About Us

What is Playgroup?

Playgroups establish when new mothers in the City of Port Philip complete their six week new mother's group program with their Maternal and Child Health Nurse. The babies are aged from 6-12 weeks at this point.

Playgroup aged children are going through a stage of rapid development and attending Playgroup can help them to expand their communications, social and motor skills.

Initially, Playgroup provides a valuable support network for new parents, however, as the children grow older, the playgroup session is more structured and provides a stimulating social experience for the children.

The Elwood Children's Playgroup (ECP) is a vital emotional and practical support network for families in the Elwood area and creates a wonderful and long lasting sense of community.

For children, ECP assists their socialisation, communication and motor skills – in each new step they take, kindergarten or school, they will not be alone, they'll have friends.

ECP has excellent facilities and a great supply of toys and play equipment. There is a furnished indoor play area with a kitchen, highchairs, toilet, baby change facilities and lots of great play equipment (mats, soft toys, climbing shapes, CDs, books, dress ups, art and craft). The outdoor areas have swings, a sandpit, equipment to climb up and slide down, bikes and a cubby house.

How each session is run is entirely up to each individual playgroup. Ideas for activities can be found from Playgroup Victoria via their manual (located in the kitchen), video/dvd (available for borrowing) or on their website www.playgroup.org.au

Who runs Playgroup?

ECP is a non-profit organisation run by a volunteer committee of member parents. Every individual Playgroup has a volunteer who is their Group Representative and all members are required to pitch in by cleaning up after their sessions, volunteering at working bees and events throughout the year and taking their turn as Group Representatives.

All member parents/carers are invited to contribute and participate in the direction and development of the Playgroup through regular discussions with the Committee members and Group Representatives.

Where is it?

ECP is held at 51 Broadway Elwood (the Burnett Grey Maternal and Child Health Centre). This facility allows two Playgroup sessions to run concurrently - groups with younger children in the front of the building (Sea Room) and groups with older children in the back of the building (Sun Room).

When?

ECP currently has capacity for eight Playgroup sessions each day from Monday to Friday. Sessions are held between 9.30 am and 5.30 pm with each session running for 2 hours. Session times are subject to change as required. ECP closes between Christmas and New Year however access on public holidays is by request only. The timetable of sessions is provided below and is subject to change.

Cost?

ECP membership has an annual fee of $43.00 per family. This includes a family membership to Playgroup Victoria (including insurance) and a fundraising levy. ECP does not fund raise to cover its costs (eg toys, events etc..).The City of Port Philip (CoPP) generously provides and maintains our property which enables the Committee to keep membership fees to a minimum. Discounts are available for financial hardship, earlybird payments, etc...

All members must remain fully paid to make certain they are covered by insurance. Unpaid members are not allowed to attend ECP. New groups and new individual members have four weeks from the first session they attend to pay. For existing members, a date for collection of annual fees is set towards the end of the year. Cash payments are preferred, but cheques can be made to 'Elwood Community Playgroup'. Please give the exact fee to your Group Representative along with the following details:

• Name of carer and child
• Children's birthdates
• Addresses
• Phone/mobile
• Email

If you are a new ECP member and havent paid your fees yet, please download our Membership Form and send it onto your Group Representative asap.

How many per playgroup session?

Playgroup Victoria recommends 15 as the ideal number of families per session. Owing to space and safety considerations, we will aim to limit playgroup sessions to no more than 20 to 25 children.