Local mums and babies were celebrated today when Barton MP Ash Ambihaipahar held her first Barton Bubs gathering.
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About 70 mums and their babies attended the event, held at the Blackshaw Gould Community Pavilion at Hurstville Oval.
Barton Bubs is a new initiative for families with children aged zero to two years old, providing an opportunity for local parents to connect with one another and access support services for young families.
The event included stalls from local organisations supporting parents and newborns including Advance Disability Services, Australian Breastfeeding Association, Workskill Parenting Pathways, South Eastern Sydney Local Health District, Karitane Wolli Creek Hub and Kogarah Storehouse.
There were also children's activities including a play area, face painting, and gift bags for attending families.
Ms Ambihaipahar welcomed the parents and their babies.
"I've been the Member for Barton for 12 months and one of the things that was screaming out was the need for connection for young parents," she said.
"There's some amazing organisations out there to help and this is an opportunity to let you connect with them and also to talk with other parents," she said.
"The Barton electorate is becoming younger. The median age in the electorate is 36-37. Particularly after COVID connection was needed more than ever so I hope I can bring people together to find the support they need."
Ms Ambihaipahar said there was an obvious need among local young families for such an event.
"We had about 70 mums and bubs contacting us and we had to end up closing registration," she said.
Barton Bubs is one of three initiatives launched by Ms Ambihaipahar to foster connection in the Barton electorate.
She has also launched the Barton Defence Community Council which will meet regularly to discuss issues impacting members of the local defence community and strengthen local support networks.
The inaugural meeting took place on June 9 at Bexley Golf Club.
Ms Ambihaipahar is also establishing a Youth Advisory Council for young people aged 13 to 17 who live in Barton. The initiative aims to give young people a stronger voice on local issues while helping them build leadership skills, confidence, and community connections.
"People are craving connection right now. Life's busy, things are expensive, and a lot of people are feeling isolated. These events are about making sure people in Barton feel connected, supported, and part of a community," Ms Ambihaipahar said.
"I want our office to be accessible and grounded in the community we serve. Whether you're a young person, a new parent, or part of the defence community, you deserve to have your voice heard and know where to turn for support," she said.
To find out more about the groups, community members can contact the Barton Electorate office on (02) 9587 1555.
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