A baby looking at a book held open by an adult, sitting out of shot.

Better Beginnings

Building a better beginning for Western Australian families

Better Beginnings is a state wide literacy program delivered by the State Library of Western Australia with support from the Department of Health and your local public library.

Read to your baby from birth!

Every baby born in the City of Busselton is able to receive a free Better Beginnings bag which contains a beautiful book for sharing with their parent, along with accompanying useful information and activities.

If you are the mother of a new baby and you have not received your Better Beginnings bag you can get one by contacting your Child Health Nurse.

Visit the Better Beginnings website to find out more.

A selection of books, as found in the Better Beginnings Baby's pack.

Better Beginnings provides every two-year-old child in Western Australia a free reading pack.

Your reading pack includes:

  • A rhyming picture book by a popular Australian author
  • A nursery rhyme CD and booklet with lots of fun rhymes to share (the songs can also be downloaded)
  • A nursery rhyme puzzle magnet to keep on your fridge at home
  • An orange library bag.

Visit the Better Beginnings website to find out more.

A selection of books, as found in the Better Beginnings Toddler's pack.

Better Beginnings provides every Kindergarten aged child with a free reading pack.

Your reading pack includes:

  • A beautiful Australian children’s book
  • A fun activity to accompany the book
  • A green library bag
  • An information booklet for parents / caregivers about books and reading.

Schools are required to register for the program each year. The reading packs are provided to the school by the local public library.

Visit the Better Beginnings website to find out more.

A selection of books, as found in the Better Beginnings Kindergarten pack.

The Little Fulla Yarns reading pack launched in November 2021.

Little Fulla Yarns aims to support Aboriginal families in remote communities to Read, Yarn, Sing, Draw and Play with their little fulla every day. The program is currently being rolled out in the Kimberley region.

The Little Fulla Yarns pack includes:

  • Three books by Aboriginal Australian authors
  • Fun activities to support families to share each of the books
  • An alphabet chart
  • Puppets and clapping sticks
  • An information flyer for families
  • A backpack to keep all of this in!

Visit the Better Beginnings website to find out more.

A selection of books, as found in the Better Beginnings Indigenous Families pack.

Better Beginnings Discovery Backpacks are available for loan from the Library.

The backpacks contain books, puppets, games, musical instruments, activity suggestions and reading tips and are able to be borrowed with your library card. They are themed and linked to learning areas in the Curriculum Framework making them a fabulous grab and go educational (but fun too) resource to enjoy at home.

An arrangement of four books, cards for a game of snap, a puppet, and a baby's bell toy.