$3 million for Indigenous playgroups

More than 1600 Indigenous children and their families in regional and remote Australia will benefit from up to $3 million in Australian Government funding for the expansion of playgroups.

The Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs , Jenny Macklin, today announced service providers for 14 new facilitated Indigenous playgroups, while visiting Ardyaloon in the Dampier Peninsula, Western Australia.

The playgroups are part of the Australian Government’s $13.8 million Expansion of Playgroups for Indigenous Families, a four-year program to support 36 playgroups across regional and rural Australia.

Playgroups offer mums and dads, grandparents, caregivers and children with an opportunity to get together in a relaxed environment and participate in music and singing, imaginative play, outdoor and free play and art and craft activities.

They provide an important opportunity for parents to establish social and support networks to assist them in parenting.

The playgroup staff will also have the opportunity to encourage families to integrate with other community services such as child care, preschools and community health centres

The Government’s funding will support:

• 12 Locational Supported Playgroups, which will receive up to $100,400 in the first year, and $91,000 each following year, to enable a coordinator to travel to communities for playgroup sessions.
• Two Intensive Support Playgroups will receive up to $300,000 in their first year of operation, and $200,000 each following year, to provide purpose built vehicles fitted with play equipment allowing them to deliver services for isolated and disadvantaged families.

The Intensive Support Playgroups are a flexible way for children in regional and remote areas to participate in a range of fun activities.

The Australian Government recognises the important role of play in the development of children, and this is central to our commitment to providing a child-centred approach to family policy.

Playgroups help develop children’s social, emotional, physical and cognitive abilities and provide opportunities for parents and caregivers to establish social and support networks to assist them in parenting.

Locational Supported Playgroups and Intensive Support Playgroups Service Providers