Local Community Resources
Community groups and organisations that can provide early literacy support for families.
Because Early Words was developed for Western Sydney families, we've found lots of places where you can find early literacy support for families locally. If you live outside of Western Sydney, look for similar places in your community.
- Libraries
- Toy Libraries
- Playgroups
- Local Councils
- Migrant Resource Centres
- Schools as Community Centres
- Adult Literacy
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.
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.
- Our Library at the Hub
-
Ayres Grove
Mt Druitt
Phone (02) 8886 2000 - 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 - Possum Community Toy Library
- Available at locations:
Katoomba
Hazelbrook
Springwood
Winmalee
Penrith
Phone (02) 4758 996' - Noah's Ark (Special Needs)
- Norwest Anglican Parish
Chapel Lane
Crestwood
Phone (02) 9411 4429 - Westmead Toy Library
- 1 Oakes Street
Westmead
Phone (02) 9891 1822 - Toy Library on Wheels
- Stops monthly on Mondays at:
Riverstone
Stanhope Gardens
The Ponds
South Windsor
Phone 0404 078 178
www.toylibraryuca.com.au - Penrith Toy Library
- Available at Library locations:
Penrith
St Clair
St Marys
Emu Plains
Phone (02) 4735 5577 - Blue Mountains Library Toy Library
- Available at Library locations:
Blackheath
Springwood
Wentworth Falls
Katoomba
Lawson
Blaxland
Phone (02) 4723 5040
Playgroups
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.
Click here to find the many playgroups around Australia registered with Playgroup Australia.
Click here to find some playgroups across NSW.
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 "Community" tab.
Baulkham Hills Council
Under the 'Residents' tab, click on 'Community Information Directory' for their Children's Services directory'.
Under the 'Library' tab, click on 'Services and Programs' for a listing of what's on for children.
Blacktown City Council
Under 'Residents', click on 'Library Website' and 'Child Care' for information.
Blue Mountains Council
Find the community directory under 'Library Services.
Hawkesbury Council
Check on the 'Community' tab to find 'Community and Youth Services'. Also look under the 'News and Event's' tab.
Holroyd Council
Find children's and library services under 'Community Services'.
Parramatta City Council
Click on the 'Play' tab, then under 'Facilities', click on 'Library'. You'll find information under the 'Community Information' and the 'Just for…' links.
Penrith City Council
Scroll to the bottom of the page for children and library information.
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.
- SydWest Multicultural Services Inc (Blacktown)
- Phone (02) 9621 6633
E-mail info@sydwestmsi.org.au - The Hills Holroyd Parramatta Migrant Resource Centre
- Phone (02) 9687 9901
E-mail admin@thhpmrc.org.au - Auburn Diversity Services Inc
- Phone (02) 9649 6955
E-mail reception@auburndiversity.org.au
Schools as Community Centres and Community Hubs
Some public schools offer programs that are designed for parents with children aged 0-5.
Click here to find a School as a Community Centre (SaCC) across NSW.
Local Public Schools that run programs include:
- Auburn North
- The Meadows at Seven Hills
- Telopea
- Katoomba
- North Katoomba
- Penrith
- Windsor South
- Windsor Park
- North Richmond
- Oxley Park
- South St Marys
- Braddock at Cranebrook
- Tregear
- Lethbridge Park
- Bidwill
- Willmot
- Noumea at Shalvey
- Whalan
- Madang at Whalan
- Blackett
- Hebersham
Adult literacy
Parents who cannot read can still pass on the love of language and stories to their children. Here are some tips.
- Tell your own stories every day
- Tell stories from your own family
- Tell stories from your own culture so your children will be able to tell their children
- Tell jokes and funny stories
- Make up stories about your child and what they might do
- Tell stories about things that happened to you when you were younger and when your parents were younger
- Tell your child things you did through the day like a story
- Use toys to tell stories
- Be a good model — take your child to the library, ask if you can watch the teachers read books at LDC or Preschool
The Reading Writing Hotline
The Australian Government funds this hotline. This national telephone literacy referral service is for adults and will direct you to local literacy assistance.
Call 1300 655 506.
Local literacy support for adults - TAFE NSW
Blacktown, Baulkham Hills, Granville, Lidcombe, Wetherill Park and Mt Druitt TAFE colleges run free language, literacy and spelling courses. Follow this link to search for a literacy course at a TAFE near you.
Adult literacy and numeracy courses are free for Centrelink clients who receive a benefit, provided Centrelink makes the referral. For more information, go to the Centrelink website.