Other programs and services
There are many ways to support a healthy eating culture in your early childhood service, and many organisations who can continue to build healthy eating and oral health messages into your curriculum, policies and practices.
Click on the infographic below to access links to each organisation.
Use one or all of us - we are here to help!
If you work in a health organisation that supports local early years services you can download this editable version and add your contact details.
Curriculum and resources
Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority
The Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) is a statutory authority, serving both government and non-government schools. The VCAA develops and implements the curricula and assessment for all students in Victoria from the early years to senior-secondary. The VCAA's mission is to provide high quality curricula, assessment and reporting to enable learning for life.
To support the implementation of the Victorian Curriculum F–10, the VCAA offers a range of curriculum-area specific and cross-curriculum resources to assist teachers to plan, assess and find curriculum-related teaching resources.
The Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority
The Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority supports the Australian and state and territory governments and the education and care sector to deliver on the National Quality Framework. It provides guidance, resources and services to support the sector and monitors and promotes consistent application of the Education and Care Services National Law.
The Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation
The Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation supports educators to deliver pleasurable food education through a kitchen garden program. We provide professional development, educational resources, an online community and ongoing real-time support for teachers in early childhood services, primary and secondary schools
VegKit is an integrated program of research, with CSIRO, Flinders University and Nutrition Australia working together, to deliver tools and interventions to increase children's vegetable intake. User guides and resources outline best practice for different stakeholders who influence what children eat.
The Victorian Department of Education and Training
The Victorian Department of Education and Training provides information on training for early childhood professionals, support for families, and regulations for running a service. DET provides advice on healthy eating in the early years including, nutrition advice and support, serving food at your service, translated resources for parents.
Support
Healthy Eating Advisory Service
The Healthy Eating Advisory Service provides free information, training, resources and menu assessments to support early years services to provide and promote healthier foods and drinks. HEAS is delivered by Nutrition Australia Vic Division, with support from the Victorian Government
Vic Kids Eat Well is an exciting new state-wide movement that’s focused on transforming the food and drink environments where kids spend their time. Vic Kids Eat Well supports Outside School Hours Care services to offer healthier food and drink options - focusing on four key actions and providing clear, simple and achievable steps to making healthy food and drink options available for kids.
Healthy Families Healthy Smiles
Healthy Families Healthy Smiles is designed to support early childhood professionals to engage with children under 5 years and their families to share oral health messages. HFHS is delivered by Dental Health Services Victoria, with support from the Victorian Government
The Achievement Program - The Healthy Early Childhood Services Achievement Program is a free membership program supporting services to become healthier places. We help you achieve best practice policies and practices in health and wellbeing and receive Victorian Government recognition for your work
Smiles 4 Miles is an initiative of Dental Health Services Victoria. The oral health promotion program is implemented in early childhood settings and works in partnership with local organisations with the aim to improve the oral health of children and their families in high risk areas of Victoria.
INFANT is an evidence based program that helps parents/caregivers with healthy eating and active play from the start of their baby’s life. INFANT was developed by the Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), Deakin University and has state-wide scale-up support from the Victorian Government.
Information and resources
The Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority - StartingBlocks.gov.au
The Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority - StartingBlocks.gov.au is a government website that helps parents take their first step into early childhood education and care. It provides a range of free resources on child development, types of child care, finding child care, understanding quality ratings, and tips for at home activities
Nutrition Australia is a national, not-for-profit, non-government organisation providing nutrition information and services to encourage healthy eating at a population-wide level. We support organisations in the early years sector to create healthier food environments with the aim of establishing positive dietary habits early in life.
Parents’ Voice is an online network of parents who are interested in improving the food and activity environments of Australian children. Parents’ Voice was formed in 2004 and represents thousands of Australian parents
Menu planning
Healthy Eating Advisory Service
The Healthy Eating Advisory Service provides free information, training, resources and menu assessments to support early years services to provide and promote healthier foods and drinks. HEAS is delivered by Nutrition Australia Vic Division, with support from the Victorian Government
