Victorian Central Highlands Family

From storytime and toy borrowing to basketball, holiday care and youth activities, families across the Victorian Central Highlands can find practical ways to play, learn and connect. Ballarat has the broadest range of listed options, while several regional services also reach families in Bacchus Marsh, Daylesford and surrounding shires.

✨ Play, stories and shared family activities

Parent Place

City of Ballarat’s free family hub gives families with young children somewhere to drop in, play, feed or change a child and join daily activities. It also connects parents and carers with maternal and child health, kindergarten, breastfeeding, sleep and settling, legal, parenting and family violence supports. Parent Place operates across several Ballarat locations, so check which sessions and visiting services are available before setting out.

Ballarat Libraries – Kids & Families

Libraries in Ballarat, Sebastopol and Wendouree offer term-time storytimes, early-literacy experiences, children’s reading recommendations, online activities and opportunities for teenagers. Beginning with Books welcomes new parents and their little ones for interactive stories, songs and activities. Families can also look out for the current school-holiday program.

City of Ballarat Playgroups

Community playgroups give parents and carers of children aged 0–5 a regular place to meet while children play. They are generally run by parents, carers or volunteers, commonly meet weekly for up to two hours, and may request a small contribution. Council also coordinates free Smalltalk supported playgroups for eligible families with children from birth to school age. Priority groups include eligible card or visa holders, NDIS-supported families, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families, and families connected with specified family or child services.

Ballarat Toy Library

Member families can borrow toys, games and puzzles for up to four weeks from this volunteer-run, not-for-profit library at Barkly Square in Ballarat East. Annual memberships include concession and no-volunteer-duty options, allowing households to choose an arrangement that suits them. A monthly quiet session provides another way to visit.

Sovereign Hill – Back to School

Children and adults can step into a nineteenth-century-style lesson at Sovereign Hill’s Red Hill National School, using slates, chalk, pen and ink. The family activity runs on school holidays and weekends and is included with site admission. Check current opening times and ticket arrangements when planning your visit.

🏀 Care, swimming and active holidays

Y Ballarat Vacation Care Programs

School-holiday care is available through Y Ballarat in Ballarat and Bacchus Marsh, with activities and locations published for each holiday period. Children must be enrolled and booked before attending. Pack suitable outdoor clothing, a water bottle and a nut-free lunch, and confirm the program’s dates and availability in advance.

Y Learn and Swim Ballarat

At Brown Hill, this combined early-learning and swim-school service provides long day care for children from six weeks to five years, as well as kindergarten and before- and after-kinder care. Weekday swimming lessons are available from six months of age. Families need to make an enrolment or tour enquiry before starting.

Bacchus Marsh Panthers Basketball Club

Young players can progress from Aussie Hoops for ages 5–7 through to under-18 basketball teams. Junior teams train on a weeknight and compete through the Bacchus Marsh Basketball Association. New families should enquire with the club, which can help identify a suitable team or waiting-list place.

🌟 Youth connection and wellbeing

Y Ballarat Youth Programs

Young people aged 12–25 can join programs, spaces and events led by youth workers in Ballarat and surrounding communities. Offerings include Jump Start automotive learning, ReCranked bike recycling and access to bikes and helmets, youth art, Pride-group support and practical life-skills activities. Some opportunities operate through schools or have their own access arrangements, so review the relevant program before joining.

City of Ballarat Youth Services

Council provides programs, events and volunteering opportunities for Ballarat residents aged 12–25. Activities change over time and can have different registration or participation requirements, making the current Youth Services information the place to check what is coming up.

headspace Ballarat

Young people aged 12–25 can access free, youth-friendly assistance with mental health, physical and sexual health, work and study, peer support, and connections to Medicare-funded clinicians. Ballarat Community Health operates the centre. eheadspace also offers online or phone support to young people and family members seeking help to support a young person.

💡 Parenting, development and carer support

CatholicCare Victoria – Regional Parenting Service

Parents, guardians and carers of children from birth to 18 years can access free support across Ballarat and the Grampians region. Group workshops, parenting programs and one-to-one education or consultations cover connection, confidence, children’s needs and positive behaviour. Contact CatholicCare to make a booking enquiry.

Pinarc Disability Support – Parent and Carer Support Groups

Families of children and young adults with disability or additional needs can connect through groups in Ballarat, Daylesford and Bacchus Marsh. Options include general parent-carer connections, autism-focused groups and an early-years autism group for carers of children aged 0–12. Participants do not need an NDIS plan or involvement with another Pinarc service.

Latrobe Community Health Service – NDIS Early Childhood Approach

As the NDIS early childhood partner for Central Highlands, the service covers Ararat, Ballarat, Golden Plains, Hepburn, Moorabool and Pyrenees. It assists children under six with developmental concerns or delay, children under nine with disability, and their families or carers. Support can include connections with local services, appropriate short-term early supports and help with NDIS access processes.

❤ Family violence and child wellbeing support

The Orange Door – Central Highlands

This free service supports people experiencing family violence and families needing help with the care and wellbeing of children or young people. No referral is required, and contact can be made in person, by phone or email during business hours. Central Highlands locations are available in Ballarat and Bacchus Marsh.

Central Highlands Family Violence – Creative and Therapeutic Services (FV-CaTS)

Babies, children, adolescents, caregivers, women and families affected by family violence can access free therapeutic and creative support across Ararat, Ballarat, Golden Plains, Hepburn, Moorabool and Pyrenees. Services include parent or carer phone consultations, assessment, individual therapeutic sessions and group options. Families and professionals may self-refer by contacting the FV-CaTS intake worker.

📌 Before you book or visit

• Check age and eligibility: programs range from baby activities to services for people aged 25, while some supported options have specific eligibility or priority criteria.
• Confirm bookings: holiday care, lessons, consultations, team placement and some youth programs require enrolment, an enquiry or registration.
• Ask about access: contact the provider if your child needs a quiet setting, disability access, communication support or other adjustments.
• Review current costs: some services are free, while admission, membership, contributions or activity fees may apply elsewhere.
• Confirm supervision: check whether an adult must remain with the child, particularly for playgroups, library sessions and family activities.

🎯 If you run a family-focused business, service, activity or community group serving the Victorian Central Highlands, you are warmly invited to add a listing or update your existing details so local families can find current, practical information.

⚠️ 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 centralhighlands.vic.guide.