Sometimes, the most powerful community development doesn’t come from big events or major initiatives—it grows quietly through small, purposeful collaborations that create lasting impact.
That’s exactly what we’ve seen in The Avenue community in Hilbert, where shared purpose and strong partnerships have brought meaningful change to life.
When data from the Australian Early Development Census (AEDC) revealed developmental vulnerabilities and a lack of accessible services for young children in the area, the City of Armadale responded with the AEDC Aware Program. This project aimed to support parents and carers with practical information and activities to nurture early childhood development.
As part of this program, the City hosted a Neighbourhood Play session at Traffic Park in The Avenue, supported by Peet. This event brought together local families and service providers, including Little Learners Place, and sparked a chain of collaboration. Seeing the benefits of community engagement firsthand, Little Learners Place expressed interest in supporting other community events run by Creating Communities at the Avenue.
This interest quickly turned into action. Over the next three months, Creating Communities, on behalf of Peet, partnered with Little Learners Place and the City of Armadale to deliver three Avenue Kids Play sessions. These sessions not only brought joy to local children, but also created opportunities for genuine conversations between stakeholders and families—planting the seed for a playgroup on the horizon.
For parents and carers of young children, having a playgroup within walking distance is incredibly valuable. It’s a place where children can learn and socialise, but equally important, it offers parents the chance to connect with others in similar life stages—building friendships, support networks, and a true sense of belonging.
One connection led to another, and soon, the City of Armadale, Little Learners Place and Creating Communities partnered with PlaygroupWA, and now, Little Learners Place is hosting a free Thursday playgroup for the community, grounded in the AEDC’s developmental guidelines and directly aligned with the City’s goals.
This small but powerful initiative has not only supported early childhood development—it’s created a stronger, more connected community, aligning perfectly with Peet’s vision for The Avenue: a place where people build lifelong friendships and networks.
