CityLibraries brings reading program to correctional centre
Date published: 14 September 2016
Mothers in the Townsville Women’s Correctional Centre now have the opportunity to access CityLibraries Townsville’s First 5 Forever program.
In partnership with Save the Children, CityLibraries Townsville takes First 5 Forever to mothers within the Townsville Women’s Correctional Centre to support them to be more confident as their child’s first and most important teacher.
Community and Cultural Development Committee chair Cr Colleen Doyle said the aim of the First 5 Forever program was to build capacity of parents to develop their child’s early literacy.
“This is achieved through oral language development – for example singing, talking, interacting and sharing stories, and reading books. The skills learned through the program will support their children’s language and literacy development,” Cr Doyle said.
“The Townsville Women’s Correctional Centre can accommodate up to 154 women and includes a specialist mothers and babies unit.
“Women can have their children living with them in the centre up to primary school age, so we saw the opportunity to attend on a monthly basis and work in partnership, originally with Playgroup Queensland and now with Save the Children to support mothers to develop their child’s early literacy skills.
“It’s as simple as sharing a book, singing nursery rhymes and talking to your child from birth to give them the best start in life.
“Children whose parents are in correctional programs should have access to the same opportunities as any other child.”
CityLibraries Townsville’s First 5 Forever program is a universal family literacy program aimed at creating stronger language and literacy environments for Queensland children before they start kindergarten and school.
Supported by State Library of Queensland funding of $792,862 over four years (2015-2018) CityLibraries Townsville has been able to develop community outreach and additional early literacy programs including a new weekend session of Story Time each month and the introduction of Toddler Time – a brand new program delivered weekly in two branches.
Outreach programs allow CityLibraries Townsville to take First 5 Forever to the community through community partnerships including; Queensland Health, day care centres, kindergartens, shopping centres, community centres, Centrelink, playgroups, community service providers and the Townsville Women’s Correctional Centre.
The funding has also supported the creation of two full-time equivalent positions to deliver the First 5 Forever programs.
Find out more about CityLibraries Services and First 5 Forever on council’s website or by visiting the one of our branches.
