Children’s imaginative play and social connections between parents will be nurtured with a $5,000 grant from Labor to enable The Family Place to improve and expand their resources for local families in Logan.

The Family Place in Woodridge hosts a number of free playgroups and drop in sessions, providing a safe and welcoming environment for families in the Logan and surrounding communities.

With more than 13,000 visits each year, The Family Place provides a safe and welcoming environment for parents to come together to discuss and share in their stories and experiences of parenthood.

If elected, Labor’s $5,000 grant would help in a variety of ways, including expanding the resources at The Family Place with the purchase of new toys, an increase in educational aids and an update to facilities in the outdoor play area. 

The Family Place provides access to a number of playgroups each week, including early parent playgroups- for parents of young babies, playgroups for toddlers through play-based learning and even a dad’s playgroup which encourages dads to bring along their kids, participate in activities and talk and support other dads.

Unique to The Family Place is the free access it provides to Logan families with a variety of drop in sessions which range from, health clinics, literacy groups, family wellbeing and support for expectant mothers.

Each of the playgroups and drop in session run through The Family Place has access to its resources. An increase in resources for The Family Place is greater resources for members, parents and children to access.

Playgroups are a valuable community resource for families unable to afford to provide toys and educational aids to their children. They encourage play-based learning and social development in babies and young children and help facilitate friendships and peer support for their parents and carers.

Parents and carers who are members of The Family Place can make friends in a welcoming, safe environment and give their children access to a range of educational toys, age appropriate physical activities and developmental experiences at low or no cost.

This funding for The Family Place is greater support from the Commonwealth and is a long overdue recognition of the important place it has in the local community.

Labor is committed to doing more to promote early childhood development.

Labor has announced the biggest ever investment in early childhood education in Australia with the $1.75 billion National Preschool and Kindy Program.

Labor’s plan will see around 700,000 three and four year olds access preschool and kindy every year. This will also help parents balance work and family and help reduce the child care bill for families with children already in early education.