he Rainbow Families Playgroup in Erskineville is one of the longest-running LGBTQ+ family playgroups in Australia. In 2009, several babies and their LGBTQ+ parents started meeting regularly at various cafes and playgrounds around the inner west. They met for friendship both for the children and the parents, and for their children to be around other families similar to theirs. The group’s founder, Nadine Sharpe approached Playgroups NSW about joining their organisation in order to create a more permanent space that could welcome more families. Playgroups NSW was happy to have a Rainbow Family group and the Erskineville playgroup was established and became a funded group through Playgroups NSW that serves lesbian mums, gay dads, bisexual, transsexual, intersex and queer (LGBTQ+) families, including grandparents from around the Inner West and beyond. The group is now coordinated by Gill Stokie.