JULIE COLLINS MP
Minister for Community Services
Minister for Indigenous Employment and Economic Development
Minister for the Status of Women
Federal Member for Franklin
SENATOR CATRYNA BILYK
Senator for Tasmania
Chair of the Joint Select Committee on Cyber-Safety
MEDIA RELEASE
National Families Week: spending quality time together
The importance of Australians spending quality time with their families is being highlighted during National Families Week.
Running from 15 to 21 May, Families Week was officially launched by Senator Catryna Bilyk today at a pyjama reading party at a dads’ playgroup in Hobart hosted by early learning centre Good Beginnings Tasmania.
The Minister for Community for Services, Julie Collins, said this year’s National Families Week was about highlighting the importance of getting the right balance between work and family life.
“Striking the right balance between work and family is vital for modern families in our busy world,” Ms Collins said.
“As a working mother with three children I know it can be a real struggle sometimes to get the balance right.
“But it’s encouraging to know that there are so many resources out there to help.
“The top 10 tips being promoted this week by National Families Week are full of good, sound, common-sense advice, such as sharing daily events with one another, healthy eating and exploring the outdoors.
“My favourite though is No 7 – Read and tell stories together regularly – something the Good Beginnings dads playgroup in Hobart does well.”
Senator Catryna Bilyk, representing Ms Collins at the Hobart launch, said research shows that young children who are read to regularly by family members develop literacy skills long before they are able to read and also experience emotional and mental benefits.
”As a National Ambassador for the 2012National Year of Reading as well as being a National Ambassador for the Love2Read Campaign and a strong supporter of The Reading Hour 2013, I feel that reading to, and with, children is one of the most important things we can do”. Senator Bilyk said.
“Playgroups like Good Beginnings Tasmania provide a great learning environment for kids to start their development and get ready for school and are a valuable backup for those who don’t have a wide or close family network.
“They offer families a great and supportive place in which to bond with their children through fun activities like singing, dancing, art, and reading.
“The Australian Government has invested $4 million each year for free or low-cost community playgroups in our cities, regions and rural towns across Australia.
“This includes close to $1.5 million to 2014 for Good Beginnings Tasmania,” Senator Bilyk said.
Funding playgroups is part of the Government’s investment of more than $1 billion over three years under the Family Support Program providing vital support to families and children.
This year the Australian Government provided more than $680,000 to support Families Australia, including $102,200 to manage National Families Week celebrations across the country.
For more information on National Families Week, including the top 10 tips to ‘get the balance right’, and activities in your local area,see www.familiesaustralia.org.au
JULIE COLLINS MP, SENATOR CATRYNA BILYK
