Children's Week Events in Busselton

Children’s Week is a National, annual event held around Universal Children’s Day, on the fourth Wednesday in October right across Australia.  This week is dedicated to celebrating children across our State and to highlighting their achievements.

It’s a time to promote awareness of Children’s Rights as proclaimed in 1954 by the United Nations and to remind us of our community responsibility to adhere and advocate for children as citizens, to value our relationships by listening to children and acting genuinely and honestly in response to their needs, ideas and development.

Children’s Week is an opportunity for the community to engage in a variety of activities that facilitate, support and encourage children and their families to play, learn and grow together.

Children’s Week recognises the rights of children to play and enjoy their childhood.

This year, Children’s Week opens on Saturday 22nd October and concludes on Sunday 30th.  The major Opening Event will be held at Whiteman Park on Sunday 23rd October and the Children’s Week Awards Ceremony will be held on Wednesday 26th October – Universal Children’s Day.

Have a look at some local Children's Week events coming up:

Monday 24th October: Busselton Family Playgroup Open Week

Where:	Busselton Family Centre
	19-21 Kent Street, Busselton
Description:	Busselton Family Playgroup Sessions will be open to the public from Monday 24th October 2011 to Friday 28th October 2011 9.30am to 11.30am each day. Refreshments will be available.
Who for:	Families with young children
Cost:	Free!
Contact:	Sherree Nuttall (Busselton Family Playgroup) 0450 735 305 or email

Friday 28th October: Biggest Freaky Friday!

Where:	Geographe Leisure Centre
	Cnr Recreation Ln and Queen Elizabeth Ave, Busselton
Description:	Biggest Freaky Friday Ever
	* New Bouncy Castle
	* Inflatable
	* DJ
	* Sausage sizzle and drink
	* Dance comp finale with first prize an ipod
Who for:	Kids aged 10-13 only
Cost:	$10.00
Contact:	Geographe Leisure Centre 08 9754 3600 or email

For more info on Children's Week events go to the Children's Week website.

St John Ambulance Offers First Aid for Kids

Young children are being urged to learn first aid skills with visits to local beaches coming soon.

The St John Ambulance Busselton sub-centre is encouraging children from kindergarten age to learn first aid skills ahead of summer.

Free First Aid Focus courses are being offered to children through courses in schools or community groups, and will teach kids skills ranging from learning how to call for an ambulance to performing CPR.

With summer just around the corner, people will be out more, in the water and doing things they wouldn't normally do, so the risks of injury are greater - making it even more important to know basic first aid.

For more information call the St John Ambulance Busselton sub-centre on 9752 3866.

Relationships Australia : Dads Raising Girls

Did you miss the Dads Raising Girls workshop held at the Kent St Family Centre in September? Well it's on again!

This one night seminar looks at the importance of the father-daughter relationship. It discusses what daughters need from their dads and covers practical ways to improve and maintain a positive and rewarding relationship.

Where:	Busselton Family Centre
	19-21 Kent Street Busselton
Date:	Wednesday 23rd November 2011
Time:	6.30pm - 9.00pm
Cost:	$25.00 per person

For bookings and payment please call (08) 9792 1111.

For more information please visit the Relationships Australia website.

School Holiday Activities @ Busselton Library

Fish Girl Colouring Competition

Two Busselton Jetty Family Experience Packs are up for grabs with the launch of a children’s colouring competition featuring the ‘Fish Girl’ - the newest piece of jetty art due for installation at the end of October.

There are two prize packs available – one for children aged 8 and under, and one for the 12 and under age group. The winners in each category will receive a Jetty Experience Family Pass which includes a jetty train ride, a tour of the Underwater Observatory and a range of souvenir items.

Entries are available at the Dunsborough and Busselton Libraries, the GLC and the Shire Admin Building.
They can also be downloaded by clicking here.

The competition ends on October 27, 2011. Entries can be delivered to the Busselton Library, the Busselton Jetty Interpretive Centre, and the Shire admin building on Southern Drive. Alternatively they can be posted to the Shire of Busselton at:

Communication Officer
Locked Bag 1
BUSSELTON WA 6280

Teeny Tiny Signs

Babies have an awareness of their wants and needs long before they can form words and sentences. Being able to communicate these via sign language, to parents who are able to understand and then respond, can have a huge impact in reducing frustration, tantrums and crying.

Teeny Tiny Signs offers an 8 week course in Baby Sign Language for hearing infants and toddlers from 6 to 36 months and their parents. The lessons are relaxed and fun with songs, toys and stories to learn key signs each week, covering everyday scenarios like bath/bedtime and playtime etc. The lessons are held once a week and last for around 45 minutes.

The level of participation for your baby will largely depend on age but babies learn through play and interaction with those around them, and signing is a wonderful way to bond with your little one.

By learning sign language, babies can start to express themselves from as early as around 8 months of age - long before speech is possible.

For more information contact Barbara Payne on 0438 196 588 or email.

Parenting WA South West Service Launch

Event:	Playgroup WA (Inc) cordially invites you to South West Service Launch
Date:	Wednesday 14th September, 2011
Time:	11am to 1.30pm
Venue:	Koombana Bay Sailing Club
	Koombana Drive Bunbury, WA 6230
	Refreshments and a light lunch will be served
RSVP:	by Thursday 8th September, 2011
Contact:	Karen Collins 0421 819 171 or email.

Other information:

11.00am	Get Together
11.30am	Welcome note David Zarb, CEO Playgroup WA
11.45am	The importance of the South West for Playgroup WA
	Leanne Gordon, President of the Board, Playgroup WA
12:00pm	Launch speech
12:15 pm	The benefits of Playgroups/Research Summary
	Kirsten J. Hancock, Telethon Institute for Child Research