Barwon Heads

Barwon Heads Family

From beach-based nature play and Nippers to Scouts, junior sport and early-years services, families in Barwon Heads can find practical ways to connect, learn and stay active. Nearby and regional options also provide developmental, parenting and youth support when more specialised help is needed.

🌊 Play, nature and outdoor skills

Barwon Heads 13th Beach Surf Life Saving Club – Nippers Program

Children in the club’s Nipper age groups can build surf awareness and water skills through this local junior education program. A family membership, swim evaluation and current Victorian Working with Children Checks for adult family members are required. Parents are expected to volunteer, and some age groups may have limited places.

1st Barwon Heads Scout Group

Cub Scouts aged 7–11 meet on Monday evenings, while Scouts aged 11–15 meet on Thursday evenings. The group meets on Geelong Road East, opposite Seaview Avenue. Families with children aged 5–7 can register future interest in Joey Scouts.

Born Wild Community Inc. – Wildflower Kids Community Playgroup and nature programs

Programs across the Bellarine include community playgroup, bush kinder, forest school, nature play, family yoga and after-school forest skills. Barwon Heads Beach is among the listed locations; check the current timetable and book through the provider’s nominated booking platform.

🎾 Junior sport and movement

Barwon Heads Football Netball Club – Junior Netball and NetSetGO

Junior teams span 11&U to 19&U, with introductory NetSetGO activities for children in 9&U. Timing varies by season. Prospective players submit an expression of interest before selection trials, and successful players need current club, league and Netball Victoria registrations. Junior families are also asked to volunteer.

Barwon Heads Tennis Club

Junior and adult players of different experience levels are welcome, with private and group coaching available through the club’s tennis professional. Courts 1–4 can be used without a booking during daylight hours, but families should confirm current membership, coaching and court-access arrangements.

Ocean Grove Barwon Heads Little Athletics Club

Children aged 5–15 can take part in Saturday morning Little Athletics during the summer season at Landy Field in Geelong. Check the club’s registration information, parent guidance and current calendar before travelling.

🌱 Early years and child development

Bop Bop Karrong (Kornoo)

This City of Greater Geelong kindergarten in Barwon Heads serves children in the two years before primary school. Families should use the City’s kindergarten registration pathway to check program availability.

Maternal and Child Health Centre – Barwon Heads

Based at Bop Bop Karrong Child and Family Centre, this free City service supports families from birth to school age in Barwon Heads, Breamlea and Ocean Grove. It provides an initial home visit, centre appointments, health and development screening, infant-feeding and parenting support, first-time parent groups and referrals where appropriate. The venue is listed as wheelchair accessible.

Ocean Grove Occupational Therapy

This mobile paediatric service works with children and families across the Bellarine Peninsula. Support can cover self-care, play, sensory needs, emotional regulation, fine-motor development and readiness for kinder or school. Self-managed and plan-managed NDIS participants are accepted, with travel costs set out in the service agreement.

💛 Parenting, youth and family support

headspace Ocean Grove

Young people aged 12–25 can access confidential free or low-cost mental health support, nursing, GP access and alcohol and other drug counselling. Telehealth mental health consultations may help people living nearby who cannot travel to the Ocean Grove centre.

Barwon Early Parenting Centre

Barwon Health provides specialised help in North Geelong for parents with children aged 0–4, including support with sleep, feeding, behaviour, parent–child relationships, exhaustion and adjustment to parenthood. Residential and day stays, appointments, groups and telehealth are available. Parents may self-refer or seek a referral; no Medicare card is required.

The Orange Door – Barwon

Families can contact this Geelong-based Victorian Government access point for free child and family wellbeing or family violence support without a referral. Contact is available in person, by phone or email, with pathways to women’s and children’s services, child and family services, Aboriginal services and men’s family violence services.

📌 Before you take part

• Check age groups, seasonal dates and place availability before registering.
• Ask about bookings, memberships, trial processes and current costs.
• Confirm parent supervision, volunteering and Working with Children Check requirements.
• Discuss accessibility, developmental needs, funding and travel charges directly with the provider.
• For regional services, confirm whether attendance, outreach or telehealth suits your circumstances.

✨ If you run a family-focused business, service, activity or community group serving Barwon Heads, you are warmly invited to add your details or update an existing listing.

⚠️ Accuracy Note: We do our best to keep this information useful and up to date, however details can change over time. If you notice anything that appears incorrect or out of date, please let us know and we will review it. Local business owners and community leaders can also help keep local information accurate by logging in and creating or managing their own listing and useful content on barwonheads.vic.guide.