Local Community Resources
Western Sydney community groups and organisations that can provide early literacy support for families.
- Libraries
- Toy Libraries
- Playgroups
- Local Councils
- Migrant Resource Centres
- Schools as Community Centres
Annette Alexander leading Baby Bounce and Rhyme Time at Merrylands Library
Libraries
Your local library offers books, tapes, cds and story times for children from birth.
With a library card you can borrow books free. Ask your librarian to help you organise library cards for your family.
Librarians are keen to help parents and carers develop a love of literacy with their families.
Follow this link and type the name of your local government area (eg ‘Blacktown’) to find your local library in Australia.
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Toy Libraries
Your local Toy Library helps encourage your child’s language and learning with the opportunity to borrow a wide range of toys that you may not have at home.
Children learn an amazing amount through play, developing many skills and abilities that will help with learning at school.
Blacktown Central Library (includes Toy Library)
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Blacktown City Max Webber Library
Corner of Alpha Street and Flushcombe Road
Blacktown
Phone 9839 6677
Fax 9831 2690
Castle Hill Toy Library
- Castle Mall Shopping Centre
basement car park (not Castle Towers)
4 Terminus St, Castle Hill
Phone (02) 9634 1457 - Parramatta Toy Library
Focus Support Service, Resources & Toy Library - 1A Civic Place
Parramatta
Phone (02) 9891 1112
Sunny Corner Toy Library 
- 12 Station Rd
Auburn
Phone 9649 8173
www.sunnycornertoylibrary.org.au - Wentworthville Toy Library (fee)
- Wentworthville Branch Library
2 Lane Street
Wentworthville 2145
Telephone 9631 7564
Fax 9688 3168
Playgroup NSW Toy Libraries
If you belong to the Playgroup association, one of their toy libraries and resource centres may be in your area. Toy libraries vary in size. Some cater only for playgroups and some allow individual members to borrow.
The following western Sydney zones operate toy libraries for the benefit of their playgroups and members.
Blacktown
Hills
Pennant Hills
Ryde/Epping
Contact your Playgroups NSW zone for addresses and further information. www.playgroupnsw.com.au
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Playgroups NSW - Playgroup Association
Playgroups offer a wide range of activities for families and carers with children, from birth to school age.
They give you and your child(ren) a chance to play and talk with other local families, and can help prepare children for school.
Ask at your local health centre or baby health centre for playgroups near you. Your Council will also have details of playgroups with contact addresses and numbers.
There may be a playgroup in your school, local church or community centre.
Playgroup NSW also supports a large number of playgroups, organised in zones. Click here to find a playgroup near you. (You can search for playgroups in other Australian states on this website, too.)
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Local Councils
Local Councils offer resources for families. You can find local activities, libraries and children’s services that will expand your children’s skills and experiences.
Auburn Council
Children’s services and libraries can be found under the link ‘living in the area’.
Baulkham Hills Council
This website has a library services section, where you can renew library books online, and a ‘What's On’ community diary.
Blacktown City Council
Follow the links to children’s services and libraries.
Holroyd Council
Find children’s services under services to the community. There is a separate library section.
Parramatta City Council
Follow the ‘Community’ link for more information about services for children and families.
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Migrant Resource Centres
Migrant Resources Centres support a wide range of families from a variety of cultural backgrounds with workers from their local communities.
Contact your local Migrant Resource Centre for help with translation and family support. Some centres offer mothers’ groups and playgroups.
- Blacktown MRC
- Level 2, 125 Main Street
Blacktown NSW 2148
Phone 02 9621 6633
Fax 02 9831 5625
- Parramatta/Baulkham Hills MRC
- 15 Hunter Street, Parramatta
PO Box 1081
Parramatta NSW 2124
Phone 02 9687 9901
Fax 02 9687 9990
E-mail enquiries@bhhpmrc.org.au - Auburn MRC
- 17 Macquarie Road
Auburn NSW 2144
PO Box 788
Auburn NSW 1835
Phone 02 9649 6955
Fax 02 9649 4688
E-mail reception@amrc.org.au
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Schools as Community Centres and Community Hubs
A initiative to encourage schools to develop innovative programmes that are accessible to parents with children aged 0–5.
These programmes are geared to local community needs, and differ from community to community.
- Harmony House, Auburn
- Christine Daujotis
- Riverstone Community Hub
- Heather McIntyre
- Meadows Public School
- Meiha Cheung
- Telopea Public School
- Susanne Hall
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