Member for Algester and Minister for the Arts, Leeanne Enoch will join with over two hundred First Nations C&K students and their families this Friday in Acacia Ridge to celebrate learning and promote the importance of literacy as part of the First 5 Forever program.
Ms Enoch said days like today that celebrate learning are critical in improving community engagement with library services available in their community like the First 5 Forever program.
“The First 5 Forever program is about involving our communities in learning and storytelling.
“The public outreach element of the program is crucial to its success – First 5 Forever teams across the state are connecting with local childcare centres, sports clubs and public events in local communities just like Kyabra’s Murri Kids in the Park.
“We know it can take five to six points of contact for some families before they come to a library, so on days like today library staff come out into the community.
“First 5 Forever is about building libraries as welcoming spaces for everyone in the community and removing that fear so we can give these children the best start to life,” Ms Enoch said.
Kyabra CEO David O’Toole said the day was an opportunity to celebrate National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day, which is on 4 August.
Mr O’Toole said there would be a range of entertainment, education and information stalls for parents and children on the day.
“We want this to be an enjoyable day for families that carries benefits beyond here.
“There will be activity stations where families can play golf, children can get their face painted, and there will be a storytelling space.
“Importantly, team members from Queensland Police, Fire and Emergency Services, and Queensland Ambulance will also join us to show the children the work they do every day and the equipment they use to keep our communities safe,” Mr O’Toole said.
Promoting the importance of literacy and learning remains a priority for the Palaszczuk Government, with an annual commitment of $5 million announced in
this year’s state budget to support the program into the future.