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Peter Williams Trust Fund

                                                   ...a focus on early childhood

What does the Peter Williams Trust do?

The Peter Williams Trust disburses approximately $25,000 each year. The following table represents grants distributed over the past 4 years.

If you are interested in applying for a grant from the Peter Williams Trust, please contact Lesley Oakley, Secretary Peter Williams Trust Fund, at the following address - 159 Bluff Rd, Black Rock, VIC 3193.

2007 - Boroondara Kindergarten

It is very appropriate that the Peter Williams Trust will support a program at Boroondara Kindergarten this year, given that the co-founder of this trust Dorothy Williams worked there during the war years as a kindergarten teacher. The trust has provided funds to assist the newly integrated Sudanese playgroup at the kindergarten that will offer support to Sudanese families with children under 5 years, many of whom have experienced trauma as a result of their refugee experiences. A Sudanese teacher will be employed to work alongside the existing teaching team and engage family members in play with their children, building on cultural practices such as weaving, beading, hair braiding and cooking. Other families from the kindergarten will be involved, and this will provide opportunities for cultural exchange and non-threatening role modelling of different ways of parenting. Local community services will also be involved, allowing Sudanese families easier access to information and support.

2007 - Mildura Early Intervention Services

Mildura Early Intervention Services, part of the Mallee Family Care in Mildura, has the goal to support families who have a child with a delay or disability in order to identify their child’s unique strengths and individual needs, and provide therapeutic and developmental programs to address the needs. The trust is providing funds to purchase a small pool of equipment for children with high physical needs that can be lent to families on a rotating basis so that they can continue with the daily physiotherapy and occupational therapy needs of the child without the high expenses and excessive travel.

2007 - Try Kingsway Preschool

Try Kingsway Preschool is a small multicultural kindergarten in Caroline Springs created after the need was identified for early childhood services in this area. Government grants helped the kindergarten become established by providing basic equipment however it does not have any outdoor play equipment. The funds from the Trust will allow them to build a cubby house that will encourage children to play and communicate with their peers.

2007 - North Cheltenham Preschool Centre, Warracknabeal Child Care Centre & Southern Health Plan Education Department

The program being supported at the North Cheltenham Preschool Centre involves a number of parenting sessions to assist a Sudanese family with 6 children and a Samoan single parent family with a blind child, deal with the stresses of adjusting to a new life in Australia and hopefully bring about positive outcomes for the children. The grant donated to the Southern Health Play Education Department will go towards appointing a play therapist to work with children attending the paediatric day renal unit. The Warracknabeal Child Care Centre is situated in a rural town in the Wimmera, in central western Victoria, and the program that we will be supporting is the development of an outdoor sandpit & adjoining dry creek bed that will allow for open ended and natural play opportunities for the children. Due to the severe drought conditions, the local community has found fund-raising for equipment very difficult at a time when the need to help support families with small children has become more urgent.

2006 - Victorian Co-operative on Children's Services for Ethnic Groups (VICSEG)

VICSEG is a non-profit organisation that works with newly arrived refugee families and special humanitarian entrants. VICSEG has utilized the grant from the Peter Williams Trust to set up an innovative multicultural kinder-gym playgroup. Many of the refugee families that settle in Victoria are subject to profound trauma and disruption prior to their migration which results in behavioural problems amongst the children. VICSEG's work with refugee families has found that playgroups and kinder-gym activities for children are an ideal healing environment that is able to support the process of nurturing with inviting and responsive play spaces. Evaluation of the kinder-gym has shown an increase in the confidence and self-esteem of the children as well as an improvement in their capacity to socialize with peers and interact positively with adults.    

2006 - Save The Children

The Peter Williams Trust has also provided funds to assist in the mobile playbus initiated by Save The Children. This program aims to provide isolated and disadvantaged indigenous and non-indigenous children living in Victoria with opportunities to develop through play. Data shows that the attendance rate of Indigenous children in preschool was 35% lower than that of non-indigenous children. Younger Indigenous children living in public housing in inner-Melbourne do not have access to appropriate play facilities and opportunities. During the first few years of life, a child is totally dependent on others for physical care, love and intellectual stimulation. Failure to provide for these core needs may result in children who are unable to fulfil their true potential and are susceptible to violence, crime and drug usage and other addictions. The Playbus Program offers access to playgroups, games and toy library services. It gives young children the chance to socialise and interact with other children and adults, with parents being involved in the children’s activities.

2006 - Berry Street

Berry Street Victoria works with the most vulnerable and disadvantaged children, young people and families in Victoria. The Peter Williams Trust has provided funding towards Berry Street's Take Two program which aims to provide intensive therapeutic services to clients of child protection who have suffered severe harm and are at risk of, or display emotional and behavioural problems. The Take Two program recognises the need to establish a support group and develop an infant video diary which has the aims to strengthen communication and relationships between the child and their parents/carers and to promote security and stabilisation.

2005 - Connections - Child, Youth & Family Services    

Connections has a 75 year history of commitment to working with children, youth and families who experience a range of difficult life circumstances including poverty, abuse, physical and mental disability, and drug and alcohol related problems. As a result of such issues, children and families are frequently at risk of being excluded, stigmatised and ostracised from the broader community in which they live. The Peter Williams Trust donated towards Connections Working Together Program. The Working Together Program is a unique early intervention and preventative program that supports children, families and childcare/preschool staff for children aged 2-6 years experiencing social, emotional and behavioural difficulties. These children are ineligible for other Early Intervention services as they do not have a diagnosed disability.

2004 - Ardoch Youth Foundation

Ardoch plays an influential role in raising awareness and advocacy in the community to encourage prevention and early intervention of issues associated with homelessness and disadvantage. One of Ardoch's major activities is ensuring that early childhood education is a viable option for all families experiencing disadvantage. This is made possible through their access programs and partnerships with South Melbourne Mission Kindergarten and TRY South Yarra Preschool.

The Peter Williams Trust assisted in funding Ardoch's Early Childhood Project. This project aimed to ensure that children aged 0-5 years old and their family, who are experiencing disadvantage and/or homelessness, have access to and are supported by early childhood centres. This is made possible through financial and family support, as well as community education. Having access to quality childcare allows children to not only be prepared for the school system, but also enhances their protective factors, playing a vital role in preventing the likelihood of many social problems later in life.

Studies over the past 20 years found that children who had been involved in high quality preschool programs displayed more positive effects in relation to their achievement, required less special education services in their schooling years, were more likely to graduate from high school and were less likely to be involved in the criminal/justice systems or to be chronic offenders.

For more information on Ardoch go to www.ardoch.asn.au.