Playgroup Australia champions National Families Week and the role of play

National Families Week, to be held from 15-21 May 2019, is  an initiative of Families Australia that aims to bring families and community organisations around Australia together to recognise the vital role families play in Australian society, no matter what form they take.

Together with a team of respected voices from various organisations who work closely with families, Playgroup Australia CEO Fiona May is a Families Week Champion. Each year, a number of prominent Australians are designated as National Families Week Champions, promoting the week through their networks, and attending events.

During National Families Week, Playgroup Australia said, thousands of families will come together to play, share, connect and grow at a playgroup. Playgroup offers all families with children under five years of age a low-cost, and often free, community outlet where parents are encouraged to share their parenting experiences in a supported, positive environment to build relationships and learn.

Together with their state and territory organisations, Playgroup Australia advocates the importance of play to support parents and communities through crucial developmental milestones for the best start to life. Happy parents lead to happy children. Stronger families lead to stronger communities.

Ms May said that as a mother, she understands “first hand” the importance of the family unit in raising children through the early years to develop and thrive in life. With an extensive background leading in the community sector, Ms May “represents all community playgroups by championing National Families Week, and highlighting the value of family in building happy healthy communities”.

“Families are the basic unit of social capital in our communities. Playgroups strengthen the family unit by offering a safe, supportive approach to encourage parents, carergivers and grandparents of children under five to come together to learn through play.

“As well as being great for children, adult friendships and support networks fostered through playgroups provide many benefits to parents. Both reducing social isolation and increasing people’s connection with their local community. With the family dynamic and social norms changing, playgroup supports the family unit by strengthening and connecting communities, improving wellbeing”

More information about Playgroup Australia can be found here, along with further information about National Families Week 2019