Bushfire response

Playgroup Victoria has won the 2009 Victorian Government Early Years Award for its support for playgroups affected by Victoria's February bushfires. The award was presented by Victorian Minister for Children and Early Childhood Development Maxine Morand at the Early Years Awards at the National Gallery Victoria in September.

Two weeks after February's bushfires,  Playgroup Victoria began a campaign to bring affected playgroup families some comfort with telephone support, by seeking donations and by travelling to affected playgroups to set up playgroup activities and deliver donations  in a borrowed van.

Soon after, Playgroup Victoria received Australian Government funding to purchase a van to add to two others borrowed from Save the Children Australia. The funding as well made it possible to employ six playgroups consultants to continue taking playgroup sessions to affected towns and offer whatever support was needed. 

Before the funding announcement Playgroup Victoria staff voluntarily ran playgroups for families in Traralgon, Traralgon West, Callignee (pictured), Wandong, Whittlesea, Yea, St Andrews and Healesville.