International Women’s Day Q&A session raises key issues for South West women

Child development and access to community groups were among the key issues raised by mums at an International Women’s Day Q&A session. The event, held at BOORN indoor play centre, was hosted by Bunbury MLA Don Punch who said he was pleased to have the session take place at a childcare centre to ensure more people could make it. A panel of four women from the community were asked questions first by Mr Punch and then by members of the audience. On the panel was Bunbury Libraries and Wildlife Park team leader Jacqueline Quadrio, Tuart Forest Toy Library co-founder CJ Aston, Bunbury Playgroup volunteer president Karen Collins and Child and Parent Centre Carey Park coordinator Tricia Ward. The conversation began with a discussion on early childhood services and Ms Aston said more varied services would open more opportunities for parents. “The more and more of these services that are around, the more accessible it becomes for more families,” she said. “The more options families have, the more likely they’re going to go out into the community and find support in something that sings to them. “Not everyone has the same things they enjoy doing, or the same way of engaging with the community, so I think having lots of options in the community is so important.” Ms Collins said the community aspect of parenting was crucial. “Over the many years that I’ve been involved in the Bunbury community, I’ve developed my own little villages and those villages are interconnected in so many ways,” she said. “I think that’s probably the key to supporting young families, having that connection with other people, having relationships that are healthy and strong, and also supporting those families to be there for their own children.”