Playgroups

Starting a playgroup is a meaningful way to connect families, support children’s development, and foster local community participation. If you're a parent, carer, or resident interested in starting a playgroup, Maribyrnong City Council is here to assist.

Council Support Includes:

• Guidance and practical steps to establish your group
• Support to find suitable venues across the municipality for playgroup activities
• Assistance promoting your new group within the community

While Council provides local support, it is recommended that community playgroups take up Playgroup Victoria Membership to ensure each playgroup family has insurance.  For more information regarding insurance please contact Playgroup Victoria on 1800 171 882 or visit the Playgroup Victoria website.

For more information or to discuss starting or joining a playgroup, please phone: 9032 4226 or via email at playgroups@maribyrnong.vic.gov.au.

Council Supported Playgroups meet regularly as listed below.

A family member in the household holds one of the following:

• a Commonwealth Health Care Card
• a Commonwealth Pensioner Concession Card
• a Department of Veterans’ Affairs Gold Card or White Card
• Refugee visa (subclass 200)
• In-country Special Humanitarian visa (subclass 201)
• Global Special Humanitarian visa (subclass 202)
• Temporary Humanitarian Concern visa (subclass 786)
• Protection visa (subclass 866)
• Emergency Rescue visa (subclass 203)
• Woman at risk visa (subclass 204)
• Bridging visas, A-E.

In addition, the following families are also eligible:

• families in which a family member identifies as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
• families who are looking after children in kinship care arrangements (out of home care)
• families referred from Child FIRST or Child Protection
• families referred from or receiving Enhanced Maternal and Child Health Services

Facilitators of Supported Playgroups  are required to deliver smalltalk in playgroups and in In-Home Support to all participating families.  

smalltalk introduces parents to a small number of parenting essentials that, based on evidence, lead to optimal child outcomes. smalltalk help parents to become aware of the importance of the everyday interactions they have with their child.

smalltalk promotes parents:

• interacting with children in a warm and gentle manner
• tuning in to children by giving the them full attention frequently and promptly
• attending to whatever children show an interest in
• listening and talking to children more frequently
• using teachable moments when they arise
• sharing reading.   

Parents are also encouraged to create routines for their children, read to them from birth and support their play. Parents are encouraged to look after their own health and wellbeing by developing positive social support networks and seeking professional help if they are stressed or feel they are not coping.

In-Home Support is a very important element of the program. It involves a facilitator visiting a family at their home and providing individual coaching to them on using the smalltalk strategies with their child/children. Visits are usually fortnightly for approximately one and a half (1.5) hours. During these home-based sessions, parents have the opportunity to practice the smalltalk strategies supported by a facilitator. Parents participating in In-Home Support may or may not also be attending a Supported Playgroup and In-Home Support may be used to engage eligible families who are initially reluctant to attend a Supported Playgroup.

The primary target group for In-Home Support is families who are eligible to attend Supported Playgroups and have at least one of the following characteristics:

• parent aged 25 years or less
• mother has not completed high school
• single parent family
• ten or less children’s books in the home
• referred to a Supported Playgroup but unable to attend for either personal or social reasons.