In Summary
- Council’s Talk Talk Play! early years program won the Special Projects category at the 2025 LGPro Awards for Excellence, recognising its impact on early language development in young children.
- The free five-week program equips families with strategies to support speech development at home, with 90% of participants reporting improved confidence.
- Council’s Community Recovery Coordinator, Declan Napier, received a High Commendation in the Young Achiever category for her leadership in flood recovery efforts, particularly in Undera.
- The awards celebrate innovation across the local government sector, with Council proud to see its staff and initiatives recognised at a state level.
The free five-week early intervention program supports two and three-year-old children with delayed language development, helping families address speech challenges early while wait times for clinical appointments remain high. Parents involved in the program are equipped with practical tools and strategies to support their child’s speech at home, with 90 per cent of participants reporting improved confidence and capacity after completing the program.
The winning team included Belinda Whitelaw (Best Start Coordinator), Belinda Schmedje (Early Years Project Officer), and Stacey East (Manager Early Years Operations and Reform). Council is proud to see Talk Talk Play! recognised as a sector-leading initiative.
In further good news, Council’s Community Recovery Coordinator - Community and Events, Declan Napier, received a High Commendation in the Young Achiever category. Declan’s work in community recovery, particularly in Undera, has been outstanding. Her passion, leadership and ability to engage with flood-impacted communities has led to strong and measurable outcomes, making this recognition very well deserved.
Ms Mitchell congratulated the team on their achievements.
“This is an outstanding result and reflects the calibre of people we have working within Council,” she said.
“Talk Talk Play! is a program developed in response to real community need, and it’s delivering real impact for families across Greater Shepparton. I also want to congratulate Declan on her Highly Commended recognition, her commitment and leadership in our community recovery work has been nothing short of inspiring.”
The LGPro Awards for Excellence were held on Thursday 5 June 2025, with 15 categories recognising innovative projects, programs and people across the Local Government sector in Victoria.
Council extends its congratulations to all winners and nominees.
Find out more about the Talk Talk Play program here.
For further information, please contact Council on (03) 5832 9700 or email council@shepparton.vic.gov.au.
