Early Years Partnership — Bidyadanga
Improving children’s well-being and school readiness in Bidyadanga
Bidyadanga Aboriginal Community (La Grange) is located on the Kimberley coast in Western Australia, 1590 kilometres from the capital city of Perth and 180 kilometres from Broome.
Located on the Kimberley coast in Western Australia, 1590 kilometres from the capital city of Perth and 180 kilometres from Broome, Bidyadanga Aboriginal Community (La Grange) was one of only four communities invited to participate in the Early Years Partnership.
Selected as EYP’s very remote community, it joins the ‘metropolitan’ community of Armadale West, the ‘remote’ community of Derby and the ‘regional’ community of Central Great Southern.
Bidyadanga was chosen as the very remote community of the Early Years Partnership due to the demonstration of interest and capacity to benefit, including:
- A need for better outcomes for children under school age and their families.
- Sufficiently broad and genuine interest within the community to achieve change, and
- A level of capacity to do so.
Bidyadanga is the largest remote Aboriginal community in Western Australia with a population of approximately 850 residents and is home to the Karajarri, Juwalinny, Mangala, Nyungamarta and Yulpartja language groups. The Karajarri people are the Traditional Owners of Bidyadanga.
Australian Early Development Census
The Australian Early Development Census (AEDC) is a nationwide data collection of early childhood development at the time children commence their first year of full-time school. The AEDC highlights what is working well and what needs to be improved or developed to support children and their families by providing evidence to support health, education and community policy and planning.
The AEDC is held every three years, with the 2021 AEDC data collection being the fifth collection. The census involves teachers of children in their first year of full-time school completing a research tool, the Australian version of the Early Development Instrument. The Instrument collects data relating to five key areas of early childhood development referred to as ‘domains’. These include:
- Physical health and well being
- Social competence
- Emotional maturity
- Language and cognitive skills (school-based)
- Communication skills and general knowledge
The AEDC domains have been shown to predict later health, wellbeing, and academic success.
For more information about the AECD see Australian Early Development Census – Department of Education, Australian Government
Upcoming Events
Bidyadanga is always full of new and exciting things to see and do. With plenty of activities on the calendar, you’re sure to find something free and fun to do with your family.