PUBLIC LECTURE: UWA Albany Public Lecture

The first 1000 days from conception are more critically important in shaping a child’s future health and wellbeing than any other period. Along with this, we all know that our world continues to be in the midst of enormous change and faces many challenges. Among these changes are that a child born today in Albany can expect to be alive in 2120. During this 100 years, this same child will experience a longer and more diverse career, with the possibility s/he will confront major disruptions in work life bought about by emerging technologies. S/he will also face an increasingly globalised economy, in which many more jobs will require highly developed technical and interpersonal skills. And more will be expected in terms of her/his contribution to the economy because the population will be swiftly changing, with fewer younger people and more in their middle and senior years. Because the picture for today’s children will be so complex, every community and each of its residents have a stake in carefully considering how they might contribute to ensuring every local child’s vital first 1000 days are the best they can be. This presentation outlines why the issue matters so much and highlights some steps you might consider taking to ensure Albany continues to offer every local child the best possible early years.