Early years
See how we may be able to help your early childhood service with our programs and initiatives below.
Our Health Promotion team is passionate about improving the health and wellbeing of everyone in the community.
See below for the programs and initiatives we provide that can support your early childhood service.
Please note: All of our programs are free and there is no cost to your setting.
Smiles 4 Miles
An initiative of Oral Health Victoria, Smiles 4 Miles assists early childhood services to encourage and promote good oral health habits and healthy eating among children in their care, and assists these settings to meet the National Quality Standard.
What does Smiles 4 Miles offer registered services?
- Incentives and rewards for becoming awarded
- Hands on support to help you implement the program, including receiving practical resources such as session activities and social media toolkits
- Free professional training for early childhood professionals
- Free toothbrushes and toothpaste for all children attending registered services
- Advanced standing for the Healthy Eating and Oral Health benchmark of the Achievement Program.
Healthy Places, Healthy Futures
An initiative of Cancer Council Victoria and supported by the Victorian Government, the Achievement Program is a free health and wellbeing program aimed to help early childhood services create healthier environments for learning.
The health promotion team can support your setting to make small changes and implement strategies in these health promotion areas:
- Healthy eating & oral health
- Physical activity
- Mental health and wellbeing
- Smoking & Vaping
- Sun protection
- Safe environments
- Climate and health.
Our health promoters can offer advice and guidance to help you build on the work you’re already doing to support health and wellbeing and get recognition from the Victorian Government as a healthy place.
Raising Healthy and Active Toddlers
This online video is designed to provide general advice and help parents and caregivers to give their toddlers aged 1 – 3 years old the best start of life. The presentation covers topics including:
- Healthy eating
- Serving sizes
- Reading nutritional information on packet foods
- Managing fussy eating
- Dental health
- Screen time
- Role modelling healthy tech use
- Online safety
- Phasing out the bottle
- Active play
- Self-care for parents and caregivers
- Calculating the tablespoons of sugar in packaged toddler snacks.
The presentation has been designed to be accessed online to reach as many parents and carers as possible. We understand that sometimes this information could be viewed at 10pm or 2am! Click the video link here.
Health & Wellbeing education / stalls
We can provide other tailored, evidence-based education sessions on a range of health topics. If you have a request that doesn’t fit into any of the headings above, please get in touch.
We can also attend your event to provide information and resources to your staff, children and families.
Simply fill in the form below.
Let's Talk Lunchboxes
Our Health Promotion team have worked with local kindergartens and BCHS’ School Readiness Team to develop this guide to help grown ups work towards more nutritious lunchboxes.
The guide is written for parents, in consultation with parents in hopes to help with the transition to kinder and giving children the best start.
Inside, we’ve included lunchbox packing tips, information on serving sizes, lunchbox idea inspiration and places to find more information. If it’s your first time or you’re a lunchbox expert, we hope this guide can help inspire and reduce some of the burdens with providing a balanced lunchbox.
Click the image to the left to read or download our lunchbox resource.