Footscray families are celebrating the official opening of a children’s hub in Melbourne’s inner west this week, bringing together childcare, kindergarten, and community health services.
The Billy Button Children’s Centre is a one-shop-stop for Footscray families, including rooms for childcare and three and four-year-old kindergarten programs, supported by maternal and child health services.
The official opening of the Billy Button Children’s Centre will take place on Thursday 16 June, heralding it as a one-shop-stop for Footscray families, including rooms for childcare and three and four-year-old kindergarten programs, supported by maternal and child health services.
“We are thrilled the Billy Button Children’s Centre is available for children and their families living in Melbourne’s west,” Sparkways CEO Angela Forbes said.
“As a family-focused organisation delivering educational opportunities to children since the 90s - we are delighted to be welcoming Footscray families to our early learning services at this new children’s hub.
“Co-locating the early childhood facilities with Footscray Primary School means easier drop-off for parents with multiple children, while providing a familiar and safe environment for those transitioning from maternal and child health visits to childcare and kinder.”
Sparkways is a Melbourne-based not-for-profit organisation, offering early education, mentoring and employment opportunities to Melbourne families.
Thanks to the enormous generosity and support of the community, Sparkways last year delivered 1,621 children and young people with high-quality education and training, in 44 centres across Melbourne.
Despite the challenges of COVID-19 in 2021, Sparkways also provided more than 1500 hours of a mentoring program that aims to light the spark of change in every young person who participates.
“Tuning in to each child to understand what sparks their interests, their loves and their sense of fun, helps to provide them with the foundations of learning that they will carry with them for the rest of their lives,” Billy Button Centre Director Simone Smith said.
“As educators, we are committed to providing learning environments that ignite children’s curiosity and allows them to express themselves.
“This is underpinned by a focus on social and emotional development, which will set the platform for children to be confident, successful lifelong learners.
“Our staff are here to support children to harness the power of play through active learning environments and continuous intentional learning opportunities all day, every day. It really is a phenomenal process and I’m honoured to be a part of it.”
To find out more about our childcare and kindergarten services at the Billy Button Children’s Centre visit: https://sparkways.org.au/centres/billybutton-childrens-centre
16 June 2022
