A $46,178 Federal Government grant will allow the Westside Circus to implement an exciting project that mixes newly arrived families with circus performers.

The Full of Beans program will have families taking part in a 10-week workshop, learning activities such as juggling, plate balancing and acrobalancing.

There is also a literacy component to the program, with families encouraged to write a story about their circus experience with the help of a publisher.

Project co-ordinator Tiffany Ball described the project as cool and exciting. "This program enables parents to play with their children in a supported way."

Many of the exercises, such as building a human pyramid, are about parents and children building trust and communicating.

Ms Ball was thrilled to hear that the project had been funded. "We are really excited because this funding will allow us to create an opportunity for these children and their families to experience the magic of circus, which will help them to develop their physical confidence and learn new ways of playing together."

Between July and September, it will deliver a program to at-risk refugee children aged three to five in Brimbank.

Gorton MP Brendan O'Connor said the project would develop strategies to provide broad family support and more intensive, targeted services for families in need of assistance. "It is our priority to identify children and families that need special assistance and intervene early before a crisis develops."