Playgroups - Creating Community
Hobsons Bay 360 #16: Playgroups providing safe spaces for parents and children
Our Early Years team has been busy delivering a range of Playgroup sessions to the community. In December 2023, 31 Smalltalk groups, 12 supported playgroups and four one-to-one sessions were provided to vulnerable families.
During the school term, 10 Playgroup sessions are delivered each week in eight different suburbs across Hobsons Bay. Families attend groups for approximately six months before they are supported to transition to other community groups or early childhood services. They are free to attend and lots of fun!
“Before I started coming to Playgroup I felt isolated, my daughter didn’t have an opportunity to play with other children. Playgroup is an excellent opportunity for my daughter to interact with other children her age. It has helped my daughter learn new skills and gain confidence”. Orn, Hobsons Bay parent attending a Supported Playgroup in Laverton.
For more information on Council’s Playgroup services including locations, eligibility or to submit an enquiry, click here
What is a Supported Playgroup?
Supported Playgroups provide safe spaces for parents and children to spend quality time together and make connections with other local families and their community. Some Supported Playgroups deliver the Smalltalk program which is a government funded initiative that aims to support Victorian families through early engagement and capacity building. Smalltalk playgroups have a strong focus on supporting families experiencing vulnerability and are in multiple locations to make access easier.
Smalltalk is a set of evidence-based strategies that encourage more frequent, quality interactions between parents and children while also highlighting the importance of parent self-care and connectedness which is delivered by a trained early years professional. Families eligible for Smalltalk playgroups are also offered five coaching sessions where they can work with a facilitator at home or at a venue on the Smalltalk strategies and adapt them to their needs and home environment.
For more information on locations, eligibility or to submit an enquiry, click here.
What is a Community Playgroup?
Community playgroups are regular gatherings of parents and caregivers with children aged 0-5 years. They meet regularly for up to two hours at a time in venues such as community centres, halls, parks and in the homes of playgroup families. There are many community playgroups in Hobsons Bay. For more information, click here.
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