Plumtree Children's Services

30/04/2026

First 5 Forever shares free ideas and resources to help families enjoy talking, reading, singing and playing together in everyday ways. It is gentle, playful and designed to fit into family life.

Find out more here:

In their first years of life your child's brain forms over one million new connections every second. Research shows the first five years last a lifetime and that simple, everyday activities with you help to make these connections strong.

29/04/2026

LAST OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE

Tell us about your library visit and win a $50 book voucher📚

Have you and your child visited a library lately? We would love to learn from your experience.

Libraries play an important role in community life and should be enjoyable for every family. While inclusion is improving, some families still face barriers when visiting libraries with a child with disability or developmental delay.

Plumtree offers a free online training program to help library staff create more inclusive environments. We want to understand whether families are noticing positive changes.

By completing a short survey, you are helping shape more welcoming libraries for all families. As a thank you, you will also go into the draw to win a $50 book voucher.

The survey will close tomorrow. Share your experience here: https://forms.office.com/r/Xeknr50cck

28/04/2026

FREE UPCOMINGONLINE WORKSHOP

When you are caring for a child with a developmental delay or disability, it’s easy for your own needs to come last. But your wellbeing matters — because when parents feel supported, children benefit too.

Join us for a practical, interactive session exploring how small changes in your wellbeing can positively support your child’s learning, behaviour and development.

What we will explore:
- How your wellbeing impacts your child’s outcomes
- Simple, realistic ways to move out of survival mode
- An introduction to PERMA, an evidence‑based wellbeing framework
- Small actions you can use in everyday family life
- A chance to reflect, connect and learn with other families

This session is for:
Parents and carers of children aged 0–8 years with disability, developmental delay, neurodivergence or concerns about development.

📅 Tuesday 5 May 2026
⏰ 7.30 pm – 9.00 pm AEST (Sydney time)
📍 Online via Zoom — families across Australia welcome
💰 Free
🔗 Register here: https://www.plumtree.org.au/event/lta-family-wellbeing-perma-t226/
Sessions may be cancelled if fewer than four families are registered.

26/04/2026

23/04/2026

MyTime Marrickville will be back next week - we hope to see you here (or online)

Based on the work of Professor Helen Bourke-Taylor, many parents recognise a familiar journey when raising a child with developmental concerns. There can be times filled with questions and big emotions, moments where your child’s needs take centre stage, and times when life feels a little more balanced again.

These phases don’t follow a straight line. We often move in and out of them across our child’s life, doing our best as parents and carrying a lot along the way.

MyTime is a space to pause together and gently make sense of this journey. Over a warm cuppa and a biscuit or two, we’ll share reflections on how these experiences might look in our own families, while remembering that our needs matter too.

Join us as we slow things down, connect with others who understand, and find reassurance in knowing we are not alone.

👶 Limited childminding available—book early!
💻 Can’t make it in person? Join us online!
📅 Wednesday, 29 April
🕚 11am – 1pm
📍 or online
➡️ https://www.plumtree.org.au/event/mytime-peer-support/

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20/04/2026

STARTING SOON - REGISTER NOW!

Circle of Security is a gentle, evidence‑based parenting program that supports parents and carers to better understand their child’s emotions, behaviours and needs. It helps build stronger connection, trust and confidence in your relationship with your child.

Families often tell us they leave feeling more supported, reassured and with practical ideas they can use at home straight away.

We are offering three groups in Term 2, so you can choose the option that works best for your family:
• Dads and male carers – Wednesday evenings from 29 April, 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm AEDT
• Thursday daytime group – from 30 April, 10 am - 12 pm AEDT
• Monday evening group – from 4 May, 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm AEDT

Register here: https://www.plumtree.org.au/?s=Circle+of+security&post_type=tribe_events

17/04/2026

FOSTER YOUR CHILD'S INTERESTS AND STRENGTHS THROUGH PLAY

Let your child take the lead in playtime to build confidence and independence! Encouraging curiosity, creativity, and movement can support their physical development in fun and meaningful ways.

By allowing your child to explore, express themselves, and move during play, you're helping them grow and learn—while strengthening your connection with them.

Looking for paediatric physiotherapy for children aged birth to 5 years?

Get in touch with us today!
📞 (02) 9572 8840
🌐 www.plumtree.org.au

16/04/2026

Words Grow Minds is a free Australian resource that shares practical ideas to help families talk, play, read and sing with their little ones.

These everyday interactions support early brain development, connection and confidence, especially in the early years.

You will find easy activities, videos, podcasts and free family resource packs that fit into real life. There is no pressure and no “right way”, just gentle encouragement and evidence‑based ideas you can use at home and in the community.

This resource is helpful for parents, carers, grandparents and anyone supporting young children.

You can explore their resources here: https://wordsgrowminds.org.au/

15/04/2026

Your chance to win a $50 book voucher 📚

Have you visited a library with your child recently? We would love to hear how it went.

Libraries should be warm, welcoming places for all families. Many libraries are doing great work to be more inclusive, but for some children with disability or developmental delay, visits can still be challenging.

Plumtree has created a free online training program to support library staff to build more inclusive spaces and programs. Now we want to know if this has made a difference for your family.

Your feedback is important. It helps governments and organisations understand what is working well and what still needs to change.

Take our short survey and you will go into the draw to win a $50 book voucher.
Share your experience here:

Libraries as Community Connectors We are committed to enhancing inclusion at public libraries! By answering the questions below, you will be providing libraries and our team valuable information to create more welcoming spaces for all families. The information will also contribute toward our project...

14/04/2026

Helping kids talk about feeling sick

This communication board is a helpful tool for parents and carers to support children to understand and share how they’re feeling when they’re unwell.

How to use it:
- Point to the pictures as you talk, to help your child understand and express their symptoms
- Ask “are you feeling sick?” and encourage them to point to where or how they feel unwell
- Some children find it easier to point rather than talk, especially when they’re not feeling their best

Teaching moments
• Use the pictures to gently remind children to cover their mouth when coughing
• Show them how to wash their hands with soap to help get rid of germs

Visual supports like these can make learning about health and hygiene easier, more accessible and even a little more fun 🦠💖

10/04/2026

Movement plays a large part in becoming independent. A physiotherapist supports children in participating in family and community life, It can involve developing your child's motor skills for activities like walking, sitting, or kicking a ball.

Physiotherapists also help you with daily routines such as playing with family and friends, visiting a park, getting dressed or moving from one place to another.

If you're interested in connecting with a paediatric physiotherapist for your child aged birth to 5 years, please contact us.

📞 (02) 9572 8840
🌐 www.plumtree.org.au

08/04/2026

Looking for extra support to help your child move, play and grow with confidence?

Our paediatric physiotherapist works with families to support children’s development in fun, everyday ways.

Find out more and book a session: https://www.plumtree.org.au/paediatric-physiotherapy-2/