Mission Australia Pathways Playgroups

In partnership with Mission Australia

The Fogarty Foundation has been working in partnership with Mission Australia to support Pathways Playgroups since 2005. The project based in the Mirrabooka area targets children aged 0 – 5 years, their families, schools and communities.

This early intervention program is designed to achieve four desired outcomes:

• Optimising children’s readiness for school through enhancing school readiness learning routines, use of free play, socialising with other children, developing fine motor skills and becoming familiar with the school environment.
• Increasing parent’s knowledge and skills to support their child’s development.
• Increasing parent’s skills to manage school-home relationships.
• Increasing social networks within the community to facilitate children’s development.

The project supports the development and growth of young children and provides parents with support and education in normalised environments through the provision of fully supported school based playgroups and other complementary services.

School-based playgroups – In the past 12 months four schools have amalgamated into two thereby reducing the number of school based playgroups from nine to seven. In total there have been 124 adults and 174 children who have participated in the playgroups.

All seven playgroups have functioned well with stable levels of attendance in most cases. A number of playgroups have reached capacity and have waiting lists before new families can join. The calendar of events has continued to ensure that there are a number of sessions from external agencies disseminating relevant information. For example, Mirrabooka Community Parenting Service, Playgroup WA Literacy Links, RAC on child restraints and the Cancer Council have all had input and disseminated information to parents.

The Pathways to Learn, Explore and Play (P2LEAP) manual, developed as part of the Pathways Project, is continuing to provide a valuable resource for playgroups in linking child development milestones and appropriate playgroup activities.

Programs which further supported and provided assistance to the Pathways Playgroups included:

• Pathways to Stronger Families’ (P2SF) Group Program – to develop social and emotional support networks for parents.
• Family support and counseling – to provide a small number of families access to a counsellor  or consultant psychologist.
• Healthy Lifestyle Program (HLP) – a ‘hands on’ nutrition program.

Mission Australia and the Fogarty Foundation have worked in tandem to ensure that young children, parents, families and communities are provided with assistance to maximise a positive schooling experience from the earliest age.

Update: May 2010

The Pathways Project has, unfortunately, now been terminated by Mission Australia as Mission Australia is heading in a new direction with regard to playgroups. The Fogarty Foundation is currently providing support to Mission Australia through the ‘Christmas Lunch in the Park’ event.