The stories we hear from families about their Working Together experience are uplifting.
This is also true for the feedback we have received from our early learning partners.
Stories from our families
General praise
鈥淲orking Together is an awesome program. I wouldn鈥檛 even have considered day care otherwise, couldn鈥檛 afford it. But Working Together is good, it鈥檚 supportive. It鈥檚 not just: here you are 鈥� go to day care. You get that support, that ongoing support. It鈥檚 kind of like a team effort always.鈥�
鈥淚 just think educators should get a lot of recognition for how the children are and what they鈥檙e becoming because there鈥檚 only so much we can do at home as parents, and they鈥檙e helping us so much more to help them learn, grow and become the humans that they are now鈥︹��
Making friends and socialising
鈥淚f it wasn鈥檛 for Working Together, I don鈥檛 think my child would be at school. They just wouldn鈥檛 cope. The anxiety was just so bad before, where now it鈥檚 like, 鈥淲ho鈥檚 this child?鈥� To see Omar* be able to go and play with other kids without being scared or anything, it鈥檚 so good.鈥�
*Names have been changed to protect the children鈥檚 identity
Growing in confidence and independence
鈥淚 think the biggest thing for my child has been that growing independence, and ability to make their own decisions. Where before they would stand next to a child in the playground and we鈥檇 initiate the interaction for them, now they will run up to a child in the playground and say 鈥淗i, my name鈥檚 Talia鈥�. They鈥檒l initiate things.鈥�
鈥淭heir development has increased a lot. They walked straight into the centre the other day and said 鈥業鈥檓 cold鈥�. They鈥檙e vocalising needs now instead of just waiting for them to be met. What鈥檚 helped that I think is that they give kids a decision, a say.鈥�
*Names have been changed to protect the children鈥檚 identity
Developing confidence and independence
鈥淚t鈥檚 been awesome. It鈥檚 just how good the staff are with my child, making them comfortable and confident to come. We saw one of her educators in the supermarket last night, and I could just tell she鈥檚 got a good bond with them.鈥�
鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 be more happy than seeing my child develop into someone who鈥檚 happy to make friends and isn鈥檛 as shy as he used to be. He鈥檚 just developed so much. He鈥檚 becoming more independent and self-confident as well. Before it used to be: 鈥業鈥檓 scared mum, I can鈥檛 do it.鈥� Now it鈥檚: 鈥業 can do it!鈥欌��
Benefits for parents and carers
鈥淭hey鈥檝e come up with goals with me, more than I had myself, and they鈥檝e helped me accomplish those goals. They鈥檝e been amazing. Getting on top of everything, sorting things out in our life with Centrelink and everything. They have more belief in me than I have in myself and have made things a lot easier.鈥�
Stories from our early learning partners
鈥淗aving support workers and specialist professionals available and their ongoing support makes me feel as if everyone is working towards the best outcomes for all children and it鈥檚 not tokenistic.鈥�
鈥淭he support and information provided gives educators the confidence and knowledge to step out of their comfort zone.鈥�
鈥淭he children and families having access to such a dedicated program and the results we see in children and family relationships is very rewarding.鈥�
鈥淭he way educators approach conversations and interactions with families has improved, and the quality of the observations on individual child development ‘benchmarks’.鈥�