Baw Baw Shire Council is celebrating a major win at this year’s 2026 Victorian Early Years Awards, taking home the award in the Promoting Children’s Health and Wellbeing category for its innovative Pop-Up Playgroups program.
Presented by the Victorian Department of Education, the Victorian Early Years Awards celebrate achievements and recognise outstanding contributions across the early years sector. The award recognises the positive impact of Council’s Pop-up Playgroups in creating welcoming, inclusive and accessible opportunities for young children and their families to connect, learn and play together.
The program began as a pilot in 2023 in response to a growing need for connection among local families, including families moving to the area without nearby friends or relatives and parents experiencing increased isolation following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since then, Pop-up Playgroups have brought play-based experiences into local community spaces, helping families with children aged 0–5 years access engaging early learning activities, build relationships with other families and connect with local services.
Mayor, Kate Wilson said the program has made a meaningful difference for local families and communities.
“We are thrilled that Pop-Up Playgroups is being recognised alongside other outstanding early years programs across Victoria,” said Mayor Wilson.
“This recognition celebrates the important work our team does with children, families and the community to help them come together, make connections and build a village of support.”
Winners in each category receive a $15,000 grant to support professional development or further develop their early years initiative.
More information about the Victorian Early Years Awards and the other finalists is available at www.vic.gov.au/victorian-early-years-awards.
