About Playgroup Australia: The National Playgroup Alliance
Playgroup Australia is a not-for-profit organisation, established in 1984 as the national representative body for playgroup organisations.
To meet growing demand and broaden the impact of playgroups, Playgroup Australia is expanding its membership and launching the National Playgroup Alliance—a new initiative driving collaboration, evidence-sharing and national leadership. The Alliance brings together aligned organisations, advocates and allies who believe in the role playgroups play in contributing to better outcomes for families.
This alliance reflects the reality that families today are navigating increasingly complex systems. More than one in five children start school developmentally vulnerable. Parents are challenged to find support and connection. Playgroups respond to this with a simple, cost-effective model that builds protective factors into families, improves developmental outcomes, and reduces isolation within communities. In fact, children who attend playgroups are 1.4 times as likely to be developmentally on track, the same impact as preschool participation*.
The Alliance will strengthen national advocacy coordination, share insights and evaluation, and amplify local voices in the national conversation about very early childhood, family and child wellbeing, and community development.
To find out more about how to be a part of the National Playgroup Alliance, contact us at [email protected]
Our Vision
Every child and family is positively impacted by participation in Playgroup.
Our Mission
Playgroup Australia is the National peak body, championing the important role of the Playgroup Movement in delivering positive social impact by supporting young children, families and communities.
Our Commitment
Playgroup Australia supports the Uluru Statement from the Heart and its goals of ‘substantive constitutional change and structural reform’. We want to see the ‘ancient sovereignty’ of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples ‘shine through as a fuller expression of Australia’s nationhood’.
We accept the gracious invitation in the Uluru Statement from the Heart to walk with First Nations people ‘in a movement for the Australian people for a better future’.
We encourage everyone in the playgroup movement to read the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
At A Glance
Playgroup Australia is a Public Company Limited by Guarantee. The Members of Playgroup Australia are State and Territory playgroup organisations.
The Playgroup Australia Board comprises members nominated by State and Territory organisations and independent directors.
Strategic Priorities
- Leading national advocacy and investment.
- Sustainability
- Strategic leadership
For more information about our strategic priorities:
Our History
The playgroup movement has been supported by central organisations (at state, territory and federal levels) for more than 50 years. We are trusted partners for communities, governments and other organisations, working in the interests of children and their families.