Thank you to everyone who contributed to the conversation on Council's review of the Children, Young People and Their Families Strategy 2030. Feedback has now closed.

We are now considering your feedback to help update the strategy. For further updates, click 'follow' at the top of this page to receive notification emails.

About the Strategy

The Strategy for Children, Young People and their Families 2030 (the Strategy) outlines the framework and objectives that helps guide Council's work with children, young people (from birth through to 25 years of age) and their families.

As well as a commitment to review the Strategy every three years, Council recognises the changing environment since it was endorsed in 2020, particularly in relation to the pandemic. We are keen to hear from our community to ensure the Strategy's objectives and over 50 actions remain relevant to our community.

The Strategy was developed based on the needs of children, young people, and families who live, study, work and use services in Maribyrnong City.

It provides Council with strategic direction that supports decision-making around program development and delivery, planning, partnerships, and advocacy. It is underpinned by action plans that are updated and reported on annually - you can take a look at the Annual Action Plan Highlights from the last three years in the document library.

How was the Strategy developed?

The Strategy, endorsed by Council in 2020, is based upon an evidence-based framework developed by the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY) – the Nest Agenda. The Nest Agenda identifies six inter-related components of a child’s life that need to be ‘going well’ in order for their opportunities to be maximised.

The Strategy was informed by community engagement, with over 1,100 contributions to the development of the Strategy, along with local and national research.

This included speaking with 244 children through early years learning and care services and playgroups; workshops with 161 ‘middle years’ children in Grades 5 and 6; and a survey for both young people, parents and carers.