Geelong-based community organisation achieves full accreditation

BARWON Child, Youth and Family (BCYF) has achieved full accreditation against three sets of standards following an independent review carried out in March.

The not-for-profit community service organisation, which services Geelong, Colac and the Surf Coast, met all criteria for standards including the Quality Improvement Council (QIC) Health and Community Services Standards, the Human Services Standards and the Early Childhood Intervention Standards.

BCYF has over 160 years’ experience supporting vulnerable people in need through its six priority service areas which include early years, family and community, youth, alcohol and other drugs; and mental health, out-of-home care and headspace Geelong.

BCYF chief executive officer Sandy Morrison said the accreditation outcome was a recognition and validation of the organisation’s commitment to the wider Barwon region community.

“Achieving this positive accreditation outcome means that BCYF, together with its partners, can continue to respond with meaning and purpose to the needs of children, young people and their families in one with our vision of community where people are safe, connected and empowered to live well,” Mr Morrison said.

BCYF also achieved successful accreditation from the Department of Education and Training’s Quality Assessment and Regulation Division in the last 12 months for the management of its three local kindergartens – Belmont Community Kindergarten, Flinders Kindergarten and St Albans Park Kindergarten.

Mr Morrison said each kindergarten audited achieved a rating of “exceeding” for all seven National Quality Standards.