First 5 Forever

First 5 Forever connects to families through our public libraries and community agencies.

Did you know that up to 90% of a child's brain development happens in the first 5 years? Sharing stories, rhymes, singing, talking, and playing with your child right from birth can build a foundation for your child's future development, which can last their entire lifetime. 

What is First 5 Forever?

First 5 Forever is an initiative of the State Library of Queensland, and is a universal family literacy program aimed at supporting stronger language and literacy environments for babies and young children from 0–5 years and their families. First 5 Forever will directly support parents and primary caregivers to feel more confidence as the child’s first and most important teacher. It will provide parents and caregivers with an increased access to resources they need through public libraries.

Why is First 5 Forever important to Queensland?

The Australian Early Development Census data for 2012 shows that 26.2% of Queensland children are developmentally vulnerable or at risk on one or more developmental domains – including language and cognitive skills. Queensland ranks sixth behind the other states.

In Queensland approximately 36% of parents of 0–2 year-olds, and 52% of parents of 3–8 year-olds do not read to their children regularly, and current evidence suggests this role is not well understood by parents and caregivers of children aged 0–5 years in Australia.

How will improved outcomes be achieved?

Engaging and partnering with families/primary caregivers and local organisations, to provide consistent messages around emergent literacy and language - explore opportunities in our community.

Children's services and activities reflect what we already do and explore new ways of improving access and quality - how we include language and emergent literacy into our current programs and messages directly to parents/primary caregivers.

Community Messaging this includes how we communicate with the families we are already connected with; how to reach families outside of the library and encourage parents/primary caregivers to be their child's first and best teacher - outreach, parent messaging, innovative services.

Contact us

For further information about First 5 Forever in the Livingstone Shire Council region please contact Livingstone Shire Library.

Phone:  (07) 4913 3850

Email: library@livingstone.qld.gov.au

Check out our Facebook page for more details.