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| Latest News |
 Celebration of the rollout of PlayConnect Playgroups
Playgroup Australia in conjunction with Playgroup Victoria was delighted to host a special celebration luncheon attended by families with children with autism, and Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin, and Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children's Services, Bill Shorten. At the event, the Minister and Mr Shorten delivered the eagerly-anticipated news about the first ten PlayConnect Playgroups to start this year.
"These targeted playgroups offer play-based learning opportunities for children and social support networks for their families and carers, including those from Indigenous or culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, as well as in rural and remote areas" Ms Macklin said.
Read More...
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| New PlayConnect Playgroups! |
 New South Wales
- Campbelltown (Meets at Hurley Park Hall, Dumaresq St, Campbelltown)
- Wagga Wagga (Meets at Lake Albert Playgroup Centre, Cnr Hume and Forrest Street, Lake Albert)
- Blacktown (Commencing soon - venue to be confirmed, check Playgroup Australia website for update)
- Canterbury (Commencing soon - venue to be confirmed, check Playgroup Australia website for update)
For further information about these PlayConnect Playgroups, please contact Sandy Kervin at Playgroup NSW on 1800 171 882
Queensland
- Cairns (Meets at the Woree Community Centre, Cnr Toogood Road and Jasper Street, Woree)
- Mackay (Meets at the South West Neighbourhood Centre, Cnr Pompey and Clement Streets, West Mackay)
- Toowoomba (Commending soon at Southern Queensland Institute of TAFE, 100 Bridge Street, Toowoomba)
For further information about these PlayConnect Playgroups, please contact Lesley Olsen at Playgroup QLD on 1800 171 882
Victoria
- Maribyrnong (Meets at Maribyrnong Community Centre, 3 Randall Street, Maribyrnong)
- Laverton (Commencing soon at Laverton Community Children's Centre, 15 Crown Street, Laverton)
- Bundoora (Commencing soon at EPIC Centre, RMIT University, Building 217, Plenty Road, Bundoora)
For further information about these PlayConnect Playgroups, please contact Janine Regan at Playgroup Victoria on 03 9808 1820
The announcement of the next 40 PlayConnect Playgroups to be established in the first half of next year will be made early in 2009. |
| For Parents/Families |
 PlayConnect Playgroups are here to help families with children with autism, it's about connecting with other families. Any family that has a child aged from 0-6 years who has Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or ASD-like behaviours, is welcome to join a PlayConnect Playgroup.
For further information, please go to our web site.
Thanks to everyone who filled in and returned an Expression of Interest (EOI) form to Playgroup Australia. The information collected has been valuable in planning the development of the PlayConnect Playgroups Program.
If you haven't yet sent in an EOI, please fill out the form and send it back to us either by:
- fax to 07 3394 8449 or
- post to 433 Logan Rd, Stones Corner Q 4120 |
| For Professionals |
Thanks to everyone who filled in and returned an Expression of Interest (EOI) form to Playgroup Australia. The information collected has been valuable in planning the development of the PlayConnect Playgroups Program.
If you haven't yet sent in an EOI, please fill out the form and send it back to us either by:
- fax to 07 3394 8449 or
- post to 433 Logan Rd, Stones Corner Q 4120 |
| What the Families Say |
 Alicia Kerr is the mother of 4 year old Barry, who has ASD-like behaviours. For the last year, Alicia has attended 'Bubbles Playgroup' in Melton, Victoria, where a group of families with children on the spectrum gather regularly to play and socialise. Here's what Alicia said about playgroups for children with autism:
It's a lot less stressful. At a regular playgroup I found I had to hover a lot more around my son. I would also have to explain my son's behaviour to the other parents. I ended up not going after a while.
Now I'm with other parents who understand, as they're going through the same things too. So it's much more enjoyable. We also share heaps of information. We often talk about therapies, and about specialists, for example where we can find a developmental paediatrician. Recently, we've been talking about funding options for aide time, which relates to our children as they start kinder and primary school.
This sort of information about what services are available, is really helpful. I think this would be even more so for a parent who has a child recently diagnosed with ASD. They also won't feel like they're going through something alone, that others are experiencing the same things. I think they'll be relieved to find that their child's behaviour isn't that unusual.
I would have loved to have had access to a playgroup like this sooner, as I have a nine-year old daughter diagnosed with autism. If there were playgroups for kids with ASD back then I certainly didn't hear about it.
It's good that there's now more information out in the community about autism. I think that the news that the Federal Government is helping start up these extra services, and more playgroups, is going to help a lot of people. I would definitely recommend other parents to get along to the playgroups for families with kids on the spectrum.
I didn't realise that Bubbles Playgroup was one of the playgroups which has led to the development of the PlayConnect Playgroups which the government are funding. That's really great to hear.
Alicia Kerr spoke to Arna Presland from Playgroup Australia
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| Helping Children with Autism Package |
PlayConnect Playgroups are a component of the Australian Government's Helping Children with Autism package.
Information about other elements of the Helping Children with Autism package can be found at www.fahcsia.gov.au or by phoning the Helping Children with Autism Information Line on 1800 289 177. |
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| About Playgroup Australia |
Playgroup Australia is a federation of the eight peak State and Territory Playgroup Associations across Australia who collectively represent more than 105,000 families and 145,000 children at 8,500 playgroup sessions every week. The national office is located in Brisbane.
For more information, please go to www.playgroupaustralia.com.au |
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| Our Team |
Kylie Doswell - PlayConnect Playgroups Development Worker at Wagga 
How long have you been a staff member of Playgroup?
Over 14 years.
What is your Background?
I have been with Playgroup NSW for the past 18 years as a member and worker. Prior to Playgroup I was a Public Servant and a full-time stay at home mum. I have also facilitated Supported playgroups.
Family?
One beautiful husband, who has just celebrated a milestone birthday he would like to forget but we delight in reminding him. One son Kyle (19) who is now a fully qualified fitter and machinist and one daughter Belinda (17) who is in her first year as an apprentice chef. All my family bring sparkle to my life and grey hairs to my head.
Favourite TV Program?
Top Gear. Any program that builds a boat out of a campervan and try to sail it across the British Channel must be good.
Favourite Movie?
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, for the story, for the actors, for the scenery. Anything that Will Ferrell is in, so I look hip & up to date with the kids.
Favourite Way to Relax?
Reading, doing a cross stitch or seeing a movie.
Favourite food?
Anything with chocolate in it. |
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