Culture, Language and Learning for Pasifika Families

Pasifika Storytime is a weekly early years program held at Deer Park Library, designed especially for Pasifika families with young children. Each Saturday during school term, families gather for an hour of storytelling, songs and rhymes that celebrate Pacific cultures and languages.

The sessions are open to children aged 0 to 5 and their parents, carers or grandparents. Stories are shared in both English and Pasifika languages, creating an environment where children can see and hear themselves reflected from their earliest years. Whether it's a familiar song from home or a traditional tale from across the Pacific, every session affirms the value of culture and language in a child's development.

Pasifika families are often underrepresented in early learning spaces and can face barriers to accessing programs that feel culturally safe. Pasifika Storytime responds to this by offering an experience that is both educational and affirming. It helps children build early literacy and language skills while strengthening pride in who they are and where they come from.

The program also supports connection- between children and carers, between families, and between community and local library services. It is a culturally-safe entry point into public services, providing access to books, resources and programs that support learning and wellbeing.

Pasifika Storytime is part of Brimbank Libraries’ broader commitment to community inclusion. It recognises the richness of the Pacific diaspora in Melbourne’s west and the importance of supporting culturally grounded early childhood experiences.

Sessions run every Saturday at 11.00am during school term at Deer Park Library, located at 4 Neale Road, Deer Park. Families are encouraged to arrive a little early to settle in and meet others. There is no cost to attend, and no need to book.