Families come in all shapes, sizes and circumstances. To ensure your play experience is welcoming to everyone, consider the following family types and that may attend your group and how you can best support them:
| Families | Who they are | Ways to support them |
| Vulnerable families | May be experiencing hardships such as homelessness, poverty, mental illness or substance abuse |
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| Rainbow families | Families where at least one parent is LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual +) |
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| Culturally and linguistically diverse families |
Families whose customs, traditions, languages and beliefs differ from those considered typical in Australia |
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| Families with a disability | Families who have one or more members with a disability (parent/child) |
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To ensure all families feel included at your play experience...
- welcome everyone warmly
- learn each person’s name
- encourage participation in activities
- connect new families with existing families
- ask parents to help you. Make them feel like a part of your team
- as families leave, say ‘see you next week!’
Needing more support?
- Call your Community Development Officer from Play Matters to seek advice
- Search Ask Izzy for support services to refer your families to
- Read the tip sheet on the facilitator portal to help build a strong play community.