In her role as Community Development Officer for Circular Head Council, Yvonne Stone helps facilitate lifelong learning and literacy programs in the rural area in North-West Tasmania.
Mayor Daryl Quilliam nominated Ms Stone as a Local Government Focus ‘High Achiever’ for her work with Circular Head Education and Training Consultative Committee (CHETCC).
The committee is chaired by the Deputy Mayor and comprises representatives from Council, education and training providers as well as business, industry and community.
A particularly successful initiative, partially-funded by the committee, was the ‘Reading Bug Egg’, which saw 3000 books read by the community in 2014.
“In 2013 Council funded the first phase of a whole of community, multi-level literacy project,” said Ms Stone.
“Literacy is a key driver to improving opportunities in education, training, employment and personal growth, as well as being crucial for economic growth and productivity.
“The Learn for Life Community Literacy Plan was launched in 2014.”
Ms Stone said one of the goals of the Plan is to see more young children and parents engage with early learning programs and for the whole community to work together on its delivery.
“It was wonderful that a local early learning service provider, HIPPY Smithton developed and led a whole of community initiative, called the ‘Reading Bug Egg’. “This initiative, although funded primarily by Circular Head Council, through CHETCC, was delivered in collaboration with other service providers and agencies as well as business and community groups.”
The project built a narrative around the ‘Egg’ and got the community excited about reading.
“The Egg was ‘discovered’ in November 2014 by a Circular Head Council worker and determined by a local vet to be a rare Reading Bug Egg, which needed to be read to in order to hatch,” said Ms Stone.
“Over the following nine months the Egg visited seven Circular Head Schools, two childcare centres, a number of service providers and community organisations as well as attending public events such as the local Christmas Parade, Circular Head Show and the annual Twilight on the Duck festival.
“The Egg even attended a Council meeting and was read to by a number of elected members.”
The project proved wildly successful: “By the conclusion of the project, just under 3000 books had been read, and it seemed as though the whole community was talking about it.”
Aside from the Reading Bug Egg program, the committee delivers other activities and events that encourage lifelong learning.
Each year during National Science Week, the CHETCC holds an event known as the ‘Science Big Gig’, which highlights the role of science in our everyday lives. The committee also oversees the Mayor’s Education Fund bursary, which provides financial assistance to a local student who would otherwise find it difficult to undertake tertiary study.
Currently, CHETCC is working on the development of a web portal that will link up local businesses with training opportunities.
Ms Stone said she has a varied role as a Community Development Officer.
“I enjoy the diversity of the role and the range of responsibilities that come with being a Community Development Officer in a small Council. In addition to administering CHETCC, my responsibilities range from event management, project management, through to road safety, emergency management and community liaison.”
A key challenge faced in her role is working with limited resources: “Resourcing is always a challenge for small Councils. Fortunately we are able to take advantage of strong community connections and we work well with other local organisations and the business community and even other neighbouring Councils in our regions; this sharing of resources enables us to deliver some quality programs more efficiently.”
Overall, Ms Stone said she is extremely proud of her Council and feels privileged to be able to make a positive difference to the community.
“I am passionate about personal and professional growth and development, and helping all members of our community to grow and achieve their individual goals.
“My work with CHETCC has enabled me to continue to promote education and skill development in our region, which will in turn flow on to economic benefits and future growth.”
