What's On For Families
August 2022
Welcome to our wrap-up of news and events for families this month. From lots of fun events to amazing programs and everyday support, there's something for everyone, so please make the most of all we have to offer right here in Darebin.
|
|
Acknowledgement of Country
We acknowledge the Wurundjeri Woi wurrung people who are the traditional owners and custodians of this land. We recognise their continuing connection to land, water and culture. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.
|
|
|
Emergency Food Relief
If you need help to access food relief and essential items, you can find a local service that can assist you with grocery vouchers, food parcels and pre-made meals.
For more information, see Darebin Emergency Food Relief and Support Services.
|
|
|
DIVRS Fresh Food Program
DIVRS Fresh Food Program provides free produce for Darebin residents in financial need and on low or no income. It is held at East Preston Community Hub (7 Newton St Reservoir) every second Wednesday, August dates are 10 & 24 August between 10.30am-12pm.
Delivery options available for those who cannot attend. For more information call DIVRS on 9480 8209 or email adminofficer@divrs.org.au
|
|
|
|
Brush Book Bed
Children and their parents/carers are invited to join a Brush Book Bed session to learn good habits for healthy teeth in a fun and interactive experience. Children will participate in various dental activities, songs, storybooks and brush Chompers' teeth.
Your Community Health's Oral Health Team will assist families with dental hygiene and families attending will receive a gift bag containing dental products.
Bookings are essential. To register your interest, please email early.years@darebin.vic.gov.au and include your name, mobile number, child’s name, child’s date of birth and how many adults/children will be attending the session.
August-September 2022 sessions
Thursday 25 August at Ruthven Community Room, Preston
Monday 19 September at Keon Park Children’s Hub, Reservoir
Tuesday 20 September at Darebin North East Community Hub, Bundoora
Session time 10-11.30am
|
|
|
Parent Child Mother Goose Program
Parent Child Mother Goose Program strengthens attachment and positive interactions between parents or carers and their young children by introducing the use of rhymes, songs and stories together. Children benefit through learning experiences with a focus on language and communication.
This program is targeted to families residing in Darebin with children aged 0-4 years, where the child has delay in speech development or the family holds a Health Care Card (or equivalent concession status). Eligible families are able to participate in free weekly one-hour sessions during school term.
Bookings essential. To register your interest, please email pcmg@darebin.vic.gov.au and include your name, mobile number, child’s name, child’s date of birth and how many adults/children will be attending the session.
Session time Thursdays 1-2pm at Ruthven Community Room corner of Albert and Malpas Streets, Preston.
|
|
|
Join Darebin Libraries to "Dream with your eyes open" this Book Week
We need your help to find out what lies 99 levels below our mysterious trapdoor! Use your illustration and imagination to propel your creative writing 100 stories as you dream with your eyes open in this writing and creativity workshop with 100 Story Building. This event is suitable for children aged 6-10 years and being held at Preston Library on Monday 22 August at 4pm. Bookings essential via Eventbrite.
Book Week 2022 will run from 20 to 26 August.
|
|
|
After School STEAM Club
Come along to August’s STEAM Club for some tech fun as we play with our iPads and Osmos! We will solve some tangrams and convert images into line drawings. We have the gadgets, just bring yourself!
Suitable for school children aged 5-12 and their carers.
Places are limited and bookings are essential.
|
|
|
|
|
Sleep and Settling Sessions
Understanding how to help your baby and toddler sleep can be a challenge. Parents and carers of newborn babies to toddlers (birth to 3 years) can book free sleep and settling sessions run by Darebin Maternal and Child Health. See August session times below.
Friday 5 and Thursday 18 August
9-11am (1-3 years) / 11am-1pm (0-6 months)
Northcote Family Centre 185-187 High St Northcote
Thursday 11 and 25 August
9-11am (1-3 years) / 11am-1pm (0-6 months)
Keon Park Children's Hub 1-7 Dole Ave, Reservoir
Every Wednesday 1.30-3.30pm (6-12 months)
Thornbury Early Years Centre 2A Raleigh St Thornbury
For bookings call 8470 8298, email mchappointments@darebin.vic.gov.au or speak to your Maternal and Child Health Nurse. Bookings essential.
More information
|
|
Breastfeeding support
Free Breastfeeding support is available to Darebin residents. For enquiries and bookings please contact the Maternal and Child Health booking line on 8470 8298.
|
|
|
Darebin Toy Library
Darebin Toy Library is a free service and is open by appointment only on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday in Northcote.
Our toy library enables families to borrow quality toys to enhance children's early learning through play. Families can join online and make an appointment.
Enquiries can be made by phone 8470 8104 / 0427 787 061, or email toylibrary@darebin.vic.gov.au
Darebin Toy Library is located at Northcote Family Centre 185 High St, Northcote.
More information
|
|
|
|
Circle of Security Group
Darebin City Council Family Support Services in partnership with Kids First are offering an eight week Circle of Security program for parents and carers of children aged 0-8 years.
Research shows that children who are in a secure relationship enjoy more happiness with their parents, solve problems on their own, get along better with friends, feel less anger at their parents, have higher self-esteem, and do better at school.
Mondays 25 July - 12 September 2022
10am-12pm at Keon Park Children's Hub 1-7 Dole Ave, Reservoir
Bookings essential. To register contact:
Rita 0438 692 097
family.services@darebin.vic.gov.au
Donna 0409 006 126
delcheikh@kidsfirstaustralia.org.au
More information please click here.
|
|
|
Rhythmic Fictions by Siobhan McKenna
Presented by Darebin Arts Speakeasy (Image by Gregory Lorenzutti)
10-14 August 2022
Northcote Town Hall Arts Centre
$35 Full | $28 Conc. | $30 Darebin Residents | $15 Blak Tix
Five dancers negotiate communicating with each other and the audience whilst attending to the complex rhythmic world in which they operate. Oscillating between the monotonous and the dramatic, between the meaningful and the meaningless, Rhythmic Fictions reorganises language and movement into a playful choreography that exposes the fragility of communication and interpretation. Suitable for all ages.
More information and bookings
|
|
|
Find the Best Energy Deal - get $250
One of the easiest ways to reduce energy costs is to compare energy offers. Victoria's Power Saving Bonus (PSB) is a one-off, $250 payment to help ease cost-of-living pressures and to encourage Victorian households to look for a better energy deal.
The $250 bonus is available between 1 July 2022 and 30 June 2023. It is available to all Victorians who visit the Victorian Energy Compare website or engage with an energy affordability service through participating community outreach partners. If you need help to apply, you can visit your local neighbourhood house or call the team at Good Shepherd on 1300 026 500.
The $250 Bonus is limited to one payment per eligible household. The application process will take five to ten minutes of your time, and you will need to have a recent electricity bill with you.
Visit saving energy at home for more tips on reducing your energy bills.
|
|
|
Introducing the Priority Development Program
If a project will benefit our community, we want to help make it happen. One way we can do this is by making Council processes simpler. That’s why we are introducing the Priority Development Program. The Priority Development Program will accelerate planning applications that deliver community benefit, employment or infrastructure – priorities outlined in our Council Plan 2021-2025.
Meet our Planners! They’re the ones who will help make it happen. Our Planners will prioritise cases and provide applicants with the clear advice and consistent communication they need to get projects up and running.
Find out more about the Priority Development Program
|
|
Free Bike Checks in Reservoir and Northcote
Our Free Monthly Bike Checks are a fun learning opportunity for everyone – young and old. Our friendly bike mechanics will talk you through a 20 minute safety check of your bike. They’ll make minor adjustments and repairs, and recommendations for further work needed. Our next sessions are coming up in August, so beat the spring rush and register now for a free bike check.
|
|
|
|
|
Rolling out Food and Green Waste bins across Darebin
We've almost finished rolling out 22,000 food and green waste bins across Darebin, so that everyone who receives Council’s kerbside waste service can recycle their kitchen scraps and garden waste.
We've also delivered a free kitchen caddy along with the bins, to make recycling your food waste even easier, but you can use any container to collect your food scraps. When using your caddy or container, please put your food and green waste in loose without any bags, including compostable ones. Instead, you can try wrapping your food waste with a small amount of paper towel, or lining your caddy with a sheet of newspaper or a paper bag.
By keeping our food and green waste bins free from biodegradable and compostable bags and packaging, we're helping our recycling facility ensure only top-quality compost is provided to the Victorian farmers growing the fresh produce we enjoy every day!
For more information about the items that can be disposed of in your food waste bin, please visit Darebin.vic.gov.au/foodwaste
|
|
Supported Playgroups
Supported Playgroups are available for families with children aged 0-4 years, with weekly facilitated sessions delivered face-to-face during school term. Parents and caregivers also receive great resources from the Smalltalk parenting program.
Please speak with your Maternal Child Health Nurse or contact our team directly at early.years@darebin.vic.gov.au to discuss eligibility for the program.
|
|
|
Community Playgroups
Families seeking to join a local playgroup in Darebin can check our online Community Playgroup database or contact Playgroup Victoria.
Community Playgroup leaders can also contact our Playgroup Officer to update the details of our community playgroups database at early.years@darebin.vic.gov.au to ensure your playgroup is listed. The database assists families to find and join suitable playgroups in Darebin.
|
|
|
|
Maternal and Child Health Service
Darebin Maternal and Child Health Service is offering all children and their families centre-based appointments.
New Parent Groups and Sleep and Settling groups are back in full swing and sessions are held face-to-face. Speak to your MCH Nurse for further details.
For appointments please contact Darebin MCH booking line 8470 8298.
You can also download the free MCH app for trusted information matched to the age of your child, at your fingertips.
For free information and advice about the care and health of your child (from birth to school age) there is also the confidential 24-hour Maternal and Child Health Hotline 13 22 29.
|
|
Darebin Family Service
Do you need support with parenting? Darebin Family Services is here to help you.
Our team can provide short and long-term support to families experiencing complex issues such as family violence, mental health and substance abuse that can affect their children’s safety, stability and healthy development.
For enquiries email Darebin Family Services at family.services@darebin.vic.gov.au.
More information
|
|
|
Darebin Immunisation Service
|
|
|
Baby and childhood vaccines
Immunisation sessions are held at Preston City Hall, Reservoir Community & Learning Centre (RCLC), Northcote Family Centre and Keon Park Childrens Hub. For session times visit darebin.vic.gov.au/immunisation.
Appointment clinics are available at Fairfield MCH Centre and Darebin North East Community Hub (DNECH) in Bundoora. Call 8470 8562 to book.
For more information, please visit Darebin Immunisation Services website. Our contact details are 8470 8562, immunise@darebin.vic.gov.au.
|
|
Foster Care information Session
Foster carers provide an incredible community service by providing temporary care in safe and nurturing homes for children and young people not able to live safely in their own homes.
Anglicare is running a free information session for members of the community living in Darebin who might be interested in exploring foster care, and would be interested in becoming a foster carer for children and young people in the Darebin community.
Information Session: Online on Tuesday 23 August at 6.30pm (this session is for Darebin residents) Bookings essential. Email carer.info@anglicarevic.org.au for more information.
|
|
|
Register now for 3 and 4-year-old kindergarten.
Kindergarten helps children to develop strong social skills and encourages a love of learning.
For a full list of kindergartens in Darebin and advice on how to register, visit darebin.vic.gov.au/ kindergarten
|
|
|
|
Anglicare Parenting Workshops
ParentZone Northern provides programs and courses to help carers and parents develop and strengthen their parenting skills. Checkout the parenting programs section on the Term 3 2022 newsletter.
You can also contact ParentZone Northern on 8641 8900
or email parentzone.northern@anglicarevic.org.au, or access the ParentZone Northern newsletter on the Anglicare Victoria ParentZone website.
|
|
|
Get Active in Darebin
Get Active in Darebin is a free community-based exercise program aimed at increasing the physical activity and wellbeing levels of Darebin residents.
All activities are free of charge, cater for people of all ages, abilities and fitness levels and are facilitated by qualified and fully vaccinated instructors. The program includes family friendly classes designed for parents and children to enjoy exercise together.
|
|
|
|
Resources for parents and families
|
|
|
|
|
