Better Beginnings provides every baby in Western Australia with a free reading pack. Parents with newborn babies in Western Australia can collect a free Better Beginnings reading pack from their local library or from their Community Child Health Nurse. The Baby pack includes:
- In the Bush I See board book by Kiara Honeychurch, published by Magabala Books
- Baby Ways buggy book
- A booklet with tips for reading with your baby
- 30 Books to Read Before You're 2 booklist
- Two finger puppets
- Fridge magnet
- Bookmark
- Bright Tomorrows App flyer
How much does it cost?
The reading pack is free for all babies born in Western Australia. There is no charge to families or to Community Child Health Nurses, who distribute the packs at the 6 - 8 week check. Libraries pay an amount calculated according to how many babies were born in the Local Government Area (LGA) using birth registration figures from the Department of Justice. Payment of the invoiced amount will guarantee access by the LGA to all the Better Beginnings programs and resources, including the Better Beginnings Baby Pack.
Who Does What?
The State Library of Western Australia:
- Coordinates the program at a State level including funding, reporting, and promotion;
- Organises the purchase of the gift books;
- Designs and prints the materials in the reading pack, such as the booklet, nursery rhyme poster and booklist;
- Packs the bags and sends them to your library.
Your Library:
Public Libraries sit at the heart of Better Beginnings, acting as the community hub supporting parents in their role as their child’s first teacher.
Public Libraries:
- Liaise with the local Community Child Health Nurse to ensure that they have adequate birth packs in stock and make arrangements on a regular basis to top up their supplies as required.
- Can customise the reading packs by adding a library flier and putting gift stickers on the books (optional). Please add only information material generated by your council.
Community Child Health Nurse (CCHN):
The Department of Health is a valued partner in the delivery of the Better Beginnings Baby Pack. There is a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the State Library of Western Australia and the Department of Health. This formal agreement requires CCHN to support the delivery of the program by distributing the packs to new parents.
When will we receive the invoice for participation in the Better Beginnings programs and resources?
Libraries will receive a yearly invoice in late July. You can request to receive this invoice earlier via Public Libraries Help Desk.
How much will my invoice be?
Libraries pay an amount calculated according to how many babies were born in the Local Government Area (LGA) using birth registration figures from the Department of Justice. This is calculated and sent out as an advance notice in March, followed by formal communication to Library Managers in May or June. Libraries can request a projected invoicing figure for the financial year, any time from January of the same calendar year, via the Public Libraries Help Desk.
What does my invoice include?
Payment of the invoice entitles your library to full participation in the Better Beginnings Program for a financial year. This includes:
- Delivery of all reading packs – Baby, Sing With Me and Kindergarten;
- Training offered by the Better Beginnings team; and
- Access to outreach resources produced by SLWA including Play Panels and The Story Tent. A full list of outreach resources and details about borrowing procedures can be found under the Resources tab.
I’m required to raise a purchase order – what should I do?
Contact Better Beginnings via the Public Libraries Help Desk to notify us ASAP. We will ensure we do not raise an invoice until we have received a purchase order.
I don't agree with the amount that we have been invoiced. Who can I speak to?
Raise a query via the Public Libraries Help Desk and a member of the Better Beginnings team will be in touch.
I don't know who the CCHN is? How am I going to get the packs to them?
You can search for your closest Maternal, Child & Family Health Centre.
I am in a small community and know when a new baby has been born. Can I deliver the packs directly to the new parent?
You can, however there is no expectation that you do this. The State Library of Western Australia and the Department of Health has a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which requires that Child Health Nurses support the delivery of the program by distributing the packs to new parents.
When will I receive my reading packs?
Communication is sent to all library managers every May or June. This letter not only includes the amount payable, it also details the delivery schedule for your library for the coming financial year. A copy of this projected delivery schedule can be requested at any time via the Public Library Help Desk.
I already have a lot of yellow Baby packs at my Library, I don't need anymore! Who can I speak to?
Please fill out a form on the Public Library Help Desk. Provide us with an estimated figure of how much stock you have at your library as this will assist us in projecting when to recommence deliveries.
I know the Baby pack has been updated and I would like to have that one! Can I return the old Baby packs to SLWA and get sent out some new packs?
The simple answer is no! We understand that the new Baby pack is lovely, but so is the old one, and it is still a fabulous early literacy resource for families. Your LGA has paid for these resources and it would be irresponsible and wasteful not to use up the current stock.
I would like to request extra Baby reading packs. How do I get some more and will this impact my invoice?
You can request extra packs via the Public Library Help Desk. Ad hoc deliveries are available at any time. There are no additional charges for any facet of the program, including increasing or decreasing the delivery of reading packs.
