First 2000 Days

The first 2000 days of life has a significant impact on a child’s development and their future health and wellbeing. We now know the in-utero experience of a baby followed by a child’s early life experience predicts their chances of succeeding at school, of doing well in life and of having chronic diseases as an adult (NSW First 2000 Days Framework).
 
Given the importance of raising awareness of this research, the Rotary Clubs of Corrimal, Dapto, Fairy Meadow, Shellharbour and Kiama are working with local NSW Health care professionals and agencies to deliver the key messages under the First 2000 Days Framework. Rotary is providing the important link between Health and agencies as Rotary works across the community providing funding and support to many agencies supporting local families.
 
The project is known as the 'Illawarra Shoalhaven First 2000 Days Community Project'. The aim of the project is to make our community aware of the importance of the first 2000 days, to communicate the key messages from The NSW First 2000 Days Framework and where to seek further information and help if required.
 
To accomplish these outcomes the project has:
  • produced a flyer to deliver the key messages 
  • developed a peer education program with Health to be delivered to agency staff and other key community groups. This will give staff a deeper understanding of The First 2000 Days Framework to enable them to deliver the messages to families in a way that meets their specific needs
  • in addition, we will be conducting a media campaign to get the key messages on the importance of the first 2000 days out to the wider community.
Please download a copy of the First 2000 Days Flyer.
 

The Project to date

Domestic violence (DV) is a major issue in Australian Society - from one in five women dying from DV in 2023 to one in four so far this year. Fifty percent of the work of our police is DV related.

This project will aim to provide a platform for those working in the DV field and local Rotary Clubs to start a process of working together to develop strategies to prevent, raise awareness of and mediate the effects of DV.
 
Reducing the incidence of DV will not happen quickly, it may take several generations, however it is time to start now to work together. Preventing DV is a community responsibility.

Activities and key milestones

Run Against Violence (RAV) 30 August-17 September
  • Form teams – walk/run 1300 kms in the 2 1/2 weeks (group of 20 3-4 kms per day). The more people the less distance.
  • $49 to register. Can do silver & gold.
  • Set up a Fundraising page on RAV-goal set to raise
  • Webinars
  • Register an event
  • Social media
  • Posters, stickers, banners-download and print
Rotary Zone 8 DV Walk-30 November 2024

Purple Friday
  • Wear purple shirts on every Friday
  • Purchase shirts at online
  • Get your organisation to buy t-shirts and wear them on Fridays. $8 each
  • Download the flyer
  • Set up a donation bin in a local shop, mall, organisation $220 per bin
  • Earn & Return
  • Teaching young people about respectful relationships
  • Collecting phones and parts for distribution to victims of DV
 
In 2023, the project team decided to incorporate domestic violence (DV) awareness and prevention activities as DV results in 40% of toxic stress in children 0-5 years. It is also a huge community problem. So we organized two walks to raise awareness: on 18 March in Kanahooka on  in Wollongong  on 25 November. 
 
Unfortunately the planned walk in November 2024 had to be cancelled due to rain.  So in 2025, the Illawarra Rotary Clubs and local organisation will walk from Kiama Black Beach and return to Kiama Black Beach with the walk being approximately 2.1 kilometres.
 
On completion of the walk there will be presentations on the impact of domestic violence by leaders in domestic violence and by local police. Seating will be available and resources on domestic violence by local agencies.
 
A flyer for our forthcoming walk will be posted soon.
 

Say No to Domestic Violence T-Shirts

In Australia, Domestic and Family Violence is disturbingly common.

It is one of the drivers of homelessness among women, children, and men. Domestic and Family Violence crosses all boundaries, race, age, financial status, education, gender, and the suburb you may live in.

Wearing a purple shirt every Friday will help to get the message out to our community that we need to stop domestic and family violence!

If you'd like to purchase a shirt to support this great project, you can by this link.