Wednesday, 15 October 2025

 Lizzie BLANDTHORN (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Children, Minister for Disability) (12:23): I rise to update the house on one of the many ways in which the Allan Labor government is supporting Victorian families by funding multicultural story time sessions. It was an absolute delight to join the member for Kalkallo on a visit to the Indian playgroup and multicultural story time session at the Newbury Child and Community Centre in Craigieburn. The Indian playgroup and multicultural story time session in Craigieburn is delivered to the community via VICSEG New Futures, and it was a pleasure to reconnect with Maree and Caspar from VICSEG at this wonderful event. The session was facilitated by the extremely engaging Harpreet, who guided the group through an interactive and immensely beneficial session in song and the bilingual reading of two of my favourite early years storybooks, The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle and Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What did You See? by Bill Martin Jr. The text within these stories presented Harpreet with the opportunity to use images, words and actions familiar to young children to speak and engage in both English and Punjabi, supporting the children’s language and literacy development. The regular group sessions provide families additional opportunities to meet and socialise with other families from similar backgrounds, supporting the families’ connection to culture and community and further supporting the child’s social and emotional development.

At the event I heard firsthand from families about how beneficial these sessions are for their little ones. I even heard from one mum about how she has a permanent arrangement in place with her full-time employer to ensure she can attend the weekly sessions, as attendance at the event is one of the highest priorities for her family. The session was a lovely example of how we can support communities to be the best they can be, resulting in happy and confident children ready to learn and grow and pursue a wonderful life. I am pleased to speak about this wonderful multicultural story time session today, as it is the Allan Labor government that continues to support Victorian families with what matters most, because we understand families and what is needed to raise happy, confident and healthy kids and strong families.