The Southern Metropolitan Region of the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD), the City of Frankston, the Mornington Peninsula Shire and the Catholic Education Office have joined together in a Literacy Partnership Project – also known as Literacy Villages.

The aim of the project is literacy success for all children and young people aged 0–18 years who live in the City of Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula Shire.

To achieve this aim, the Literacy Villages project will adopt a whole-of-community approach – one that engages and focuses the efforts of all stakeholder groups who have the potential to make a considerable difference to the literacy development of children and young people.

Literacy is the foundation for learning and success throughout life. Literacy is essential for living in the complexity of today’s world.

Technology is changing the way business and our daily lives are conducted, requiring increased literacy skill development. We need to be able to read instructions, processes and engage with technology proficiently in order to interact with the world in which we live.

The early years (0-5 years) are the critical stage for literacy development. Children who commence school with poor emergent literacy skills are most at risk for ongoing literacy problems and an increased risk of leaving school early. Language and emergent literacy development are essential for future literacy success; literacy begins long before children start school.

The impact of poor literacy skills includes; higher rates of unemployment, increased health issues, poor educational outcomes, increased welfare dependence, low self esteem and increased anti social behaviours.

The benefits of good literacy skills include; increased chances of employment, increased self confidence, increased community participation, increased socially acceptable behaviours, reduced financial cost to the community and increased health benefits.

Literacy skills need to be supported from birth, and families, early childhood services and the community all have a role to play in promoting literacy messages and ensuring access to resources that promote literacy development.

The Literacy Villages project is a true partnership project between the State and Federal Governments, the City of Frankston, the Mornington Peninsula Shire and the Catholic Education Office. The project is overseen by a Project Board. Keep reading to view a list of our Project Board Members.

Literacy Villages are networks of key stakeholders in the community who are committed to improving literacy outcomes for children and young people in their local area. They will operate in collaboration and with the support of the Frankston/Mornington Peninsula Literacy Villages Partnership (FMPLVP). There will be 12 Literacy Villages across the two municipalities.

Literacy Villages may be existing stakeholder networks that have a literacy focus or networks that identify the benefits of having a literacy focus in relation to their objectives.

In areas of the two municipalities where there is not an existing network, the project officers will facilitate the establishment of a Literacy Village.

The project officers will take responsibility for facilitating the initial village meeting and support ongoing development of the village.