Early Years Lifespan Action Group
The Early Years Lifespan Action Group brings together people who care deeply about the start of life in the Barossa. Made up of practitioners, educators, service providers and community members with a connection to children and families, this group works to understand local needs and turn them into action.
The group focuses on children from birth to age 12 and the families who support them. This includes everything from early learning and health and development, to family wellbeing, social connection and access to services.
The Early Years group was the first Lifespan Action Group to move into the action planning phase, building on community engagement data and the outcomes of the 2026 Barossa Early Years Conference, which brought together more than 34 practitioners and community members to shape priorities for the region.
Our Focus
Every child deserves the best possible start. The Early Years Lifespan Action Group brings together families, services, and community members to make the Barossa a place where children thrive from their very first years of life.
Our work focuses on:
making it easier for families to find and access the support they need, when they need it
strengthening the connections between health, education, and community services
reaching families who are hardest to reach including working families, isolated carers, and those navigating complex systems
creating low-barrier, welcoming spaces where children and families can grow, connect, and belong
We believe that when we invest in children and families early, the whole community benefits.
Name | Organisation / Role |
Kate Blacksell - Chair | Department of Human Services |
Melissa Whitrow - Council Collaborative Partner | Barossa Council |
Ali Sanderson | iSee Church |
Yasmin Harman-Smith | The Kids Research Institute |
Jo Hermann | School Ministries |
Skye Reimann | SA Health |
Bill Gransbury | Enhance Barossa Mental Health |
Ali Murch | Ali Murch OT |
Tarnya Eggleton | KindMilk |
Carly Bergen | Redeemer Lutheran School |
Alex Stoke | Nuriootpa Primary School |
Natalie Gallarello | Christian Brothers Community College Children's Centre. Office of Early Childhood Development |
Formal governance arrangements and Terms of Reference for the Wellbeing Network are continuing to evolve alongside implementation of the Wellbeing & Inclusion Plan.
Committee Members
Minutes & Updates
Participation & Meetings
The group meets bi-monthly and focuses on relationship building, information sharing, identifying emerging priorities and supporting collaborative action.
Participation may include representatives from education, health, community services, local organisations and community members with lived experience or professional interest in early years wellbeing.
Below is a record of recent Early Years Lifespan Action Group meetings. Minutes are published here following endorsement by the committee.
Date | Key Discussion Items | Minutes Link |
Monday 20 April 2026 |
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Governance & Support
The Early Years Lifespan Action Group is community-led and Council-enabled, bringing together community members, organisations and service providers to shape priorities and support collaborative action. Council provides the structure, coordination, resources and connections that support the group to operate, while priorities and actions are shaped through community voice and shared participation. The group contributes to the implementation of the Barossa Wellbeing & Inclusion Plan by helping turn community priorities into tangible actions through collaboration and shared participation.