The Family and Children’s Services stream provides services to families, particularly those who are vulnerable or living in disadvantaged communities, to improve family functioning, safety and child wellbeing and development. Services provide both broad based early intervention and prevention services as well more intensive assistance in targeted locations where there are multiple indicators of disadvantage.
Family and Children’s Services are delivered through four activity types:
- Communities for Children;
- Family and Relationship Services;
- Specialist Services; and
- Community Playgroups.
Communities for Children
What are Communities for Children?
Communities for Children services provide services to ensure children have the best start in life by focussing on prevention and early intervention approaches that bring about positive family functioning, safety and child development outcomes for children and their families in disadvantaged communities throughout Australia.
The following activities are delivered under Communities for Children:
- Communities for Children Facilitating Partner
Communities for Children Facilitating Partner services develop and facilitate a whole of community approach to support and strengthen local service networks that contribute to child safety. - Communities for Children Direct Services
Communities for Children Direct Services provide activities directly to individual services to deliver early intervention and prevention family support, tailored to the needs of the local community. Services are family focused and child centred, focusing on children 0-12 years and for some services, adolescents up to 18 years of age.
Who will benefit from Communities for Children Activities?
Communities for Children are aimed at increasing child safety and wellbeing, by addressing known risk factors that impact on the parenting capacity of families, parents, grandparent carers and other carers. Services support the well being of children by building strong parenting skills and stronger and more sustainable families and communities.
How are Communities for Children delivered?
Communities for Children Facilitating Partners fund other organisations to provide services including parenting support; group peer support for children, families or carers; case management; home visiting services; and other supports to prevent child abuse and neglect.
Communities for Children Direct Services may include parenting support, family and peer support for children and family members including grandparent carers, facilitated playgroups, case management and home visiting services.
To search for a service provider in your area go to the Family Relationships Online website.
Related Information
- Protecting Australia's Children
- Stronger Families and Communities Strategy (SFCS) National Evaluation
- MyTime for Grandparents (peer support groups)
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Communities for Children – Indigenous Parenting Services
What are Communities for Children – Indigenous Parenting Services?
Indigenous Parenting Services provide prevention and early intervention activities to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, families and communities. They support Indigenous families and children through transitions to child care, pre-school and primary school and help Indigenous parents address social, cultural, personal, historical, and financial and health factors that can present barriers to effective parenting.
Who will benefit from Communities for Children – Indigenous Parenting Services?
Indigenous Parenting Services deliver services to families with children aged up to twelve years old with a particular focus on families with a child under the age of two. Especially to families and children at risk of abuse or neglect, providing more focussed services to prevent children from entering the child protection system.
How are Communities for Children – Indigenous Parenting Services delivered?
Indigenous Parenting Services are provided by skilled family support workers and early childhood workers through child care centres, schools, Aboriginal Health Centres and other related services providing Indigenous families access to improved parenting support.
To search for a service provider in your area go to the Family Relationships Online website.
Related Information
- Protecting Australia's Children
- The Indigenous Family Safety Agenda
- The National Early Childhood Development Strategy - Investing in the Early Years
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Family and Relationship Services
What are Family and Relationship Services?
Family and Relationship Services provide services to vulnerable and disadvantaged families and children by providing assistance with adult relationships, counselling for children, education and broader parenting support, within significantly disadvantaged communities.
Who will benefit from Family and Relationship Services?
Family and Relationship Services assist people with relationship difficulties better manage the personal or interpersonal issues to do with children and family during marriage, separation and divorce.
How are Family and Relationship Services delivered?
Family and Relationship Services are community focussed, flexible and include broad-based child and parenting services to help reduce the number of children entering the child protection system.
To search for a service provider in your area go to the Family Relationships Online website.
Related Information
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Specialist Services
What are Specialist Services?
Specialist Services are delivered by providers with expert skills and knowledge in the provision of support to vulnerable individuals and families affected by particular issues such as natural disaster, drugs, violence and trauma.
Specialist Services consists of the following three activities:
- Specialised Family Violence Services (SFVS)
Specialised Family Violence Services assist clients and their families to achieve and maintain positive family relationships, supporting the safety of all individuals affected by family violence. Clients and families can access: - Kids in Focus – Family Drug Support (KIF)
Kids in Focus – Family Drug Support aims to improve outcomes for children in families with substance misuse problems by providing integrated, long term and intensive support to vulnerable and disadvantaged families and children. - Family Relationship Services for Humanitarian Entrants (FRSHE)
Family Relationship Services for Humanitarian Entrants services address the needs of individuals and families entering Australia under the Humanitarian Entrants Program. The service assists clients to learn a new way of life while sustaining their culture and beliefs. Services help clients understand different values and customs, and the roles family members may have in their new country.
Who will benefit from a Specialist Services?
Specialised Family Violence Services and Kids in Focus - Family Drug Support services are available to communities, families and clients who are experiencing high and complex needs (such as mental health, drug and alcohol issues, and family violence) and require more intensive access to support.
Family Relationship Services for Humanitarian Entrants services are provided to families who have entered Australia under the Humanitarian Entry Program. Services are available to adults, young people, parents and their children.
How are Specialist Services delivered?
Specialist Services are delivered through support groups, counselling, education and training.
To search for a service provider in your area go to the Family Relationships Online website.
Related Information
- FRSP Online
- Protecting Australia's Children
- National Illicit Drug Strategy (NIDS)
- Australian National Council on Drugs Strengthening Families Consultation Report 2009
Community Playgroups
What are Community Playgroups?
Community Playgroups are informal gatherings for parents and caregivers with children under school age that provide an ideal place for children to learn and develop through play. Playgroups meet regularly (generally once a week for two hours during school terms). They can be held anywhere that is safe for children and where groups can meet.
Who will benefit from Community Playgroups?
Parents and caregivers attend the Playgroup to interact with other adults and play with the children. Children can choose from a range of activities set up to advance early learning and meet the varying developmental needs. Parents and caregivers can benefit from playgroups though social interaction, sharing experiences, learning new parenting skills and building networks with their wider community.
Community Playgroups provide an opportunity for parents and caregivers to develop social and support networks to assist with effective parenting skills, confidence and self-esteem. Playgroups also provide an opportunity for children to learn through play and develop their social, emotional, cognitive and physical skills.
Community Playgroups provide children under school age and their families and caregivers with access to a regular quality playgroup experience. The intent of support offered as part of the Playgroup experience differs depending on a range of individual and community circumstances.
How are Community Playgroups delivered?
Community Playgroups are initiated and self-managed by parents and/or caregivers who attend the playgroup. State or Territory Playgroup Associations provide advice and resources to self-managed Community Playgroups about developmentally appropriate learning activities. They also assist people to start their own playgroups or to find a playgroup that meets their needs and, where necessary, assist playgroups to resolve conflicts and disputes.
Related Information
For more information visit the Playgroup Australia website or call 1800 171 882 PlayConnect Playgroups (Autism Specific Playgroups)