General News
1 October, 2025
Kids in play
AFTER nearly a decade, a community playgroup has returned to Ararat, giving local families a new opportunity to connect and socialise.
Organiser Kayla Pyke said the idea came from her own experience raising young children.
“Ararat hasn’t had a community playgroup for about eight years,” she said.
She said while Ararat does have what is known as a supported play group, it has a long waiting list and restricted terms.
“You’re only supposed to attend supported playgroup for a term and then be referred to a community playgroup, but we didn’t have one to be referred to,” said Kayla.
Working alongside Nerissa Gee (Supported Playgroup Facilitator and Pre-Prep Project Coordinator), Kayla set the wheels in motion to re-establish a parent-run, community playgroup.
“It’s really good for me and my children to be able to go somewhere once a week and socialise with other kids and parents. To meet other parents, mingle, have a coffee, it’s really nice.”
The group, which is open to children from birth through to school age, has now been running for three weeks and already had an overwhelming response.
“We’ve had three sessions so far, and at our second session we had 22 families attend,” Kayla said.
“It’s casual, you can come every week, or just once.”
Kayla said the aim was to make the group as welcoming and accessible as possible.
“I don’t want families to not attend over a cost, so it’s free. With toys, craft and freeplay, we just ask families to bring along a piece of fruit to share,” she said.
Looking ahead, Kayla hopes to expand the program with special activities and guest speakers.
“We’re really interested in the future to get people like Ambulance Victoria or Police to come along If anyone wants to reach out with ideas, that would be great.”
The registered playgroup runs on Mondays from 10:30am to 12pm at the Learning Centre behind Ararat 800 Primary School, accessed via the rear entrance.
The group will take a short break over the school holidays, returning on October 6 with a special offsite session featuring pizza making, before regular sessions resume on October 13.
Kayla also credited the support of Natalie Dowsett and her team at Ararat 800 Primary School for making the group possible.
“Without their generosity, support and ideas, I definitely couldn’t have got it up and running like I have,” she said.
Families wanting to attend can contact Kayla on 0478 714 832 for details.
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