From 2008 to 2009, GSK, the Knox City Council and the City of Casey, partnered with Save the Children to provide socially isolated and financially disadvantaged children in Outer-East Melbourne with a Mobile Playbus.

The Playbus visited seven locations each week, reaching an average of 14-15 families per two hour session and approximately 100 children each week. The Playbus provided children with different play experiences and an informal environment enabling trained early childhood workers to provide parents with advice on parenting, age appropriate play and developmental advice.

Marie arrived at playgroup one day and began to cry:
“I can’t handle this anymore, I don’t know what to do, and even my husband doesn’t know what to do, but no one believes me.”

The playgroup facilitator coached her on behaviour techniques but soon saw that she was unable to manage on her own. The facilitator referred Marie to the Queen Elizabeth Early Parenting Centre in Noble Park (Vic).

Two weeks later, Marie arrived with a huge smile:
”It was the best thing I’ve ever done!”