By Grace Frost
The Bush Bus team were thrilled to be named the Victorian People’s Choice Award winner in the 2022 Community Achievement Awards earlier this month.
The mobile nature program hosts free playgroup sessions for preschool aged children to participate in nature-inspired activities including arts and crafts, water, mud and puddle play, sensory imaginative play, educational nature walks and social activities.
Founder Georgina Dymock said the playgroup activities not only helped promote the healthy development and wellbeing of children and young people, but also encouraged environmental awareness, offered opportunities for social inclusion and English immersion and provided a ‘soft entry’ into community activities for families post COVID-19.
Planning for The Bush Bus began more than four years ago, and has since welcomed more than 21,000 participants.
Ms Dymock said The Bush Bus was ‘officially people powered’ now the program had won the People’s Choice Award.
“This award means so much to us, our families, our Bush Bus Buddies and everyone who has supported us in delivering our program,” she said.
“We thank everyone who voted for us – we love that they love The Bush Bus and that so many people took the time to support us.”
With the ability to fill a resource gap in areas where challenges were faced by families, such as social and financial disadvantages and natural disasters, Ms Dymock said The Bush Bus had inspired families to connect ‘like never before’.
“Families are talking around the dinner table. Children are learning new skills and developing connections with their peers,” she said.
“Parents are finding support both socially and with their mental health. People feel like they matter.”
The Bush Bus currently operates in six locations across Victoria and NSW, free of charge.
Ms Dymock said The Bush Bus team ‘simply couldn’t operate’ without the support of their funding partners – Frasers Property Australia, Community Bank Wallan, Kilmore and Broadford, Wellington Square Shopping Centre, Tooborac Primary School and the NSW Government in New South Wales.
She said the team would love to expand the program to more locations in the future.
“Our dream would be to have The Bush Bus in every state and municipality in Australia,” she said.
