Birchip

Birchip Family

Families in Birchip can find local ways to play, learn and spend time with others, from a weekly playgroup and early learning to an after-school youth space. Regional and Australia-wide services also provide practical help with children’s development, parenting and caring responsibilities.

✨ Play, learning and youth activities

Tiny Bulls Playgroup — Mallee Family Care

Parents and carers can bring children aged 0–5 to this local Buloke Shire playgroup. Tiny Bulls meets at Birchip IHOM, 2 Corack Road, on Mondays from 10.30 am to noon. Contact Palwinder on 0436 374 115, or call Mallee Family Care’s playgroup line on 1300 417 618.

Birchip Youth Group & Youth Room — Birchip Neighbourhood House

Young people aged 12–18 can use the youth room’s Wi-Fi, television and PlayStation, table tennis and board games. Published opening times are Monday to Friday, 3.30–5.30 pm, with weekends by arrangement. The group also coordinates activities including an Easter egg hunt, Rampage October and Halloween events. Phone 0429 922 735 for enquiries.

Birchip Early Learning Centre — Y Kinders

The centre offers funded three-year-old kindergarten and Pre-Prep, as well as long day care four days a week. Its 2026 program information lists 15 hours of free three-year-old kindergarten and 20 hours of Pre-Prep each week. Families can arrange a tour by calling (03) 4311 1505.

🌱 Development and kindergarten inclusion

Royal Flying Doctor Speech Pathologist Service — Inglewood and Districts Health Service

This free regional paediatric service covers Birchip and prioritises children aged 0–6 and their families who have no alternative assessment or intervention funding. Support is mainly delivered in kindergarten or childcare, with individual sessions also available from Maternal Health Offices. School-aged assessments may be arranged during school holidays. Families, early childhood staff and community agencies can refer; NDIS funding is not accepted.

Preschool Field Officer Program — Noah’s Ark

This Victorian Government-funded inclusion program serves Buloke Shire, including Birchip. It helps early childhood educators include children with additional needs in funded three-year-old kindergarten, four-year-old kindergarten and Early Start Kindergarten. The program builds educators’ inclusive practice rather than providing direct therapy, and referrals use Noah’s Ark’s online pathway.

🤝 Family and carer support

Early Help — Mallee Family Care

Families with children up to age 18 can seek support for parenting challenges and mild developmental or wellbeing needs that extend beyond universal services. Assistance may cover parenting education, family relationships, children’s development and wellbeing, resilience, and connections with community supports. For Family Services enquiries and referrals, call (03) 5023 5966.

Targeted and Specialist Support — Mallee Family Care

This pathway supports families experiencing high or complex developmental and wellbeing needs, including child and family matters identified through the Child Protection system. Help may involve parenting education, family relationship work, specialist referrals and assistance navigating Child Protection involvement. Enquiries and referrals go through Family Services on (03) 5023 5966.

Carer Gateway Counselling Service

Unpaid carers supporting a family member or friend with disability, a medical condition, mental illness or age-related frailty can access free counselling. Phone, in-person individual and group options may be available following intake. Carers aged 18 and over can call 1800 422 737 from Monday to Friday, 8 am–5 pm, to connect with phone counselling or a local provider.

📌 Before you take part

• Confirm session times before travelling, particularly around public holidays and school breaks.
• Ask whether bookings, enrolment paperwork, referrals or adult supervision are required.
• Check age eligibility carefully, as offerings range from babies and preschoolers to teenagers and adult carers.
• Discuss accessibility, communication or inclusion needs with the provider before your first visit.
• Confirm current fees or funded-place conditions where free access is not expressly stated.

🌟 If you run a family-focused business, service, activity or community group serving Birchip and the surrounding district, you are warmly invited to add your listing or submit an update.

⚠️ Accuracy Note: We do our best to keep this information useful and up to date, however details can change over time. If you notice anything that appears incorrect or out of date, please let us know and we will review it. Local business owners and community leaders can also help keep local information accurate by logging in and creating or managing their own listing and useful content on birchip.vic.guide.