Boronia Playgroup
An engaging weekly playgroup for mothers and their children ages 0 to 4 at Boronia Pre-release Centre for Women.
Boronia Playgroup
Program Overview
The Boronia Playgroup is a supported weekly session designed to strengthen parenting skills, family wellbeing, and early childhood development.
Each Friday morning from 9:30am to 11:00am, two experienced staff facilitate structured play for up to 11 incarcerated mothers and their children ages 0 to 4.
The program provides opportunities for guided play, positive parent–child interactions, and skill development, helping families flourish during their time at Boronia and beyond.
The program is funded by the Department of Social Services.
LEARNING OUTCOMES FOR MOTHERS
The program supports mothers to:
- Build parenting confidence
- Strengthen parent-child bonds
- Observe and practice positive interactions with their children
- Access guidance for real-time behavioural challenges
LEARNING OUTCOMES FOR CHILDREN
Through guided play, children develop skills that support their cognitive, physical, social, and emotional development, including:
- Social skills: sharing, cooperation, and turn-taking
- Emotional regulation: recognising and managing feelings
- Cognitive development: problem-solving, curiosity, and creativity
- School readiness: confidence, resilience, and engagement in structured activities
Program Details
Everything you need to know about this program.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Weekly Playgroup (Friday 9:30am to 11:00am)
- Sessions focus on supporting children’s development and mothers’ wellbeing, facilitated by two experienced team members.
School Holiday Activities
- Two engaging sessions per school holiday period for children residing at Boronia and school-aged children visiting their mothers.
Special Events
- Children’s Christmas party, Easter egg hunt, Halloween activities, and participation in the annual Gala Day.
Workshops (Monday afternoons)
- Workshops on health promotion, life skills (cooking, budgeting), and parenting delivered by trained educators.
It is our highlight of the week.
I really love playgroup and look forward to it each week. It is our routine since being in jail and probably the only normal thing we have as mothers here. We are just so grateful to have Emma and Amanda – we can confide in them and feel like it is a safe space for us in such an environment that is constantly full of stress. It is our highlight of the week to get us through these hard times
My child’s social and emotional wellbeing has grown so much, and it is a credit to this program.
Without it, my child would have limited educational interaction. The facilitators are so welcoming, and you instantly feel a sense of normality in this space that they create for the mums as well as the children. My daughter has overcome her fears of balls and balloons and that is because of the support of this program. It is a safe and enjoyable space and an important part of my sentence.
Absolutely love and appreciate the program and the facilitators.
So much kindness, awareness, and new and exciting things to engage in. I have taken away so much confidence and trust in myself from the interaction and tools given to me throughout the program. My daughter and my attachment issues are now in a healthy place.
I really love playgroup and look forward to it each week.
It is our routine since being in jail and probably the only normal thing we have as mothers here. We are just so grateful to have Emma and Amanda – we can confide in them and feel like it is a safe space for us in such an environment that is constantly full of stress. It is our highlight of the week to get us through these hard times.
It is a safe and enjoyable space and an important part of my sentence.
My child’s social and emotional wellbeing has grown so much, and it is a credit to this program. Without it, my child would have limited educational interaction. The facilitators are so welcoming, and you instantly feel a sense of normality in this space that they create for the mums as well as the children. My daughter has overcome her fears of balls and balloons and that is because of the support of this program.
Absolutely love and appreciate the program and the facilitators. So much kindness, awareness, and new and exciting things to engage in.
I have taken away so much confidence and trust in myself from the interaction and tools given to me throughout the program. My daughter and my attachment issues are now in a healthy place.
Discover Boronia Playgroup
To learn more about the Boronia Playgroup, contact the Playgroup Coordinator.
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