Book Box Library Program
Increasing free access to books for children in the Bendigo community
Book Box Libraries are like ‘Little Libraries’. They can be placed in community spaces – indoors or outdoors.
A Book Box Library is a free children’s book exchange.
The aim is to promote literacy and the love of reading for children in the community.
Children can read and take home a book, swap and return books. All for free.
‘Read or borrow a book. Donate or swap a book.’
Find a Book Box Library near you!
Anglicare Victoria
Arnold Street Dental
Bendigo District Aboriginal Cooperative (BDAC) – Medical Clinic
Bendigo Community Health Services (Central Office)
Bendigo Health
Bendigo Health Works Medical Centres
(Golden Square, Kennington, Kangaroo Flat and Strathdale)
Bendigo Market Place
Bill Wilkinson Optical
Camp Hill Primary School
City of Greater Bendigo – Main Office
Huntly Kindergarten
Department of Justice
Great Beginnings Epsom Early Education Centre
Havilah Road Preschool
Heathcote Health
Heathcote Primary School
Intereach NDIS
Jenny’s Early Learning Centre – Bendigo Hospital
LaTrobe University
Lightening Reef Early Childhood Service
Matchworks
Maternal & Child Health Centres
(Elmore, Eaglehawk, Epsom, Kangaroo Flat, Kennington, Spring Gully, Strathfieldsaye and Marong)
Noah’s Ark
Salvation Army
Signarama
Mother Goose
Come along, enjoy songs, rhymes, stories & snacks. No cost involved.
The Mother Goose Program is a group experience for parents and their babies and young children which focuses on the pleasure and power of using rhymes, songs, and stories together. Parents gain skills and confidence which can enable them to create positive family routines during their children’s crucial early years and give their children healthy early experiences with language and communication.
Please note: School Children welcome during School holidays.
Session Times & Venue
Tuesdays 9:30 – 11:00am
Eaglehawk Community House
19 Bright Street, Eaglehawk
Wednesdays 9:30 – 11:00am
St Matthew’s Church
Cnr Creek Street & Eaglehawk Road, Long Gully
Read more about the Mother Goose Program.
Off To An Early Start (OTAES)
Delivered in partnership with the City of Greater Bendigo.
The aims of OTAES are to:
- To enable children’s access to playgroups and pre-school through supporting families whose children do not or irregularly attend early years programs, pre-school and primary school.
- To educate families on the need for and the importance of early years learning for pre-school children.
Talking Matters
Free Speech Pathology drop-in clinic for children under school age.
A speech pathology drop-in clinic is a place where families can come to discuss their child’s speech and language concerns without having a referral or a pre-arranged appointment. The service is available for children aged birth to school entry.
No appointment is necessary and a 20-30 minute timeslot will be allocated to you on arrival. A brief discussion of your concerns regarding your child’s language development will occur, with some suggestions provided to assist your child’s communication.
HIPPY
Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters.
The Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters (HIPPY) is a home-based early learning and parenting program for families with young children. It is a fun, activity-based one on one program aimed at children in the year before they go to school. The focus is supporting the parent to be their child’s first teacher.
This website also provides information and resources for parents: hippyaustralia.bsl.org.au
Story Time at Goldfields Library
Nurture your child’s listening, language and learning skills in these fun-filled sessions running each week of the school terms. For session times, click the link below.
Books for Babies – Bendigo Health
A Communities for Children initiative to provide a book and early literacy information to every family with a newborn baby at Bendigo Health.
The early and positive development of language and literacy skills of children are vital to the health of the Bendigo community – now and into the future. In recognition that children’s language development is everybody’s business, the Books for Babies program was established at Bendigo Health in September 2015.
Supported by the Bendigo Health Foundation & Communities for Children.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Bendigo
The Imagination Library program improves early childhood literacy for children by giving them a free, high-quality, age-appropriate book each month from birth to age 5.
Click here to visit the page