Elsie Lewis learning sounds with Educator Victoria Rowley from Gundagai Preschool Kindergarten.
Gundagai Preschool Kindergarten is hosting a special parent information session Little Voices, Big Steps, aimed at supporting families in nurturing children’s speech, language and communication skills.
At 6pm on Monday 15 September in the function room at the Gundagai RSL Club, all local families are encouraged to attend.The initiative comes after results from the NSW Department of Health’s Brighter Beginnings Health and Development Check program showed speech and language delays in some of the Preschool’s current cohort.
Additional data from the Australian Early Development Census also identified a significant percentage of local children as developmentally vulnerable in communication skills.
Preschool Director and Early Childhood Teacher Stacey Smith said the evening was designed to respond to this need while also addressing the difficulties families face in accessing support.
“Our vision is that every family feels confident, informed, and equipped to nurture children’s communication and language skills despite barriers they face accessing allied health services,” she said.
Currently, Gundagai and Tumut has no community paediatric speech therapist, and private speech pathology services are often difficult to access due to long wait-lists, rising costs and travel. The Preschool believes it has a vital role to play in bridging the gap, by empowering families with practical knowledge and strategies.
The session will cover typical speech and language milestones, strategies parents can use at home to encourage communication, and the importance of early identification and intervention. Families will receive a take-home pack to extend the impact of the session beyond the night itself.
“It’s not just a once off information night – we want families to leave with practical resources, knowledge, and confidence to support their children’s development every day,” Stacey said.
The Preschool is pleased to welcome Georgie Butt from Teach Me Speech, a local speech pathologist, as guest presenter. Georgie brings both professional expertise and strong community context, already working with several preschool children.
“We are excited to have Georgie from Teach Me Speech join us for the evening. Georgie is a local who understands our community and the unique challenges families face here in Gundagai. She brings not only professional expertise as a speech pathologist, but also the kind of insight and connection that only comes from living locally. We feel lucky to partner with her and know families will benefit from her practical strategies and supportive approach,” Stacey said.
Through Little Voices, Big Steps, Gundagai Preschool Kindergarten as a local not for profit service, continues its commitment to delivering high quality early education while responding directly to the needs of the local community.
Supper is provided as well as take home packs and a lucky door prize.
RSVP directly to Gundagai Preschool via mail@gundagaipreschool.com.au to secure your spot and for catering purposes.
The Preschool is currently taking enrolments for 2026, and families are encouraged to head to the website to place their child on the waitlist.
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