Playgroup costs - seems excessive at this stage

[Cassius2]

I think 'playgroup' is a registered name and the fees are for joining a playgroup in the Playgroup Australia association which is why there is an annual fee and I have seen other playgroups that charge an annual fee and $4 per week per child or $10 for a family on top of it.

Most of these variation groups will be run by community centres, schools or church groups - places where insurance is already covered by the overarching organisation.

Hope that helps

yeah this is the difference i think with the fee structures. Playgroup is a registered association as JM mentioned. if you can find a community centre one then i reckon that's the way to go! the ones we tried to get into (but our original group was too big being the old MACH run group of 11 girls) had awesome playspaces and kitchenettes with great climbing toys and mats etc that grew with the children. so if you had a little baby that was fine, there were couches and coffee, tea facilities and a fridge to store food and microwaves. and then for the bigger toddlers etc there were the climbing frames and mats. man, how i wish we could of been able to do that!

[~*Niadalla*~]

Our playgroup costs $45 per year per family ( half going to the playgroup to cover tea, coffee, milk, paint etc, and hall hire, and half going to Playgroup Victoria). No on going costs at all.
I have been going since DS was 6 months old... more for me at the beginning to get to know people in my area.
All that money PLUS a weekly fee seems a tad overboard.

[Snacks]

Yup seems expensive to me too. Another alternative is to look for church-run groups. The hall doesn't need to be hired out and sometimes there are even volunteers who set up crafts or organise morning teas for you so you can spend the whole time gasbagging... erm... looking after your kids.