Through safe and supported play, children are given opportunities to learn, grow and prepare for school. Save the Children provides early learning programs and family support to promote learning and ensure children are happy and safe. Our programs currently operate in 90 locations across Australia in urban, rural and remote settings. Our programs reach communities with high needs, migrants and refugees and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Exclusive Interview with Marie Stuart

Save the Children's Marie Stuart had a very different upbringing to most people.

Her parents ran boys' homes in rural New South Wales, where at one point there were 120 boys, Marie and her two siblings,and a whole host of social workers and support staff. It's not surprising then that Marie also decided to work with children.

We spoke to Marie Stuart, Save the Children Australia's Early Childhood Care and Development Adviser about Save the Children's Intensive Supported Playscheme program and why early childhood education is so important. Read the full interview.

Read the full interview.

Playschemes

Our Playscheme program provides supported playgroups for children and their parents or caregivers in a community setting. Our trained staff and family support workers teach children basic early learning skills to begin their education journey. The casual, non-threatening environment encourages parents to build support networks, and children learn through the opportunity to play and engage with other children.

To find a Playscheme operating near you, contact your state office.

Early Learning Centres

Early Learning Centres provide regular kindergarten or day care in socially and geographically isolated communities. The centres provide early learning education to children who would otherwise miss out. Sessions are delivered by trained teachers and workers, often employed from within the communities to ensure strong cultural connections. Our centres are in Mooroopna (Vic), Nowa Nowa (Vic), Warmun (WA) and Djarindjin (WA), children take part in regular kindergarten and day care sessions to help them prepare for school. Sessions are delivered by trained teachers and workers from local communities, ensuring Save the Children provides quality, culturally appropriate early childhood education to socially and geographically isolated communities.

To find out if our Early Learning Centres is operating near you, contact your state office.

It Takes a Village

It Takes a Village provides supported playgroup sessions for children and women from migrant and refugee backgrounds in Perth and Hobart. Through our program, bilingual support workers promote social inclusion and provide referrals to the wider community. ‘It Takes a Village' is also complemented by practical skills workshops for mothers and older siblings. Through our program, we support and provide a sense of community to migrant families as they adapt to new environments in Australia.

To find out if It Takes a Village is operating near you, contact your state office.

Read our It Takes a Village program evaluation