Family Support Programs
These programs provide a facilitated meeting space for local mothers and carers in the community. These programs focus on building individual resiliency and providing a safe space for local women to develop practical skill through workshops and activities, sharing knowledge and practice. They encourage the development of relationships and cultural sharing.
"Recognizing that the child, for the full and harmonious development of his or her personality, should grow up in a family environment, in an atmosphere of happiness, love and understanding."
- UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, Preamble
Playgroups
Our Playgroup Programs are a support service provided to parents and carers during our Mothers and Carers Groups so that they can fully engage and have some time for themself. Volunteer Mentors will play with preschool children while their parents engage in learning programs.
Mother and Carer's Group
ERCRS support in running a range of facilitated meetings of local mothers and carers who have children or young people enrolled in our programs or live in the local area. These groups are focused on building individual resiliency and have become a safe space for local women to speak about issues of concern within their family and community.
Further to this, the Mother and Carer’s Groups provide practical skill workshops and activities for parents/carers with opportunities to share knowledge and practice whilst also encouraging the development of relationships and cultural sharing.
From these programs we have seen the development of additional programs and activities as the needs and priorities for the group and community evolves and changes. These programs have evolved in the past to be a variety of things from sewing groups, to digital literacy support programs to cooking and cultural sharing workshops.
These programs run at our Tarneit and Flemington Hubs.
Family Reading Program
This is a weekly one-to-one intensive literacy session for Prep - Grade 2 students. Trained volunteers and staff work closely with both children and parents to improve foundational literacy skills as well as gain strategies to use at home to support reading.