Canning

Canning Family

From storytime and Minecraft sessions to swimming lessons, nature play and youth drop-ins, families across the City of Canning can find practical ways to learn, move and spend time together. Local parenting programs, children’s therapies and carefully targeted family supports are also available when extra help is needed.

✨ Play, learning and family activities

Canning Libraries — Library Kids

Young readers, creative children and gaming fans can take part in activities across Canning’s libraries. The program includes stories and rhymes, Better Beginnings activities for babies and children aged up to five, and bilingual storytime for children aged three to five with their families. School holiday and after-school activities extend the program to older children, while LibraryCraft Minecraft welcomes ages 7–17. A guardian must supervise children under 12, and guardians are asked to stay with children under eight in activity areas.

Willetton Playgroup

Parents, grandparents and other carers can share playtime with young children at this Willetton group. Its dedicated play space offers arts and crafts, dress-ups, home-corner play, trains, vehicles, blocks, books and puzzles, along with a baby corner for the youngest visitors. The entrance is wheelchair accessible. It is a useful setting for children to explore different kinds of play while their adults meet other local carers.

Wharf Street Basin

For low-key outdoor time, this public park in Cannington has a small nature-play area designed for young children. Water play, log steppers, a balance beam and log stilts provide opportunities for active and sensory play. Families can also use the accessible paths, seating, pavilion, boardwalk and nature trail, while a drinking-water refill station makes longer visits more convenient.

🏊 Swimming and active development

Canning Swim School

Year-round swimming lessons are offered at the Cannington and Riverton Leisureplexes. Classes cater for babies from three months, toddlers, preschoolers, school-aged children, teenagers and adults, with family-group options also available. Families unsure of the right level can arrange a free assessment for class placement. Private lessons and specialised access and inclusion lessons are available, with all enrolments subject to suitable class availability.

🎮 Youth activities and connection

Lynwood Youth Hub

Young people aged 11–17 can use this City of Canning centre for school-term drop-in activities and youth-development programs. The hub has free Wi-Fi, pool tables, PlayStation and Nintendo Switch consoles, foosball, table tennis and board games. Staff can also provide referrals and advocacy where a young person needs further assistance. A separate Tuesday evening drop-in serves young people aged 16–25, so families should check which session matches the participant’s age.

🌈 Parenting and child development

Communicare South-East Metropolitan Parenting Support Service

Parents and carers of children aged 0–18 who live in the City of Canning can access free parenting support without a referral. Options include individual sessions, workshops, information sessions, peer groups and connections to other services. Available programs include Circle of Security Parenting, Positive Discipline in Everyday Parenting and Tuning in to Kids. Keeping Kids in Mind is designed for separated parents. The service has a Cannington contact location and also serves specified neighbouring local government areas.

Therapy for Kids Perth — Canning Vale Clinic

Children can access paediatric occupational therapy and speech pathology from the provider’s Canning Vale clinic. The ground-floor premises are wheelchair accessible and have on-site parking. Mobile therapy may be available within 15 minutes of the clinic, while eligible services can be delivered by telehealth Australia-wide. The provider states that it is registered with the NDIS; families can discuss their child’s needs, service eligibility and suitable delivery format directly with the clinic.

🤝 Targeted family and settlement support

Centrecare Sky Service

Children aged 4–14 and their families may receive confidential counselling and practical support through this Cannington-based service. Assistance can cover children’s and family counselling, parenting support, education support and links to other services, with some after-school or school-holiday activities also offered. Access is limited to families already receiving help through specified family-supported accommodation or tenant-support programs in eligible southern or eastern Perth areas. A referral is required.

Communicare Bridge to Belonging

Eligible newly arrived humanitarian entrants and migrants in their first five years in Australia can seek settlement assistance through this regional service, which covers Perth’s South-East metropolitan area and has a Cannington contact location. Support may involve housing, education, training, employment, citizenship and community connections. Migrant and refugee women experiencing, or at risk of, family and domestic violence can also receive advocacy, information and referrals. Families should contact the program to discuss eligibility and the appropriate support pathway.

📌 Before you attend or enrol

• Check ages and supervision: Programs have different age ranges, and some require a parent or guardian to remain with younger children.
• Confirm bookings and availability: Ask whether registration is needed, particularly for swimming lessons, workshops, therapies and school-holiday activities.
• Discuss access requirements: Contact the provider before visiting if your child needs physical access, sensory adjustments, communication support or an adapted activity.
• Ask about current costs: Some options are free, while lessons, therapy or particular activities may involve fees or funding arrangements.
• Review eligibility and referrals: Targeted support programs may be restricted by age, location, migration circumstances, existing services or referral pathways.

🌟 If you run a family-focused business, service, program or community group serving the City of Canning, you are warmly invited to add a new listing or update your existing details so local families can find the right opportunity for them.

⚠️ 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 canning.city.