FaHCSIA promotes best practice nationally in the areas of child abuse prevention and early intervention and prevention. Across FaHCSIA, funding is provided for a range of programs, projects and/or measures that directly or indirectly assist in the prevention of child abuse.
The REACh program is intended to improve the capacity of families and caregivers to respond appropriately to children's needs for care, development and safety through timely access to community resources that can support them in their parenting role. It aims to improve access to support services and encourage at risk and vulnerable families to engage with their community through collaborative approaches. REACh has an emphasis on ensuring the best possible start and promoting successful transitions for children in vulnerable families. The program is about child-centred, family focused and community connected responses.
Australian Capital Territory
West Belconnen Good Beginnings Program
Belconnen Community Service Inc
PO Box 679
BELCONNEN ACT 2616
Ph: (02) 6278 8100
This program supports parents to enhance their parenting skills to increase levels of self-esteem and confidence in their parenting role. The program involves home visiting support by trained volunteers known as community parents and targets families with a child or children less than five years of age in Flynn, Fraser, Charnwood, Macgregor, Holt, Higgins, Dunlop and Latham.
Kids Friends Program
Barnardos Australia - Canberra Children's Family Centre
2 Atherton Street
Downer ACT 2602
PO Box 384
DICKSON ACT 2602
Ph: (02) 6241 5466
This is a mentoring program for disadvantaged children providing early intervention through alternative social networks, reducing juvenile crime and other anti-social behaviour. The whole family can benefit through increased community linkages and opportunities. This service targets children and families across the whole of the ACT.
Companion House Assisting Survivors of Torture and Trauma Incorporated
41 Fairfax Street
O'CONNOR ACT 2602
Ph: (02) 6247 7227
This is a parenting and family support project to Mon Burmese families with children under 5 years of age delivered by Companion House which has been successful in increasing community capacity.
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New South Wales
Sydney Services
Home Visiting Intervention Program
Tresillian Family Care Centres
Royal Society for the Welfare of Mothers and Babies
McKenzie Street
BELMORE NSW 2192
Ph: (02) 9787 0800
This project extends an existing home visiting intervention program for an identified group of parents with un-met psychosocial needs. The project uses a model where parents self identify strengths, needs and capacities to enhance parenting competence. The program aims to assist new mothers who may request more intensive support with their parenting.
Family Links Project
Lower Mountains Family Support Service
70 Old Bathurst Road
PO Box 220
BLAXLAND NSW 2774
Ph: (02) 4739 5963
Using a mixed program model, the service delivers parenting group programs including daytime, evening and weekend groups, and groups in non-traditional settings. Childcare is provided for all parenting groups. Groups are planned using demographic data and the emphasis is on promoting family strengths. The project supports families living in outlying or isolated areas in the Blue Mountains local government areas and family members affected by isolation.
The Healthy Connections Program
UnitingCare Burnside - Macarthur Family Services
8 Lolanthe Street
PO Box 1074
CAMPBELLTOWN NSW 2560
Ph: (02) 9768 6866
This program supports parents with additional needs to access family centres located on the public housing estates of Minto and Airds/Bradbury, and their outreach services to other communities. The project provides information and referral, intake and assessment, support groups, skills training including parenting, education and employment, counselling and mentoring.
Murrubin Family Program and Wingecarribee Family Program
KU Children's Services
129 York Street
Box Q132
QVB Post Office NSW 1230
Ph: (02) 9264 8366
Centre-based and home-based education and family support with community support and advocacy is delivered via provision of supported playgroups with associated parent groups, family days, home visits, telephone contact and an information and referral service where appropriate for individual families. Targets families with young children, some with special needs. Macquarie Fields services Indigenous families and Wingecaribee services families with children with disabilities.
Inner Western Sydney Home Visiting and Parenting Project
Good Beginnings Australia Limited
PO Box K969
HAYMARKET NSW 1240
Ph: (02) 9211 6767
This service is delivered using an integrated mix of outreach volunteer and professional home visiting, with formal links to supported playgroups. The service looks to work with families of 0-8 year olds, culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) and Indigenous, families of a child with a disability and fathers.
Other NSW Services
Parenting Programs
The Regional Social Development Group
Cnr Trickett & Napier Streets
PO Box 501
DENILIQUIN NSW 2710
Ph: (03) 5881 1855
The project provides a variety of parenting programs in specific target areas within local rural communities aiming to support and strengthen parenting roles, parental health and well-being, improved family relations and community participation, . It aims to support and strengthen parenting roles, parental health and well-being, improve family relations and community participation and contribute to the development of their early years. This service targets rural parents and children as identified by community consultation processes.
Goulburn Early Intervention Parenting Program
Anglicare Youth and Family Services
130 Cowper Street
GOULBURN NSW 2580
Ph: (02) 4823 4000
This program provides parenting groups, parental support, brokerage, parent and child events, family advocacy and family outreach to families and children in Goulburn and surrounding districts.
Kemblawarra Child and Family Centre
30 Hoskins Avenue
KEMBLAWARRA NSW 2505
Ph: (02) 4274 1988
This is an early intervention service that includes family support through counselling and some mentoring for families in Kemblawarra and surrounding communities.
CARE Parent Support Program
Byron Shire Council
Station Street
PO Box 219
MULLUMBIMBY NSW 2482
Ph: (02) 6626 7120
This project draws on the input of aware parents in supporting disadvantaged families in the Byron Shire and out-lying regions. It supports the growth of the community from the inside out. Piloting the education program Parenting Heart2Heart, compiled by Sydney-based psychologist Robin Grille, gives parents the opportunity to: build more loving parenting communities; deepen their capacity for healthy attachment and for being guides and inspirers of their children; and gain support in making the parenting journey more joyous.
Young Parents Early Intervention Parenting Program
Shoalhaven Division of General Practice
3/138 Junction Street
PO Box 516
NOWRA NSW 2541
Ph: (02) 4423 6233
This program provides early intervention/prevention education, skills development and targeted parent support intervention to enhance and strengthen parenting roles of young parents in the Shoalhaven area.
Centacare Catholic Family Services - Broken Bay/Waitara
PO Box 125
WAHROONGA NSW 2077
Ph: (02) 9473 7207
This is an integrated family service that provides an assessment, case management, and information and referral service to families in Waitara and Northern Sydney region.
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Northern Territory
Palmerston and Rural Parenting Support Services
YWCA of Darwin
GPO Box 2586
DARWIN NT 0801
Phone: (08) 8981 8323
This project promotes women's and girls' rights, full and equal participation and assisting them in realising their potential.
Katherine Volunteer Visiting and Parenting Project
Good Beginnings Australia
PO Box K969
HAYMARKET NSW 1240
Ph: (02) 9211 6767
This service takes a strengths based approach, aiming to enhance skills and confidence of participants and looks to work collaboratively with fathers' groups, young mothers' groups and baby groups.
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Queensland
Sing and Grow
Playgroup Association of Queensland
PO Box 339
ALDERLEY QLD 4051
Ph: (07) 3855 9600
Provides a short-term early intervention music therapy service for children from 0-5 years and their parents. The service provides stimulation to improve child development, strengthening parent-child bonds and promoting positive interactive and play skills for parents. The service also aims to enhance parents' sense of social connectedness within their community and to promote the importance of early childhood support within communities.
NPA Intensive Family Support Program
Northern Peninsula Area Women's Shelter Association Inc.
Lot 10 Adidi Street
PO Box 84
BAMAGA QLD 4876
Ph: (07) 4069 3184
Provides early intervention and transitional stages activities with indigenous families experiencing stress, crisis and difficulties in caring for children. These activities include individual support, parenting training and life skills education group work. This service works with Indigenous families with children under 18 years in remote areas.
Programs to Enable the Empowerment of Kids (PEEK)
Sisters Inside Inc
53 Tribune Street
PO Box 3407
SOUTH BRISBANE QLD 4101
Ph: (07) 3844 5066
This service provides early intervention support to women including Indigenous and CALD women, with children less than 6 years, who are incarcerated for up to 12 weeks. The service addresses key transition points of incarceration and release for these families. Weekly parenting sessions, one day workshops and reunification camps are provided to the families during incarceration. Key agencies provide post release case management support to these families.
Mobile Play Scheme
Save the Children Australia - Queensland Division
47 Cordelia Street
PO Box 3060
SOUTH BRISBANE QLD 4101
Ph: (07) 3844 2699
Provides an outreach service for isolated families with young children in caravan parks and/or housing estates, through regular playgroup sessions for young children and their carers and intensive family support for families with additional needs. It targets families and children (0-5 years) experiencing homelessness and insecure housing.
Good Beginnings
George Street Neighbourhood Centre Assoc Inc
4 George Street
PO Box 4112
SOUTH MACKAY QLD 4740
Ph: (07) 4957 2626
Family support workers and trained volunteers provide home visiting and outreach services to families following an assessment and development of a support plan. This provides practical assistance for vulnerable families with complex needs. Program targets families with limited incomes including indigenous, CALD and South Sea Islander families.
Good Beginnings
Nambour Community Centre
2 Shearer Street
PO Box 1042
NAMBOUR QLD 4560
Ph: (07) 5441 4724
Family support workers and trained volunteers provide home visiting and outreach services to families following an assessment and development of a support plan providing practical assistance for vulnerable families with complex needs. It targets families with limited incomes and who may be socially isolated, including Indigenous, CALD families and fathers. Activities include volunteer family support, intensive family support, Supported Playgroups, parent groups and family events.
Munduberra Community Development Association
69 Stuart Russell Street
PO Box 154
Munduberra QLD 4626
Phone: (07) 4165 4690
Uses child care centres in disadvantaged areas as community hubs to link families with young children to local support services and to strengthen community networks.
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South Australia
Flying Start
Anglican Community Care Inc
White Avenue
PO Box 1842
MOUNT GAMBIER SA 5290
Ph: (08) 8724 9211
The principle objective of Flying Start is to build strong and positive family relationships to nurture happy and resilient children. In partnership with other service providers the service aims to assist and support parents to gain the understanding and skills necessary to care for and enjoy their children. The focus of the service is on the primary and secondary transitions in a child's life and provides support to children and their families. The program targets socially and geographically isolated families, CALD families and Indigenous families.
Takikurtinna Wiltarnendi - Families Becoming Stronger
UnitingCare Wesley Port Adelaide Inc
58 Dale Street
PO Box 3032
PORT ADELAIDE SA 5015
Ph: (08) 8440 2240
The focus of the Takikurtinna Wiltarnendi project is to improve the access of indigenous families to support services in the Port Adelaide region. This project targets hard to reach families who will not access existing services.
Fleurieu Families Home Visiting Program
C/- Alexandrina Council (District Council of Victor Harbour)
11 Cadell Street
PO Box 21
GOOLWA SA 5214
Phone: (08) 8555 7000
This program aims to improve the wellbeing of children and families by providing volunteer peer support to parents/caregivers with young children in the Southern and Eastern Fleurieu regions of rural South Australia. Volunteers are matched with families experiencing disadvantage; including young parents, children with disabilities, fathers as primary care-givers and grandparents raising grandchildren. The volunteers work with individual families and with playgroup/parent groups.
The Rural and Remote Early Intervention Project
Centre for Rural and Regional Development
University of South Australia - Whyalla Campus
111 Nicolson Avenue
WHYALLA SA 5608
Phone: (08) 8647 6111
The rural and remote early intervention project improves the wellbeing of children and families, especially indigenous families (Whyalla and Ceduna), families in rural and remote areas of Upper Eyre Peninsula, families in Whyalla at risk due to poverty or major stresses and young mothers and their families, by:
- providing flexible group and individual parenting support;
- developing community capacity through strategic partnerships and local mentors;
- using a strengths based approach with indigenous families to develop innovative and culturally appropriate parenting programs for them to use; and
- using participatory action research approach to involve local people fully in determining need and program content.
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Victoria
Anglicare Broadmeadows Family Services
Anglicare Victoria
32 Railway Place
BROADMEADOWS VIC 3047
Ph: (03) 9301 5200
This is an early intervention and prevention strategy for families using Anglicare Broadmeadows Family Service's volunteer caregiver program. The volunteer caregiver program provides a weekend care service and a casework service for up to 20 families a year. The service undertakes a thorough assessment of the family's needs and subsequent referrals to appropriate services by trained volunteers. The service targets families in the City of Hume, predominantly Broadmeadows.
Families in Crisis Program
Mirabel Foundation Inc
87 Orrong Crescent
CAULFIELD NORTH VIC 3161
Ph: (03) 9527 9422
This program provides a combination of intensive individual support and group work to support families in crisis while improving their access to community based support programs and children's services. The program specifically addresses the social, emotional and developmental needs of children aged 0-6 years who have been orphaned or abandoned due to parental illicit drug use. The service targets families from the whole of Victoria.
Working Together Program
Connections Child Youth and Family Services
1-3 Pitt Street
RINGWOOD VIC 3134
PO Box 468
CROYDON VIC 3136
Ph: (03) 9724 2222
This program is an early intervention and support service which supports parents and teachers/carers of children exhibiting challenging behaviours and social/emotional difficulties. It targets children aged 2-6 years who attend early childhood centres. The program offers in-home parenting support and consultation with early childhood centre staff. This program targets the whole of Victoria.
Abercare Home Start
Baptist Community Care (Abercare Family Services)
25 Norwood Crescent
MOONEE PONDS VIC 3039
Ph: (03) 9373 3800
This program is based on home visiting, using volunteers to provide practical support to families. The program aims to work with isolated and vulnerable parents in and around the Brimbank area. Additionally, it runs playgroups once per week during school terms and arranges social activities for families once per term.
Malvern Special Needs Playgroup Inc
22 McArthur Street
MALVERN VIC 3144
Ph: (03) 9822 3877
Malvern Special Needs Playgroup provides developmentally appropriate activities for children less than six years who have a developmental delay - intellectual, physical, language or social. The activities are organised and supervised by a team of professional staff including a physiotherapist, an occupational therapist, a speech therapist and a kindergarten teacher. The playgroup also provides parents with relevant information and referrals to other specialised agencies such as Noah’s Ark Toy Library.
The Helping Hand Program
Child and Family Care Network Inc
583 Ferntree Gully Road
GLEN WAVERLEY VIC 3170
PO Box 4190
MULGRAVE VIC 3170
Ph: (03) 8562 5119
The Service supports parents with young children to strengthen family relationships and give a sense of belonging. The Helping Hand Program targets families with preschool children who have additional needs or who are at risk of family dysfunction, and mother suffering postnatal depression. It provides in-home support through respite care, role modelling of positive parenting techniques, home visits, counselling and referral services.
Parenting Plus
The Queen Elizabeth Centre
53 Thomas Street
NOBLE PARK VIC 3174
Phone: (03) 9549 2702
The project assists parents of children less than four years in their parenting via day stays, residential and home visiting programs. The project aims to assist Afghani, Sudanese and Indigenous parents and also provides playgroups and social events for families.
Parent - Child day stay
Goulburn Valley Family Care Inc
19 Welsford Street
SHEPPARTON VIC 3632
Ph: (03) 5823 7019 or 1800 059 059
Goulburn Valley Family Care provides day stay for newborns to one year olds and in-home support for newborns to four years olds. It also provides home visits and facilitates parenting groups. The project assists parents and their young children (newborns to four years) with various childhood, parenting and family difficulties through practical advice and support.
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Western Australia
UnitingCare West Mofflyn
UnitingCare West
GPO Box B74
PERTH WA 6838
Phone: (08) 9355 9028
This project supports families and carers with children less than five who are experiencing personal and social barriers to effective parenting. The program targets families with children less than five years of age living in Merriwa and the surrounding area. Clients include indigenous people experiencing social and financial disadvantage.
Parents Plus
Agencies for South West Accommodation Inc
40 Charles Street
PO Box 860
BUNBURY WA 6230
Ph: (08) 9791 3213
This service delivers in home outreach services to vulnerable families. In addition parenting training is delivered in prison and at various locations around Bunbury.
Wanslea Family Services Inc
110 Scarborough Beach Road
PO Box 211
SCARBOROUGH WA 6922
Ph: (08) 9245 2441
Wanslea provides a home based service targeting parenting intervention by professional staff of vulnerable families at key transition points in their children's early years. One key aim is to provide appropriate parenting training to parents with learning difficulties.
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Tasmania
Anglicare Tasmania Inc
18 Watchorn Street
GPO Box 1620
HOBART TAS 7001
Ph: (03) 6424 8581
This project aims to develop happy and healthy relationships between parents and their young children through group-work and home visiting. The service assists parents with babies or small children. Program activities support intended outcomes and include:
- volunteer family support;
- family events; and
- intensive family support.
Hobart Volunteer Home Visiting and Parenting Project
Good Beginnings Australia Ltd
PO Box K969
HAYMARKET NSW 1240
Ph: (02) 9211 6767
This service offers home visiting (both volunteer and professional) in both one-on-one and group sessions to bolster parenting skills. It targets single parents, fathers, CALD families and teenage parents.