Early years' healthy eating, oral health achievement

Published on 29 October 2021

Gannawarra Shire Council’s early childhood services have been recognised for their ongoing commitment to healthy eating and oral health through the Victorian Healthy Early Childhood Services Achievement Program.

Cohuna Pre-School, Gannawarra Shire Children’s Centre and Koondrook Pre-School have all recently been awarded the Healthy Eating and Oral health priority area. Leitchville Pre-School has previously received this award.

“This achievement demonstrates the commitment of Council, educators and parents to all work together to ensure that our children have the best possible start to their education journey in the Gannawarra,” Council Chief Executive Officer, Tom O’Reilly said.

Aligned to the World Health Organisation’s model for Health Promoting Schools, the Achievement Program is supported by the Victorian Government and delivered by Cancer Council Victoria.

In order to receive the Healthy Eating and Oral Health award, the early years services:

• Reviewed policies and practices to ensure leadership and commitment to healthy eating and supporting positive oral health outcomes for children and their families;
• Assessed and made changes to the physical environment to ensure that water is available and promoted as the drink of choice and that services are breastfeeding friendly;
• Participated in the Dental Health Services Victoria’s Smiles 4 Miles program with all educators completing training to embed healthy eating and oral health into the kindergarten program;
• Supported children to understand the importance of oral health and demonstrating and practicing how to property clean and care for their teeth and gums;
• Promoted age appropriate teaching to children to support the development of healthy relationships with food; and
• Strengthened partnerships to engage children, their families, and the wider community in healthy eating and oral health.

“Each service has a long-term commitment to promoting positive healthy food choices, whilst Council’s long-term participation in Dental Health Services Victoria’s Smiles 4 Miles program ensures that all children moving through the kindergarten programs are supported to establish lifelong healthy habits through the simple messages of Drink Well, Eat Well, Clean Well,” Mr O’Reilly said.

Council’s early childhood services are amongst 1,300 services across Victoria committed to creating heathier outcomes for children and their families through participation in the statewide Achievement Program.

“Council congratulates the staff, educators, families, children and the wider community who dedicated their time to put measures in place to achieve the Healthy Eating and Oral Health priority area, and for continued efforts to ensure that our youngest residents are provided with the best possible start to life,” Mr O’Reilly said.

“Council also acknowledges Northern District Community Health for supporting Council to improve the health and wellbeing outcomes across Gannawarra’s early years services.”