Volunteer Stories

Not long after having her first child, Jacqui Hoad joined a mother’s group at Blacktown. A representative from Playgroups NSW presented to the group, and a high level of interest from other mums motivated Jacqui to find a venue for them to meet. We had a chat with Jacqui to find out more about how she became involved in Playtime Pals in Baulkham Hills. 

Mother of four and part-time physiotherapist, Angie Day enjoys spending time with her children and other families at the Grafton Playgroup. We had a chat with Angie to find out how she got involved with her local playgroup and why she chose to volunteer. 

Giving back to the community comes naturally for President of the Playgroup NSW Board, Karen Whiteside. Having left the corporate world behind after the birth of her first son, Karen was determined to use her extensive experience in business operations for a cause close to her heart.

We sat down with Karen to learn more about how she became involved in playgroup, and the value she places on volunteering.

For many parents, joining a playgroup means a couple of hours’ rest while their children mingle, play and interact with others. But for Rachel Furner, playgroup means a lot more. With her local Branxton playgroup facing an uncertain future, mother of three, Rachel, stepped up , volunteering as Coordinator of the playgroup.

Many parents attend their local playgroup looking to give their children the chance to make new friends. Others join to teach their children essential lessons on how to share, cooperate and solve problems. For Rochelle Ethell, of the Batemans Bay playgroup, joining her local group provided the perfect opportunity to settle into a different state and use her talents to spread the word about the playgroup movement.