Presenters: Donna Neaves and Andrea Hurley

1. first5forever.org.au
The first 5 years last a lifetime 1

2. first5forever.org.au
Andrea Hurley
andrea.hurley@brisbane.qld.gov.au
First 5 Forever Coordinator
Brisbane City Council Libraries
Donna Neaves
donna.neaves@brisbane.qld.gov.au
First 5 Forever Program Officer
Brisbane City Council Libraries
Linking with Libraries to Support Early Literacy
The first 5 years last a lifetime 2

3. first5forever.org.au
What is First 5 Forever?
The first 5 years last a lifetime 3

4. first5forever.org.au
AEDC findings in 2009 and 2012 indicated that in Queensland the
language and communication domains were areas where children were
at risk and vulnerable.
WHY?
The first 5 years last a lifetime 4

5. first5forever.org.au
Percentages of children identified as developmentally vulnerable in
Queensland
The first 5 years last a lifetime 5

6. HOW? Key Deliverables
first5forever.org.au
More early literacy sessions at the library
for young children and their parents/carers
Outreach strategies that deliver increased
participation of parents/carers
Partnership with local organisations and
local early childhood sector workers
Professional development
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7. first5forever.org.au
Snap Shot of Brisbane City Council Libraries
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33 libraries including 6 hubs, 1 mobile library and
archives
1.3 million items in our collection
6.2 million visitors
226, 253 attendees at early literacy programs

8. first5forever.org.au
Where are libraries in Brisbane?
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9. What do libraries offer?
first5forever.org.au
Early literacy advice
Activities for parents and children
Early literacy programs
Resources
Information
Connections
ALIA Public Libraries Advisory Committee report Early Literacy Framework and Strategy for Australian
Public Libraries February 2014.
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10. first5forever.org.au
Collaboratively improving literacy outcomes for children
The first 5 years last a lifetime
NQS – Quality Area 6
Collaborative partnerships
with families and
communities
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11. first5forever.org.au
First 5 Forever sessions – What’s new?
The first 5 years last a lifetime
Focus on interaction – parent and child
engagement
Slowing down the pace of the sessions:
Repetition
Turn taking – serve and return
Expanding on what children say
Using visual props
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12. Parent Messages
first5forever.org.au
The first 5 years last a lifetime
Parent’s involvement in their children’s literacy experiences
has a positive impact on their children’s reading
performance and is key to young children’s future literacy
achievement and educational success.
(Rankin and Brock 2015)
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13. first5forever.org.au
Babies Books and Rhymes
The first three years of your baby’s life are very
important for brain development. As parents,
you can make a real difference by using this
window of opportunity to support baby’s
learning at home. There are four simple things
you can do right from the start – simply talk,
rhyme, read and play with your baby
everyday. (first5forver.org.au)
Examples of Parent Messages
The first 5 years last a lifetime

14. first5forever.org.au
Toddler Time
Use gestures when you speak to your child.
Gestures are an important part of
communication and will help your child
understand what you are saying. Gestures
provide your child with examples of
nonverbal messages that they can use. In
addition, they are thought to be a “bridge” to
learning to say the words they represent.
(Source: Hanen Early Language Program, 2011.)
Examples of Parent Messages
The first 5 years last a lifetime

15. first5forever.org.au
Storytime
Helping children hear the smaller sounds in words
(the syllables), by clapping them out is one way to
develop their phonological awareness. Children can
hear the syllables more easily than each individual
sound in words. Game: Clap the syllables in your
child’s name and other familiar words. Who has the
most claps?
(The Early Literacy Kit, 2010)
Examples of Parent Messages
The first 5 years last a lifetime

16. Inclusive practice
first5forever.org.au
Chatter Play
Community Outreach
First 5 Forever Stories and
Signs
Little Stars Reading Club
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17. Components of Early Literacy
first5forever.org.au
The first 5 years last a lifetime
Oral Language
Phonological Awareness
Alphabet Knowledge
Print Awareness
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18. first5forever.org.au
Supporting the development of children’s mark making skills
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19. Supporting the development of children’s mark making skills
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20. first5forever.org.au
What do Brisbane libraries offer to support families and communities?
The first 5 years last a lifetime
Free early literacy sessions
Free membership for each person in the family
Each member can borrow up to 20 items at a time
Free access to WiFi
Free reading programs such as Gold star and Little
Stars
Parent information and literacy advice
Interactive floor and table
Opportunity to connect with others
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21. first5forever.org.au
Engaging and Partnering for Collective Impact
The first 5 years last a lifetime
Workshop
Discuss an effective partnership you have
experienced. What did it look like?
What would an effective partnership with your local
library look?
How would you measure the success of this
partnership?
How can we establish and maintain this partnership?
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22. first5forever.org.au
What can you do to strengthen the link between your service and your local
library?
The first 5 years last a lifetime
Ideas:
Invite libraries to visit your service on Open Days
Advertise library events at your service
Become a service member of the library
Encourage families to become members
Have a ‘Library book of the week’
Make regular visits to the library with your children
Include library staff as community helpers
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23. first5forever.org.au
Overview and Summary
The first 5 years last a lifetime
What is First 5 Forever and why?
How is Brisbane City Council implementing First 5 Forever?
What do libraries offer to support families?
How can libraries, early childhood and community services
work together?
Questions?
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24. first5forever.org.au
The first 5 years last a lifetime