General News
8 December, 2025
Story telling project connects and empowers Karen families
Regular storytelling is providing many unexpected benefits for the Karen Communities in Nhill and Horsham.
Run by the Wimmera Southern Mallee Development Settlement Program, the Multicultural Storytime project involves bringing young families together to read stories in both English and Karen languages.
To date more than 40 families have been involved in the activities which have involved storytelling and information sharing in libraries, Neighbourhood houses, and even the swimming pool.
Many participants were also involved in ‘The Karen Journey’ play delivered by Black Hole Theatre at this year’s Frinj Festival.
Coordinator Sara Barron said participants were parents and preschool children from the Karen community, many of whom had moved to the Wimmera over the past 15 years.
“We have tapped into regular playgroups at Nhill and Horsham and invited a number of guest speakers to share information about their services and supports," she said.
“As a result we’ve highlighted health and wellbeing services, improved health literacy and five mothers also enrolled in studies at Federation University.
“Most recently we had four weeks of water play and story time at Nhill and Horsham, pools, which has resulted in swimming classes for some of the parents.
Ms Baron said the sessions could not have been delivered without the partnerships of Horsham and Hindmarsh libraries, Horsham Aquatics Centre and West Wimmera Health Services.
“We will be running Multicultural Storytime sessions at our multicultural Christmas events and with summer approaching, Grampians Public Health Unit will also be sharing information about Heatwave health to highlight heat risks and simple actions to reduce these dangers," she said.
“Next year the story telling will continue and we will produce 10 story books for young children written in both English and Karen languages.
“These will be shared with libraries, families Neighbourhood Houses supporting our Jellybeans and Mother Tongue playgroups.”
“This project highlights the importance of storytelling to both children and their parents and benefits of regular connections in the community,” she said.
“Along the way, it is building confidence, connections, skills, new resources and improved health and wellbeing for families from our Karen community.
“It also highlights how story telling can happen anytime and anywhere with impacts that are both profound and unexpected.”
Multicultural Storytime is funded by the Department of Health and will run until 2027.
Anyone who wants to be involved should contact Sara Barron on sara.barron@wsm.org.au or phone 0418 964 050.