Playgroup NSW

Last month, Playgroup NSW attended the annual International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD) Morning Tea at Parliament House in Canberra, hosted by the Minister for Social Services, the Hon Amanda Rishworth, alongside Minister for the NDIS, the Hon Bill Shorten and Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon Senator Penny Wong. At Playgroup NSW, we are committed to spreading awareness and fostering inclusion beyond IDPWD and are proud to support inclusion through: • our inclusive community Playgroups open to all children and families • our supported Playgroups for families and children with disability or developmental delay under PlayConnect+ • our hybrid Playgroups through our PALS program to foster awareness and act as a transition pathway • our MyTime peer to peer support program for parents of children with disability or developmental delay • our online capacity building workshops and at home resources Learn more about Playgroup NSW here: https://lnkd.in/g3ZtgUZ6

This week, Playgroup NSW joined our colleagues from around Australia to meet with the Department of Social Services (DSS) to discuss the review of their children, youth and parenting programs. We proudly deliver high impact, place based community playgroups through the Children and Parenting Support (CaPS) Program, providing vital early childhood development, peer to peer support and community connection. CEO Emily Caska advocated for the vital role community playgroups play as soft entry points that positively change the trajectory of the lives of children, with further investment needed to ensure we are reaching the most vulnerable children and families, and so too children who may not live in traditional family settings. All children deserve the very best start in life, with playgroups an evidence based, best practice model critical for optimal outcomes.

It was a wonderful morning at our Killara Public School Playgroup last week! Our CEO Emily Caska joined the session, connecting with children, parents and teachers, hearing their stories, and gaining valuable insights into the role community playgroups play in building community. We love our community Playgroups for the meaningful connections, creativity, and joy they foster for children and their families. Find your local Playgroup here 👉 https://lnkd.in/dsUSGwPh

This truly is the power of play! Across generations, bringing joy, laughter and connection. Our innovative Intergenerational Playgroups see us partner with aged care homes to deliver our community playgroups. We sing, we craft, we learn, we connect. Natalie Pereira makes the magic happen with such passion, alongside her incredible team. Learn more about our playgroups in your area here: https://lnkd.in/dsUSGwPh

We love hearing from our Playgroup NSW families! 💖 Your testimonials remind us of the incredible impact Playgroups have on little ones and their parents. Find your local Playgroup here: https://lnkd.in/dsUSGwPh

A lovely morning spent at our George's Estate intergenerational Playgroup in Penhurst! Our intergenerational Playgroups bring together three generations - seniors, children and their parents and caregivers to interact, socialise and create lifelong memories. This model of Playgroup adds a new dimension to Playgroups and can provide meaningful engagement for all participants, boost self-esteem, reduce depression and anxiety, and develop a sense of connection and friendship within a nurturing environment. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/gN7Hjh-C

Playgroup NSW's CEO Emily Caska was proud to participate in an important meeting with the NSW Minister for Disability Inclusion, the Hon Kate Washington, alongside our fellow Co-Chairs of CaFSA NSW, Stacey Touma from Kindred and Morgan A. Fitzpatrick from Koorana Child & Family Services last month.   This meeting highlighted several critical areas for action, including: • The need for investment in high-quality, thriving services and supports across NSW. • The opportunities foundational supports present to improve outcomes for children and families. • Addressing intersectionality, not just between state and federal governments, but also across government departments. • Elevating the voices of children and families in shaping reforms. • Building and maintaining open dialogue with government in this reform-rich environment.   As part of CaFSA NSW, a diverse and collaborative alliance of passionate experts, Playgroup NSW is committed to advocating for children and families across the state. This meeting was a meaningful step toward broader engagement between the sector and government, underscoring the importance of collective advocacy and partnerships.   At Playgroup NSW, we firmly believe all children deserve the best possible start in life, supported by strong families and connected communities. We are proud to work alongside leaders and organisations that share our commitment to ensuring that every child and family in NSW has access to the services, support, and opportunities they need to thrive.

In case you missed it… here are some happy snaps from all the fun last week at our all abilities family fun day at Ropes Crossing last Monday. The day was jampacked with activities including morning tea, face painting, balloon twisting, community resources and of course - plenty of play! Find your local Playgroup here: https://lnkd.in/dsUSGwPh

A welcome election promise announcement that not only provides early childhood education to children, but also enhances workforce participation for parents. Playgroup NSW advocates for the government to take a broader lens on early childhood development by investing in playgroups and playgroup venues as part of the newly announced $1 billion Building Early Education Fund. Playgroups play a key, well evidenced role in enhancing early childhood development broadly, providing a soft entry point and critical pathway into and alongside early childhood education. We know that cost of living pressures are real and increasing for so many families. We welcome measures that ease this burden for families, whilst prioritising early childhood development. Playgroup NSW welcomes this announcement by Jason Clare MP and looks forward to continuing to work with the federal and state governments to ensure that all children have the very best start in life.

We’re thrilled to see our Chief First Nations Officer Kellie Murray highlighting our vital work with First Nations communities at our Ngurra Hub in Wagga Wagga. The Governor-General Sam Mostyn took a keen interest in this important initiative, and we couldn’t be prouder of Kellie and our incredible team in Wagga. Their authentic, agile, and innovative approach is truly making a difference—driven by the community, for the community.   At Playgroup NSW, we’re committed to empowering families and building stronger communities, and this is just one example of how we’re making that happen.   To learn more about us and what we do visit: https://lnkd.in/gcrfUjBd