5-6pm. Registrations are now open. 

Royal Life Saving Society WA Heart Beat Club 

The Royal Life Saving Society’s WA Heart Beat Club grants are now open. These grants cover the cost of a Heart Beat Club first aid course for parents of children under five.

Applications to host free Heart Beat Club sessions are invited from WA community organisations that support high-risk families and/or parents who may have barriers to accessing first aid training. Eligibility requirements apply.
Find out more and complete the application form on the Royal Life Saving WA website.

Early Years Conference Brings Communities Together

More than 100 early childhood professionals, educators, researchers and community leaders gathered in Kojonup on 19 September for the Central Great Southern Early Years Conference 2026. Now in its third year, the free conference was created and attended by local early years professionals to showcase regional expertise and support workforce development across the Great Southern. Participants explored topics including play, neuro-informed practice, family engagement, educator wellbeing and workforce sustainability. Connections were made and relationships strengthened across the education, health, community services and local government sectors. The event was made possible through the Early Years Partnership, including funding from the Minderoo Foundation, and continues to strengthen a connected and collaborative early years sector.

A Little More...

• Pathways into place-based work, an interactive tool from PLACE Australia.
• Making Partnerships Work: Proposing a Model to Support Parent-Practitioner Partnerships in the Early Years, published in the Early Childhood Education Journal, available on Springer Nature.
• Implementing evidence-based practices in early childhood education and care – 2026, a discussion paper from the Australian Education Research Organisation.