Playgroup Development
Playgroup
Development
Need help starting a playgroup or support with your current playgroup?
Our Playgroup Development Team is here to support you!
Whether you’re thinking about starting a playgroup or need some support with your current playgroup, we can mentor and guide you every step of the way. Our team works with local communities to ensure playgroups are accessible and thriving.
How we can help:
- Mentoring new playgroups to set you up for success.
- Building partnerships with local services, like maternal health, schools, and councils, to support playgroups.
- Advocating for playgroups to ensure they are sustainable.
- Providing resources tailored to families and professionals.
- Supporting the creation of innovative playgroup ideas.
- Offering playgroup-specific training and networking opportunities.
Let us help you grow a vibrant playgroup in your community!
What is Playgroup Development?
Playgroup Development is a place-based approach that focuses on increasing access to and participation in playgroups by working closely with communities. Our goal is to advocate for, promote, and develop all types of playgroups for children and families.
We achieve this by forming strong partnerships with local stakeholders, including families, local government, early years professionals, community organizations, and state representatives. These partnerships are crucial for creating sustainable and successful playgroups.
Playgroup Victoria’s Development Advisors support this process, using a community development approach to help establish and grow playgroups that meet the unique needs of each community.
Contact our Playgroup Development and Support Team
Maureen Hatcher
Playgroup Development Advisor
Maureen has been working in Children’s Services and Education for over 35 years. She has worked as a Room Leader and then as the Coordinator at a Children’s Centre, taught Early Childhood tertiary students, worked in a primary school as a Learning Support Officer and also had her own business educating early years professionals about anaphylaxis and asthma. Her employment at Playgroup Victoria started as coordinating the Connecting Schools and Community project in 2016. Maureen enjoys the challenge, joy and benefits of connecting people and feels playgroup is the perfect way to do that.
Contact Maureen: ph. 0457 797 315 / e. mhatcher@playgroup.org.au
Steve Matheson
Playgroup Development Advisor
Steve brings 20 years of experience in the Early Childhood Field. He began his Early Childhood career as a Room Leader, before moving to TAFE as a teacher in Early Childhood and then returning to become Deputy Coordinator of a Children’s Centre. After leaving the Centre, he worked as an Early Childhood Intervention Coordinator with Latrobe Community Health in conjunction with the NDIS. Steve is passionate about his role with Playgroup Victoria and believes in the incredible potential children have to thrive with community support and the power of play. He values the importance of playgroup and its benefits for children, their families, and the wider community.
Contact Steve: ph. 0457 797 315 / e. smatheson@playgroup.org.au
Jo O’Reilly
Playgroup Assistance and Support Officer
Jo has a background in public health and has spent many years caring for vulnerable families. Jo is extremely passionate about the benefits of early childhood development and the importance of bringing families together in their community. Jo is here to help – whether you are starting a new playgroup, running an existing playgroup or just looking for a playgroup to join!
Contact Jo: joreilly@playgroup.org.au
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