4th June, 2025.
I acknowledge the Mittagong Community Playgroup, a facilitated free playgroup for residents of Southern Highlands and surrounds, funded by the Fritz Family Foundation. Mittagong Community Playgroup has remained committed to providing parents and carers of children aged 0-5 years a place to find their village, by facilitating connections to build stronger families and stronger communities. It is run by a director and staff of nearby Mittagong Preschool. The passionate and tireless teachers lend their expertise in early childhood education to the playgroup program, which focuses on providing a structured range of experiences to enhance the connection between parent-carers and their child through play. The playgroup has also hosted a range of health and allied professionals throughout the year to provide information and guidance on a range of topics, which has added to the sense of support and inclusion felt by the participants. The playgroup states that celebrating community connections is their reason for being, and the many enduring friendships that have formed through the playgroup are testament to that. With an average of 150 participants weekly, Mittagong Playgroup has been a hub of friendship, connection and joy for families in the highlands.