Early Years

Kindergartens

Hindmarsh Shire Council and Horsham and Emerge Early Years Services work in partnership to provide three and four year old educational Kindergarten programs for children prior to school entry.
Kindergarten programs are designed to improve your child's development in the following key areas:
  • Social skills, including how to play with other children in a calm, sharing and rewarding way
  • Emotional skills
  • Language, literacy and numeracy skills
  • A joy for learning and group activities
  • Ability to make new friends
  • Exposure to new ideas and concepts
Kindergarten also provides families with access to support and assistance for children with special needs, as well as resources and links to community services. You can find out more information about Emerge Early Years, as well as enrolment details at Emerge Early Years Services (eeys.com.au)

All enquiries may be directed to the Horsham and District Kindergarten Association on 03 5382 7997.

 

Kindergarten Locations

Dimboola Early Learning Centre
Kindergarten and Childcare
27 Hindmarsh St
Dimboola 3414


Jeparit Kindergarten
9-11 Hindmarsh St
Jeparit 3423

 

Nhill Early Years Centre
Kindergarten and Childcare
2/20 Whitehead Ave
Nhill 3418

 

Rainbow Kindergarten
47 Taverner St
Rainbow 3424

 

For more information please contact Horsham and District Kindergarten Association or our Community Development Coordinator on 03 5391 4444 or email info@hindmarsh.vic.gov.au.

Playgroup

Playgroup caters for children from birth to school age, creating a space where parents and children can come together every week to encourage a positive environment to learn, explore, grow and nurture children’s talents.

Hindmarsh Shire Council is proud to provide access to community playgroups in each of our four major towns. Everyone is welcome to attend any of the community playgroup sessions. 


A supported playgroup has a professional facilitator and sessions include play for children as well as parenting strategies for families from the smalltalk program. Information and support is provided to families in a setting that allows their children to play and interact with other children. These playgroups are facilitated by Hindmarsh Shire Council at no cost to families, however eligibility criteria applies (follow booking link for more information). More information or book now.

Nhill 

Smalltalk Playgroup Nhill
Held at the Nhill Library weekly on Monday's from 10:00am - 12noon during school terms. (Commencing from 15 April 2024)
Free to all families with children aged 0-5. Run by a qualified facilitator through Hindmarsh Shire.
Email: earlyyears@hindmarsh.vic.gov.au
Phone: 0417 020 329

Community Playgroup - Nhill Early Years Centre
Friday 9am-12pm

Get Em Going @ Nhill Lutheran School
Tuesday 9.30am-11am
(Finalist 2015 Playgroup Vic Awards)
Email: admin@nls.vic.edu.au

Pre-School Music Program @ Nhill College
3rd Wednesday of each month 9am-930am
Email: nhill.co@edumail.vic.gov.au

Jeparit

Smalltalk Playgroup Jeparit
Held at the Jeparit Kindergarten weekly on Wednesday's from 10:00am - 12noon during school terms. (Commencing from 17 April 2024)
Free to all families with children aged 0-5. Run by a qualified facilitator through Hindmarsh Shire. 
Email: earlyyears@hindmarsh.vic.gov.au
Phone: 0417 020 329

 Jeparit Kindergarten
Every second Wednesday during school terms
10.30am-12pm

Rainbow

Rainbow Kindergarten
Friday 10am-12pm

Dimboola

Smalltalk Playgroup Dimboola
Held at the Dimboola Library weekly on Tuesday's from 10:00am - 12noon during school terms. (Commencing from 23 April 2024)
Free to all families with children aged 0-5. Run by a qualified facilitator through Hindmarsh Shire.
Email: earlyyears@hindmarsh.vic.gov.au
Phone: 0417 020 329

Dimboola Maternal Child Health Centre
Tuesday 10am-11.30am
Thursday 10am-11.30am
(Finalist 2015 Playgroup Vic Awards)
(Winner Regional Playgroup of the Year 2017- Playgroup Vic Awards)

For further information please contact your local Maternal Child Health Nurse or our Support Playground Facilitator on 03 5391 4444


To enrol your child or add your child's name to 3 or 4 year old kindergarten waiting list please contact Uniting on 03 5362 4000 

Maternal and Child Health

West Wimmera Health Service provides maternal child health services across the Shire.  This service provides a range of services from antenatal clinics to Key Ages and Stages consultations and immunisation sessions.
Two MCH nurses service the shire to provide a free, all-inclusive service to parents and children from 0-6 years of age. This service helps to monitor the progress and development of children and assists parents with their role as caregivers. Both nurses also provide immunisation sessions across the Shire.
 
MCH services are provided Monday to Friday with hours distributed across the four townships.

 

For more information or to book an appointment please contact your local Maternal Child Health Nurse: 
Mandy Stephan

Maternal & Child Health Nursing / Maternal & Child Health Coordinator
Phone: 03 5391 1287

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