Community
20 November, 2024
Mount Isa families the target of proposed education expo
More than 30 education and health service providers have signed on to host stalls at an expo.
What began as a simple call for interested parties to collaborate has grown into an education and child health expo that aims to set up Mount Isa children for success ahead of the 2025 school year.
More than 30 education and health service providers across the city have signed on to host stalls at a Isa Community 2025 – Let’s Get Enrolled Expo to likely be held at Buchanan Park in January.
Academics claim the first 2000 days of the child’s life have the biggest impact on their development, with the health and welfare of the child crucial to ensuring they are engaged at school and have the best opportunity for learning and advancement.
The proposal for the expo is to have relevant experts gathered to provide families with free advice and assistance for the needs of the city’s school children – from government officials collecting data to eye and ear medical testing to assistance completing relevant documents or locating birth certificates.
It is also expected there will be university academics on site to discuss how to get a better sleep for the child to donations of school resources available and even a hairdresser to have the kids looking their best for the first day of school.
Ngukuthati Children and Family Centre manager Willanna Morris said education operators across the city were constantly running various information sessions in the lead up to each school year.
Ms Morris said the Expo was about bringing all the opportunities for families with school age children under one roof.
“We would like to move the various groups out of their silos and work together in a collaborative effort,” Ms Morris said.
“We want to host an event that attracts families to come in and be able to find out all the relevant and necessary information before their child starts the school year.
“Now we are just hoping we can inspire many more local organisations and services to join in this awesome way to transform the heart of the outback.”
Ms Morris said the concept was based on the “School Savvy” back to school resources initiative operated around Australia by Centacare.
She said event organisers were also looking for donations or financial assistance from any local businesses that would benefit from the event.