Best Start for Canberra’s Children: The First 1000 Days Strategy
Summary
The first 1000 days is the time between a child being conceived until they reach about 2 years of age. Best Start focuses on the first 1000 days because evidence tells us that children’s brain and body development is critically shaped during this period.
The Best Start strategy aims to:
- support a more coordinated effort that will increase community awareness of the importance of the first 1000 days
- enable parents to feel more confident, supported and connected
- make services accessible when children and families need them.
Best Start creates the common goals for the health and wellbeing of all children from conception to 2 years of age and the conditions needed to make sure they get the best start.