June 2004

Program helps Geelong parents

A new parenting program will educate, advise and provide peer support to vulnerable parents in Geelong.

The program, New Parent Infant Network (NEWPIN), is part of a $1 million Government early intervention project to reduce child abuse and neglect in Geelong by delivering intensive welfare support for vulnerable families.

Community Services Minister Sherryl Garbutt said NEWPIN was run by the Geelong-based community welfare organisation, Bethany Community Support, and was the first of its kind in Victoria.

‘This new program will provide parents with a place to go and receive support to help strengthen their relationships with their babies and preschool children,’ Ms Garbutt said.

‘It will give mothers of all ages the chance to develop relationships with other mothers and learn new parenting skills.

‘The Government is committed to providing earlier, more intensive support for struggling parents rather than child protection authorities becoming involved.

‘This program is an excellent example of how earlier contact with vulnerable families and children can help end the cycle of family breakdown, child abuse and neglect.’

NEWPIN began in February and is run from a Family House at the Bethany Community Support offices.

Currently, around 14 families with 19 young children attend the program.

‘Being a parent is very challenging and this program will offer group work, therapeutic support and training to help new parents build a stronger bond with their child.’

The parenting program is part of a $1 million Family Support Innovation Project in Geelong, which aims to reduce child protection notifications across the Region and provide greater support to families under pressure.

Bethany Community Support, the City of Greater Geelong and the Barwon Youth Accommodation Service are delivering the local Family Support Innovation Project.

‘The Government has provided $18.9 million over four years in the recent State Budget to expand the successful $20 million Family Support Innovation Projects,’ Ms Garbutt said.

‘While it is early days, it is promising that an independent evaluation found that child protection notification rates dropped by an average of 7.5 per cent in areas where Innovations Projects are underway.

‘We recognise the need to address family issues quickly and link families into services before problems escalate and require child protection involvement.’

Other projects have also been set up in Ballarat, Frankston, East Gippsland, Shepparton, Central Goldfields, La Trobe and Darebin.