Introduction
In January 2007, the City of Greater Bendgio received world wide recognition from UNICEF as Australia's first Child Friendly City. Based on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, a Child Friendly City promotes the right of every young citizen to:
- Influence decisions about their city
- Express their opinion on the city they want
- Participate in family, community and social life
- Receive basic services such as health care, education and shelter
- Drink safe water and have access to proper sanitation
- Be protected from exploitation, violence and abuse
- Walk safely in the streets on their own
- Meet friends and play
- Have green spaces for plants and animals
- Live in an unpolluted environment
- Participate in cultural and social events
- Be and equal citizen of their city with access to every service, regardless of ethnic origin, religion, income, gender or disability
The Children's Website has been developed to give children the same opportunity as adults to access information regarding services and activities for children in Bendigo.
The web site is aimed at being safe, fun and interactive. Children from 3 to 12 years can now access key messages regarding their health and wellbeing, including getting out and about exploring Bendigo as well as trying out news things such as going to bush and parkland areas. Family activities are a focus of the site and information is provided to facilitate fun family experiences.
Bendigo children have had a great amount of input into the children's website. The download items are ones that have been commonly suggested by local children. These will be updated regularly.
Please join our mailing list for updates on the latest activities and events for Bendigo children and families. Feedback from children and parents is also welcome by Sending Us An Email.
Another resource for families is our Child Friendly Service Directory. Search here for child friendly businesses, services and organisations. Other local child friendly businesses are encouraged to apply for the recognition of the work they are doing to recognise and respect the children of Bendigo.
For further information regarding the City of Greater Bendigo's Child Friendly City strategy, please go to www.bendigo.vic.gov.au/children
Bendigo Universal Access Map
City of Greater have developed a valuable resource known as the Bendigo Universal Access Map. The map is useful to all residents, visitors and tourists to the city of all abilities and age groups. In particular, it contains parent/infant feeding rooms, gradients and the Universal Access Path which are easy and safer paths to walk along.
The fold up, pocket sized map is available from more than 100 locations across the City of Greater Bendigo or can be accessed from the following site http://www.bendigo.vic.gov.au//page/page.asp?Page_id=3903
Parent Information Sessions
City of Greater Bendigo facilitate a range of Parent Information Sessions to provide helpful strategies to assist with issues such as sleep, behaviour and toileting. A full list of current sessions is available.
Enquiries regarding the Parent Information Sessions or to place a booking contact Children & Family Services 195-229 Lyttleton Terrace, Bendigo Telephone (03) 5434 6311
Immunisation Sessions
City of Greater Bendigo provide nine Immunisation sessions per month. Vaccines on the recommended National Immunisation Schedule are available. Please ensure to bring your blue child health book with you. For information regarding the Immunisation Program: www.bendigo.vic.gov.au/Immunisation
Following is a list of Immunisation Sessions 2011 http://www.bendigo.vic.gov.au/Files/2011_IMMUNISATION_SESSIONS.pdf
Enquiries regarding the immunisation program may be directed to Children and Family Services located at Council's Lyttleton Terrace Service Centre, 195-229 Lyttleton Terrace, Bendigo, Telephone (03) 5434 6312 or TTY (03) 5434 6460
City of Greater Bendigo contains and range of play spaces for children and families to enjoy, a list of the current playgrounds can be found at the following address http://www.bendigo.vic.gov.au/Files/ListofPlaygrounds.pdf
Yo Bendigo - youth website
From the consultations held during the development of the City of Greater Bendigo's Youth Development Strategy, the key outcome was to acknowledge the need for a current means of communication to capture the interest and needs for young people as well as provide resources and support to sector workers. The internet and in particular a Youth website was decided as the most appropriate means to for this to occur.
The Youth Portal, provides information on all of the services, programs, activities, events, and opportunities for young people (aged 12 -25 years) from across the CoGB which are offered by Council, Community and Government. The YO Bendigo (Youth Online Bendigo) website endeavours to provide every opportunity for young people to access accurate information that enables them to actively participate, provides a range of choices, helps them to celebrate their achievements, resource themselves and connect to all that is available in our community.
http://www.yobendigo.com.au