History

Playgroup Queensland Timeline

The Playgroup Association of Queensland Inc., now named Playgroup Queensland, was established by volunteers in 1973 following a recognised need to better co-ordinate a number of informal Playgroups that had been established. The Association commenced with 12 Playgroups in Brisbane and 2 in Cairns and has since grown to be one of the State’s largest early childhood organisations.

Primarily funded by membership subscriptions in 1975, the Association in 1980 received recurrent government funding and began with one staff member.

Today, Playgroup Queensland is a well managed not-for-profit community organisation with a diverse range of services including Playgroups, early intervention programs and community education activities. The Association’s work with communities was acknowledged by the Prime Minister in 2003 when he granted Playgroup Queensland deductible gift status allowing donations of $2.00 or more to be tax deductible.

With a staff of 100 full time and part time professionals working from a State Office and five regional offices, the Association now supports over 2650 registered volunteers who give 87,000 voluntary hours each year.

1973

Playgroup Association held its Inaugural Meeting

1974

1st Annual General Meeting held
Playgroup the official journal of the Association is produced in October
Constitution approved by Department of Justice
Association registered with the Register of Charities

1975

Playgroups commence affiliating with the Association
Affiliation fees $5.00 per group with more than 10 mothers and $2.50 for less than 10 mothers
Zones were established (7 metropolitan and 13 country)
Volunteer Zone Coordinators were recruited
$5000 grant received from Commonwealth Government to establish Office

1976

Inaugural State Conference held in conjunction with AGM
Products commence being sold by Association

1977

State wide Art Union (netting $5000 profit) begins
Office of Child Care held a meeting to appoint the Association’s first Development Officers
Affiliation fees $7.50 per Playgroup
Playgroup Association of Queensland registers business name “Playgroup”

1978

Part time Secretary appointed to staff State Office
‘Playgroup Starter Boxes’ created to assist country Playgroups with financial assistance from Mt Isa Mines

1979

Queensland coordinated and hosted 1st National Playgroup Convention with 2 delegates from each State / Territory attending

1983

Playgroup Association celebrates 10th Anniversary

1984

Office relocates to Milton Road, Auchenflower
Part time Book keeper is employed

1985

First Playgroup Video is produced
Certification of Incorporation granted by Office of Fair Trading

1987

985 Playgroups affiliate
Playgroup Shop opens and begins selling a variety of arts and crafts materials
Three Playgroup Development Officers employed in Cairns, Brisbane and Rockhampton
Association buys its first photocopier and first computer

1988

Association celebrates its 15th Anniversary
Playgroup Party Week in November begins

1991

National Playgroup Day is first celebrated

1992

Playtimes is launched to replace Playgroup journal
Playgroup Awareness Week is introduced throughout Australia
Playgroup Council of Australia gains a National Office in Canberra
Association appoints its first Executive Officer, Denise McMurtrie

1993

Playgroup Association celebrates its 20th Anniversary
The Wiggles first tour Queensland with tickets costing $5.00

1994

Six Development Officers are appointed

1997

Concession Membership for Health Care Card Holders is introduced

1998

Playgroup Association celebrates its 25th Anniversary
Regional 1300 telephone service introduced

2001

Playgroup Queensland Inc is adopted as trading name
Office relocates to new premises at McDougall Street, Milton
Sing and Grow Music Therapy Program commences
New Chief Executive Officer Mark Brooke employed

2002

New corporate branding introduced
Playgroup Charter Quality Assurance Framework completed
Review of Board completed and new Corporate Governance Policy introduced
Playgroup Australia Website goes live

2003

Member borrowing at Toy Libraries is commenced
New Playgroup Resource Kit and Playgroup Activity Cards are introduced
Playtimes on Line our e newsletter is introduced

2004

Playing for Keeps fundraising appeal launched in May to coincide with Playgroup Month
All Development Officers provided with a company motor vehicle sponsored by Gambling Community Benefit Fund
Gambling Community Benefit Fund provides $1million in funding since its inception
Prime Minister announces tax deductible status for Playgroup Queensland for donations of $2 or more
Minister for Children and Young People, Larry Anthony, announces an $11.6 million national funding package for Playgroup services

2005

Sing and Grow Program if funded to become a National Program
$200,000 fundraised to build a new State Office
Playgroup affiliations top 1320 sessions
Playgroup State Conference opened up to all Playgroups including rural and remote groups for the first time
National Review of Playgroup Associations undertaken by independent group on behalf of the Australian Government

2006

Supported Playgroups funded as a Playgroup Australia project to support vulnerable families
Playgroup Queensland purchases and relocates to the Queensland Playgroup Centre - the achievement of a 30 year goal
Playgroup launches for the first time 'web site' referrals for families seeking a playgroup referral
'Playtimes' our Playgroup journal is redesigned and formated and direct mailed to each members' home greatly enhancing member to Association communication
Cairns South Mobile Supported Playgroup activity is funded by Mission Australia as part of the Australian Government's Communities for Children Program
Her Excellency Quentin Bryce AC, Governor of Queensland and the Association's Patron opens the 2006 Playgroup Conference

2007

Playgroup 2010 Strategic Plan was launched
The inaugural Early Intervention Through Playgroup Conference was held
Queensland Dept of Communities funds the Accessible Playgroup Initiative, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Playgroup Resource Unit and the Redland Bayside Parenting Hub
In partnership with Parent Research Centre - 3 MyTime Groups are commenced
Queensland Government grants the Association exemption from Stamp Duty
Playgroup Queensland announced as Charitable Institution by Australia Tax Office
Minister for Families and Communities the Hon. Mal Brough officially opens the Queensland Playgroup Centre
Playgroup Queensland opens there first regional office in Cairns.

2008

Playgroup Queensland joins forces with Playgroup NSW to jointly publish Totline - our combined parenting and playgroup quarterly magazine
Playgroup Plus - Teacher Led Playgroups are introduced and expanded throughout Queensland
Playgroup Children's Foundation is formally established as the fundraising and development arm of the organisation with a Director employed
The Foundation holds our first Making Children Smile Corporate Dinner which is a sell out
The former Governor of Queensland, Her Excellency Quentin Bryce AC officially launches the 'Making Music Time a Success' Resource Book
National Playgroup Week held in Parliament House and 17 other locations around Queensland
Playgroup Queensland appointed as the auspice group for HIPPY Riverview - Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters
MyTime Program expands in Queensland to 19 communities
PlayConnect Playgroups for parents with child/ren with autism spectrum disorder commences
Redland and Bayside Family Support Hub is officially opened by Minister for Communities, The Hon. Lindy Nelson-Carr

2009

Mr Phillip Marriott is appointed Chairperson of the Board - the first male to hold this position in the history of the Association
The second Early Intervention through Playgroup Conference is held with over 150 delegates
The Association employs a Manager Policy and Research to strengthen our evidence base
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Playgroup Resources are developed in partnership with Playgroup NSW
PlayLink, our new management information system is developed and operational again in partnership with Playgroup NSW
The Father's Day Pram Stroll and Picnic is held at over 12 locations throughout Queensland
Woorabinda Locational Supported Playgroup funded by the Australian Government
Playgroup Centres open at Karalee and Labrador whilst new Resource Centres open in Townsville and Mt Isa
Townsville Regional Office is opened by Mayor of Townsville
Our first Church Playgroup Seminar is held
Cairns Mobile Supported Playgroup concludes and a new project 'Playgroup as Hubs' continues in it's place
Mark Brooke resigns as CEO to take up a new role at Asthma Queensland
Playgroup Qld received funding from DEEWAR to administer the Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters (HIPPY) program in Riverview for four years
HFBH Pilot begins

2010

Jennifer Mobbs commences as CEO of Playgroup Queensland
Playgroup Queensland wins a Work Life Balance Award
Opening of new office and playgroup venue at the Ascot Community Centre
Totline Magazine becomes the National Playgroup Magazine
Partnership is established with the Brisbane Writers Festival to produce the ‘Little Readers Big Day Out’ event
First Annual National Sing & Grow Training day held in Brisbane
Sing and Grow integrated service delivery sites established in 3 sites across Australia
Playgroup Qld becomes the auspicing body for Federal Government funding of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander PaCE (Parental and Community Engagment) Program
Queensland Government Department of Education, Training and the Arts provides a further 3 years funding for the Accessible Playgroup Initiative.
Australian Government provides PaCE (Parental and Community Engagement) funding for playgroup programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families in 4 Ipswich schools.
Lockhart River Locational Supported Playgroup funded by the Australian Government.

2011

Mr Stephen Morfea is appointed Chairperson of the Board
Extensive flooding and Cyclone Yasi affect Playgroup families across the state; FaHCSIA provides funding for two fully equipped vans and four workers, to provide play experiences in affected areas
Playgroup Queensland is awarded a Healthy Workplace Grant
Inaugural Playgroup Qld Showcase for early childhood and community sectors
FaHCSIA funding secured under the Family Support program until July 2014
Sing & Grow becomes international – program launched in the UK
Through the PaCE Program, over 50 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families are involved in Supported Playgroups and are linked with their local schools.
Playgroup Queensland appointed as the provider for HIPPY Manoora (Cairns) – Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters
‘Families and Children Together’ Early Intervention through Playgroups Conference attended by 100 delegates.
Australian Government funding received for 2 fully equipped Disaster Recovery Vans and 4 staff.
Cairns based Early Childhood Educator position funded through a partnership with Cairns Early Years Centre.
October - HFBH received funding until 2015 for 150 Supported Playgroups in QLD

2012

Sing & Grow flexible service delivery extended to include community hub positions
HIPPY Riverview continues to support 26 families with school readiness activities
April - first roll-out of the Have Fun Be Healthy project with 13 PGs.