After moving to Mareeba just before the birth of her first son, Louise took proactive steps to build a local, supportive community for her family. Through supported playgroups co-facilitated by VPG Every Family, she connected with other local parents at a similar stage of life, building friendships and a support network that are now a central to her family life.
For nearly three years, Louise and her family have attended playgroup almost every week, drawn back by the sense of belonging and community it offers.
“I started attending the supported playgroup when my son was just a few months old because I was desperate to meet people,” Louise recalls. “I was introduced to other local parents, and some of those connections have turned into real friendships. At first, it was just for me – now my son loves going, seeing his friends, and enjoying the activities too.”
“For us, playgroup helped us find our village – people going through similar life stages who understand. Just yesterday I was messaging a group of friends from the programs to say I couldn’t make something because my baby was sick. The support that poured in — offers to drop food or help with my son — really reminded me it takes a village.”
Beyond playgroup, Louise has participated in VPG Every Family parenting workshops — with topics including Mindful Parenting and The Child Brain and Healthy Eating. Already well-versed in evidence-based parenting through her own reading and research, she found these workshops valuable for connecting theory to real-life parenting moments.
“One insight that stood out was understanding toddler tantrums — how their brains lose access to the prefrontal cortex and can’t regulate emotions,” Louise explains. “Vanessa, our Every Family facilitator, reminded us how important it is to co-regulate in stressful moments before addressing behaviour. That perspective has been really helpful.”
Louise is planning to join VPG’s Circle of Security program later this year, along with her husband. “We’ve read Raising a Secure Child and focus on those foundations, but there’s a difference between reading and real life. The course will give us practical strategies and space to talk — and it’s important we both attend, since we’re both parents.”
For Louise, the VPG Every Family program is both a reassuring reminder that she’s on the right track and a source of fresh perspective. What she values most is the non-judgmental space where she can openly discuss challenges without feeling judged. “You can talk about what you’re going through without feeling like you’re doing something wrong if it’s tough. That support has been really important for me.”
