Children’s Services
To make enquiries regarding any of our children’s services please call 02 4627 1188.
HIPPY - Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters
MDSI’s Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters is a two year (60 week) home-based early childhood enrichment program for children aged between 3½ to 4½ years old who live in the Campbelltown area.
HIPPY helps parents learn many things including:
- How to be more involved in their child’s learning
- Understand more about child development and how children learn
- How to encourage a love of learning in children
HIPPY helps children by:
- Preparing them for school
- Building their self-esteem and confidence in learning
- Providing opportunities to enjoy time with their parent
HIPPY Campbelltown is a free service providing tutors who visit parents/caregivers in their own home to explain the HIPPY activities. The parent and child will then spend 10 – 15 minutes each day, five days a week doing the activities together.
HIPPY is funded by the Commonwealth Government. The Brotherhood of St Laurence is licensed to operate HIPPY in Australia.
Community Connector Program
MDSI’s Community Connector Program in Rosemeadow/Ambarvale aims to build a strong and connected community by breaking down isolation, and promoting social inclusion, improving access to services and providing seamless referral pathways for families, encouraging community participation and raising awareness of information related to the needs of young children 0-12, including the importance of the early years, play and literacy.
The Community Connector:
- visits families and provides a community information kit
- invites families to attend a community activity for example Street Treat, Playgroup, Craft group
- assesses family needs and refers to appropriate support services
- accompanies families to their first activity to introduce them to other families
- facilitates weekly Playgroup
Communities for Children is an Australian Government funded initiative
Playgroups
MDSI Playgroups are supported by qualified staff, offering children the opportunity to play, learn and interact socially. The following playgroups operate during school terms:
Multicultural Little Sunshine Playgroup
- Mondays, 10:00am - 12:00pm
- Mowbray Community Meeting Place - 2 Mowbray Way, Rosemeadow
Little Stars Indian Playgroup
- Thursdays, 10:00am - 12:00pm
- MDSI Aged Care Centre Browne Street - Campbelltown (Mawson Park)
Arabic Playgroup
- Wednesdays, 10:00am - 12:00pm
- St James Church Hall - Redfern Street, Minto
Flower Power Playgroup
- Thursdays, 10:00am - 12:00pm
- Flower Power - Mount Annan Road, Mount Annan
Frangipani Pacific Island Playgroup
- Fridays, 10:00am - 12:00pm
- Claymore Neighbourhood Centre - Corner Dobell & Gould Roads, Claymore
Lorikeets Playgroup
- Fridays, 9:30am - 11:30pm (Morning Session) Fridays, 12:00pm - 2:00pm (Afternoon Session)
- Macarthur Square Shopping Centre - Level 2, Suite L 104B
(in partnership with Good Beginnings)
Playlinks Arabic Playgroup
- Fridays, 10:00am - 12:00pm
- MDSI Aged Care Centre - Browne Street, Campbelltown (Mawson Park)
(in partnership with Northcott Disability Services)
Play Therapy
Details of this service will soon be available.
