What’s On
for Fawkner Families
February 2016 edition
from Early Links
The Early Links Program is funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services.
Hello, we are Gabi and Kirsty from the Early Links Program. We are pleased to provide this useful resource for families with
children aged 0-12 years. We promote family friendly, free or low cost activities that happen in Fawkner and surrounds, and
services that are nearby for families living in Fawkner.
If you would like to subscribe to this newsletter, or have anything you would like us to promote, please send it through to
[email protected].
Kirsty will be going on maternity leave at the end of this month to have her third child. She will return in 2017. Sally has a
new role at Melbourne City Mission and will no longer be working with us. Stay tuned for an announcement on who will be
working with us in 2016!
Dates to Remember:
8 February - Chinese New Year - 2016 Year of the Monkey
For more information go to: www.australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/chinese-new-year
13 February Apology Anniversary
For more information go to: www.healingfoundation.org.au/
21 February United Nations International Mother Language Day
For more information go to: www.un.org/en/events/motherlanguageday/
22 February Magha Puja Day—a Buddhist celebration of the Fourfold Assembly. It is celebrated on the full moon day of March
For more information go to: www.buddhamind.info/leftside/lifesty-2/magha.htm
The Community Grocer – Wednesdays 9.30am – 12.30pm
A weekly community-run fresh fruit and vegetable market offering competitively priced fresh produce
at a convenient location. Join us at CB Smith Reserve, Fawkner outside Merri Community Health
Services and Fawkner Leisure Centre. Free vegetarian barbecue from 11 am - everyone welcome!
http://www.moreland.vic.gov.au/events-recreation/markets-and-shopping/markets/the-communitygrocer-fawkner-6/?date=18-11-2015
This is also the same day the Food Bank operates at the Community House on Jukes Rd, Wednesdays 11.30am 2pm. If you want to be on the list for a food basket please ring the Community House on 9357 4631.These are only
available for people on low or no income.
http://fawknerch.org/activities/cooking-skills/
If you are looking for a list of playgrounds in Fawkner, here is a fairly comprehensive list. There is a description of what equipment you can expect, and a photo.
Go to: http://www.melbourneplaygrounds.com.au/suburb_results.php?id=Fawkner
Open Table Fawkner Lunch, Saturday 13 February 1-3pm
Where: Fawkner Senior Citizens Centre, 77 Jukes Road, Fawkner
Join us for a halal feast in Fawkner on the first Saturday of every month.

Bring yourself, friends and family if you like. Garden produce and musical instruments
also welcome.

Separate dining areas are available

Open Table use surplus food to create wholesome community feasts, bringing together people from all
walks of life. Come and meet your neighbours.
Say [email protected] if you would like to help out.
You can also keep updated through their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/opntbl?fref=ts
HOW DO I JOIN A PLAYGROUP?
Please note: it has not been possible to confirm the details of the following Fawkner playgroups so early in the
year, and we are not sure of the start dates. Please ensure that you contact the school, organisation or individual
to make sure the group is on.
To join the school playgroups, and the outdoor playgroup at the community house, families are welcome to turn
up on the day. Some of them ask for a gold coin donation to cover the cost of tea and coffee. You can also ring
the number listed to find out more information.
To join the playgroups at the Northern Moreland Combined Playgroup Association, which is on Alec Crescent in
North Fawkner, you need to email [email protected] to find out the contact person of the group you
wish to join, and their phone number. Call them and ask to join the playgroup, some of these groups may already
be full.
To join the VICSEG playgroups, you need to book in by ringing: Shabnam, Sayanti or Jeanette: 9353 5811
(VICSEG)
HOW DO I START A NEW PLAYGROUP?
Have you got a group of friends with children, but no space to meet in? There are times available at the Northern
Moreland Combined Playgroup Association, email [email protected] to ask when your group can
meet there.
Northern Moreland Combined Playgroup Association
67 Alec St, Fawkner
HUDA (Urdu speaking, Islamic-for family day carers)
Monday 11.00-1.00pm Age: 0-5years
SUPERMUMS (English speaking, multicultural)
Tuesday 9.30-11.30am Age: 6months
DIMPLES (English speaking, multicultural)
Tuesdays 11.30-1.30pm Age: 4-6 months
ITTY BITTIES (English speaking, multicultural)
Thursdays 11.00-1.00pm Age: 1-4 years
COLOURS OF ISLAM (Urdu speaking, Islamic)
Fridays 11.30-1.30 Age: 1-3 years
St Matthew’s Primary School:
Mondays and Thursdays 9-11am
95 William St, Fawkner
Contact 9359 5423
Fawkner Primary School:
Tuesday 9-10.45am
40 Lorne St, Fawkner
Contact: 9357 3579
Moomba Park Primary School:
Wednesdays 2.10-3.10pm
111 Anderson Rd, Fawkner
Contact: 9359 2028
St Mark’s Primary School:
Thursdays 9-11am
118 Argyle St, Fawkner
Contact: 9359 6463
Outdoor Playgroup
Fawkner Community House
Thursdays 9.30-11am
95 Major Rd, Fawkner
Contact : 9357 4631
There are also times available for new playgroups.
To find out contact details,
please email: [email protected]
IN FAWKNER
Hume/Moreland Playgroups - Provided by
Broadmeadows
Iranian Playgroup
Wednesday 12.30pm - 2.30pm
Broadmeadows Women's
Community House
2 Hadfield Court, Broadmeadows
Playgroup for Iranian Families Broadmeadows ENG-FARSI (1193 KB)
Glenroy
Recently Arrived Families Playgroup
Wednesday 9.30am - 11.30am
Yooralla, North Children's Service
50 Wheatsheaf Road, Glenroy
Playgroups for Recently
Arrived Families Glenroy ENGLISH-ARABIC (1596 KB)
WHAT’S ON AT FAWKNER LIBRARY
Phone: 9355 4200
Email: [email protected]
Fun at Four “Leggo” Tuesday 23 February, 4pm
A program for primary school aged children. Get creative, play games and learn new stuff.
Come along and make new friends. Fourth Tuesday of month.
Rhyme Time for babies under 18 months: Tuesdays 11.30am
Preschool Story time: Wednesdays 11.30am
Toddler Time for Children aged 18-36 months: Select Fridays, 11.30am—12.00pm, ring to find out when programs start. A fun introduction to the storytime experience. Sessions include simple songs, short stories and movement activities. Adult participation is required. Toddler time is a four week program. It is not possible to book individual sessions. Bookings are essential. http://www.moreland.vic.gov.au/moreland-libraries/library-events/
childrens-activities/toddler-time.html February sessions begin on Friday 26 Feb.
And coming up in March…..
Special Evening Story Time Tuesday 1 March 6.15pm.
Bed time story time – come in your favourite pyjamas and snuggle up for
some fun.
BILINGUAL STORY TIMES:
Broadmeadows Shopping Centre
Thursdays 10.30 – 11.30am
(Children’s area opposite Target)
The Age Library, Hume Global Learning Centre,
Pascoe Vale Rd, Broadmeadows
Turkish: Mondays 11am – 12pm
Arabic: Wednesdays 11am – 12pm
Assyrian: Thursdays 1pm – 2pm
White Night Melbourne, Saturday 20
Feb, dusk til dawn
Come and experience the
best Melbourne has to offer
as the city is transformed
into an all-night wonderland
for everyone to explore.
From dusk til dawn discover
over 80 free events celebrating music, food, film, art
and light.
For more information go to: whitenightmelbourne.com.au/
Kids' Big Book Spectacular, Saturday 13
February 2016, 11am–3pm
State Library of Victoria,
Swanston Walk
FREE
A big day out with fun, free
activities celebrating the
wonderful world of children's
literature and illustration! Learn how to create your own stories,
draw amazing pictures and invent crazy characters. Meet our
special guest, the new Australian Children's Laureate, to be
announced in early February!
FAWKNER COMMUNITY HOUSE EVENTS
The Community House has been closed for a well earned holiday and will reopen on Monday 1st of February. To find out what’s happening go to:
https://www.facebook.com/fawknercommunityhouse/?fref=ts
http://fawknerch.org/
Or call: 9357 4631
Parenting Sessions run by the Maternal & Child Health Service
The Maternal Child and Health Service runs sessions for parents of children aged 4 months to 12 months to provide extra advice on settling and behaviour. These sessions are limited to 10 participants, so you must book in:
9240 1111.
Fawkner Leisure Centre, Community Room, 79 Jukes Road, Fawkner

Thursday 25 February - 10 am - 11.30 am
These sessions are available at other locations also, on different days, please visit the website
for details.http://www.moreland.vic.gov.au/community-care/children-and-families/mchs/parentingsessions/
NDIS INFO SESSION
What is the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)? What will it mean for you and your child? Wed 24 Feb,
6.30-8.00pm
The Foundations team along with the Association for Children with a Disability are presenting an information session on
the NDIS – an opportunity to ask questions and learn more about what is to come. Everyone is welcome. Refreshments
provided.
Where: Merri Community Health Services, 93 Bell Street, Coburg
RSVP essential by 17 Feb. Caila on (03) 9484 5314 or
email [email protected]
Services for Families in and around Fawkner
Victorian Arabic Support Services (VASS) provide parenting information sessions, case management,
counseling and advocacy. For more information contact: Shireen Francis at VASS Broadmeadows on: 9359 2861
or email [email protected]
Anglicare has a phone service for parents and carers of children aged 0-18 years in the northern region. This
is not a crisis service, but experienced staff can answer or return calls during business hours, Monday to Friday.
Calls may be about parenting programs run by Parentzone Northern or other agencies in the region, general parenting information and resources and/or child and family services in the northern region.
Call Parentzone: 9465 0322
To see the Parentzone Northern newsletter go to:
http://www.anglicarevic.org.au/index.php?pageID=11261&action=filemanager&folder_id=928&sectionID=11253
Parentline 13 22 89 is a telephone counseling service for parents and carers of children 0-18 years, open
8am-midnight 7 days a week.
Merri Community Health Services (MCHS)
Families can self refer directly to our service by calling: MCHS Integrated Family Services Intake: 9355 9900 or
Hume/Moreland Child First Intake: 9302 2700
The Integrated Family Services team work with children, young people and their families.
A free counseling service can be accessed at Fawkner, 79 Jukes Rd. To be referred to counseling call Service Access on: 9388 9933 or attend the Social Work DUTY Service at 93 Bell Street, Coburg, between 1pm and 3pm,
Monday - Friday. http://mchs.org.au/services/service-access/
Family Relationship Centres provide information and referrals for families at any stage of their relationships, as well as individual interviews, group and joint sessions (including family dispute resolution) for separating
or separated families. Information, referral and individual sessions are free of charge. Fees may be charged after
that.
Family Relationship Centre, 1100 Pascoe Vale Rd, Broadmeadows.
Ph: 9351 3700 [email protected]
https://www.mackillop.org.au/family-relationship-centre-broadmeadows
Family Mediation Centre provides relationship counselling, mediation and dispute resolution and counselling for families. Unit B1, 1-13 The Gateway, Broadmeadows. Monday - Friday.
Ph: 9355 4700 http://www.mediation.com.au/about-us/
Free movies in the park
For all the family! With captions. Roving entertainment and a free sausage sizzle (vegetarian and halal
options) from 8pm. Film starts at nightfall, usually around 9pm.
Inside Out
Friday 12 Feb from 8pm FG Cox Reserve, Claremont Street, Coburg North
Minions
Friday 19 Feb, from 8pm. Bridget Shortell Reserve, Wheatsheaf Rd, Glenroy
For more information go to:
(http://www.moreland.vic.gov.au/events-recreation/festivals-and-major-events/movies-in-the-park/movies-in-the-park/)
Online Parenting Guides
Tip Sheets
Parenting in a New Culture is a program developed
by Spectrum Migrant Resource Centre.
You can look at online parenting guides
for families from culturally diverse
communities in Australia:
Drummond Street
Services has put
together some PDF
tip sheets for families
facing issues such as
transition to primary school, dealing with school holidays
or the Christmas season.
http://
www.parentinginanewculture.org.au/
You can download them here:
http://www.ds.org.au/resources/drummond-street-tipsheets/
App of the Month:
My Very Hungry Caterpillar
This app uses Eric Carle’s
beautiful book as a source of
images and stories. There are
number of games to play for
free and more unlocked with payment.
Ages 2+
Devices: iPhone, iPod
Touch, iPad, Android, Windows
Phone
Price: Free - $3.99
If you use Facebook, here is a list of pages you
may want to visit and ‘like’, to know what is happening in Fawkner:
I Love Fawkner
Fawkner Community House
Sustainable Fawkner
Friends of Merri Creek
Fawkner Leisure Centre
Moreland City Libraries
Moreland City Council
Merri Community Health Services
Two excellent parenting resources on
Facebook:
Raising Children Network
KidsMatter for Families
ONLINE PARENTING RESOURCES
If you are looking for some parenting advice, tip sheets on parenting topics or children’s health and safety, here is
a list of places to start:
http://www.parenting.sa.gov.au/peglist_general.htm
http://www.kidsafevic.com.au/resources
http://www.parentline.com.au/parenting-information/tip-sheets/
http://www.tweddle.org.au/Pages/Parent_Resources/Tweddle_Tip_Sheets.aspx
http://www.rch.org.au/kidsinfo/#cat
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/BHCV2/bhcsubmit.nsf/topicsaz?open&a=1&v=a
http://raisingchildren.net.au/a_z_health.aspx
Groups start back Monday 8 February.
Please contact Gabi on 93853207 to register
interest.