Windermere a wonder of welfare world

WINDERMERE Child and Family Services has been given the task of overseeing the welfare of children from birth to five years old, primarily in the Cranbourne area.
The Minister for Family and Community Services Senator Kay Patterson announced during August that Windermere would receive $3.3 million to fund this work. Besides meeting the needs of children and helping to provide them with a fair start in life, the funding is a massive vote of confidence for the Windermere organisation.
I recall a time when a crisis existed that could have seen Windermere close its doors. But dedication to the cause by its then chairman Kevin Thompson and chief executive Ray Canobie, spurred on by Windermere’s patron the late Dame Phyllis Frost, took the organisation through a time of crisis to become one of Australia’s foremost child welfare providers.
‘Kids in Crisis’ has been a theme for Windermere and a term fast becoming a household phrase in the southeast.
Fundraising events have been a continual part of the battle to keep Windermere afloat.
Regular fundraisers such as Carl Strahan and Fay Powel with their teams have also been vital players in this success. So have the hundreds of people who support Windermere even in the smallest way.
Windermere will be responsible for $3.3 million of Federal Government ‘Communities for Children’ funding, from November 2005 to June 2009.
Windermere will develop a fouryear community strategy to support the health and early development needs of young children, including early learning and care, healthy young families, supporting families and parents, creating child friendly communities, and ensuring that family and children’s services work effectively together.
Cranbourne is one of 45 disadvantaged communities identified as requiring additional early intervention and prevention with federal resourcing.
The goal is to give children the best possible preparation for primary education.
This will involve home visiting, early learning and literacy, playgroups, early development of social skills and family support initiative, parenting programs and support services, child nutrition, social inclusion, peer support for parents of young children, and organising community events to celebrate the importance of early years.
Windermere will be the facilitating partner and will promote collaboration among key stakeholders.
Windermere will establish and chair a communities for children committee from community leaders, service providers, business leaders, all levels of government, and families.
The committee will oversee the development of a fouryear strategic plan and participate in the generation of innovative ideas and make key decisions along the way.
Windermere will be responsible for distributing funding available to service providers in the Cranbourne area.
A key requirement will be sustainability after funds cease.
My view is that this funding and the choice of Windermere to do the work could see a turnaround in what has been an unfortunate part of our society, kids in crisis.