Inner West Council Children's Services

27/08/2026

From Snow White and Tigger to the Three Little Pigs, Addison Road ELC educators brought favourite storybook characters to life during Book Week 2026!

18/08/2026

Last week, children from Deborah Little, May Murray and Yirran Gumal Early Learning Centres went on an excursion to Barnardos Australia's National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children's Day celebration.

Joining local families and children from other early learning services, they enjoyed a morning of arts and crafts, reading sessions, face painting and community connection.

The event was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the importance of family, culture and community in children's lives and wellbeing.

03/08/2026

Does your child seem anxious, worried, or reluctant to attend school or social activities?

Join psychologist Marina Bailey for this free online workshop and learn how anxiety can present in children, when to seek professional support and practical strategies parents can use to help their child build confidence and resilience.

📅 Monday, 17 August 2026
⏰ 6:30pm - 7:30pm
👪 For parents & carers of children aged 3-12 years
💻 Online

REGISTER HERE: https://events.humanitix.com/supporting-the-anxious-child

03/08/2026

At May Murray, children have been engaged in careful observation of feathers as part of their exploration of the natural world.

They were invited to share their ideas visually, with many choosing to focus on the stunning peacock feathers. Through this work, children are learning to carefully notice and represent the world around them.

14/07/2026

FREE WORKSHOP FOR PARENTS AND CARERS

This free, online workshop is designed to equip parents and carers of primary school-aged children with tools and strategies to strengthen their children's emotional resilience.

The workshop examines some of the common ‘traps’ for parents when managing their child’s discomfort as well as their own and how they can encourage skills such as communication, problem solving and positive thinking.

📅 Wednesday, 29 2026
⏰ 6:30pm - 7:30pm
👪 For parents & carers of children aged 5-12 years
💻 Online

CLICK BELOW TO REGISTER

This online session, by psychologist Marina Bailey, is designed to help parents build their children's emotional resilience

13/07/2026

What a wonderful way to wrap up for some of our educators over the weekend, with an excursion to Thirlmere Lakes National Park and a nocturnal animal tour at the Australian Wildlife Sanctuary in Bargo.

While walking on Country, Uncle Greg shared his knowledge of native plants used for food and medicine, as well as sustainable foraging practices.

Educators also learned how to make a snake whistle from the Dianella plant. Indigenous hunters used these to mimic the sound vibrations of a distressed bird to lure snakes from their holes.

Other lessons included rubbing the leaves of the Sydney Golden Wattle with water to create a foaming natural soap, and how the inner bark of the River Red Gum could be used as an antiseptic bandage.

The group then prepared dinner in an open-air kitchen using a variety of native herbs, spices and ingredients before getting up close with Australian wildlife after dark.

Educators can now bring this knowledge back to their centres, helping children learn about traditional practices, the importance of conserving natural habitats and wildlife, and the ancient knowledge of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, who have cared for and preserved our Country for thousands of years. As Uncle Greg says, “You can’t care about what you don’t know.”

08/07/2026

Yesterday we celebrated NAIDOC Week at Tillman Park ELC with a gathering and afternoon tea for children, families and educators.

A big thank you to special guest Ryka Ali and his jarjums (children) for sharing traditional dance and song with our learning community.

Children also took part in a range of hands-on activities, including Australian animal clay sculpting, Indigenous symbol sand drawing, painting and playdough.

30/06/2026

May Murray children have been exploring a range of loose parts materials to explore different ways of making patterns and learning about the world around them.

Loose parts play encourages collaboration and problem solving, as well as mathematical thinking. Children are invited to slow down and make new connections.

11/06/2026

Last week we celebrated Reconciliation Week with an Intergenerational Morning Tea with the Magic Yellow Bus.

The event opened with a smoking ceremony led by Raph and Aunty Julie, proud community members from Gomeroi Country and founders of .

Raph, an Aboriginal knowledge holder, shared a powerful reminder to choose our words with care and to show kindness towards ourselves and others.

Guests enjoyed a Sea of Hands activity - a representation of community support for reconciliation, justice, and respect - weaving with educators from , and a delicious spread of lemon myrtle biscuits, fresh fruit, and damper with rosella jam and cream.

08/05/2026

Inner West Family Day Care celebrated Family Day Care Week with their 12th consecutive Biggest Morning Tea, raising vital funds for cancer research. Families enjoyed a play session filled with games, singing, dancing, and story time.

We spoke with educators about what makes their work so special, including Armanda, who is retiring next month after an unbelievable 33 years as a family day care educator. Her dedication has shaped generations of children - a truly well-earned next chapter!