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Building New Community Playgroups Across Victoria

14 August 2018

The Andrews Labor Government is helping to get new community playgroups off the ground, giving parents with young children more access to valuable support.

Minister for Early Childhood Education Jenny Mikakos today announced 50 playgroups have been successful in receiving a 2018 Great Start Community Playgroup grant to help them establish themselves.

The $50,000 investment will provide new community playgroups with funding to stock up on items such as toys, books, arts and crafts kits as well as mentoring support and registration with Playgroup Victoria.

Community playgroups across Victoria have been successful in receiving a grant – from Ballarat to Torquay and from Reservoir to Pakenham – with the program targeted towards regional and growth areas or locations where few groups exist.

Community playgroups provide opportunities for children to learn through play and parents to spend time with their children while meeting other parents in their community and supporting each other.

More than 40,000 children and 30,000 families participate in community playgroups in Victoria each year.

The Government is investing $200,000 in the Great Start Community Playgroup Fund, which will support more than 200 new community playgroups across the state.

A further $200,000 has also been provided to Playgroup Victoria to build stronger connections between Maternal and Child Health nurse-run first-time parent groups and community playgroups.

Families are benefiting through the Government’s landmark $202.1 million Education State Early Childhood Reform Plan to ensure kids are ready for kinder, ready for school and ready for life.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Early Childhood Education Jenny Mikakos

“Community playgroups are an opportunity for parents and children to make new friends, learn from each other and hear about local services and supports.”

“We are helping more parents across Victoria access these valuable community playgroups closer to home.”

Quotes attributable to Playgroup Victoria CEO Danny Schwarz

“Playgroup Victoria is pleased to be able to support new community playgroups in partnership with the Victorian Government”

“Community playgroups support children’s development as well as parents in an engaging and welcoming environment.”

Reviewed 19 August 2020

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