Parenting or family support program
Description
Organisations to assist
Eligibility
Description
Employers may provide employees who are parents with a formal educational program about parenting. Employers could arrange presentations and referrals to established parenting programs, such as the Triple P (Positive Parenting Program) which was developed by the University of Queensland. The Positive Parenting Program provides parents with information to help them become positive and assertive parents and can be accessed by contacting the Parenting and Family Support Centre directly on (07) 3365 7290. There are programs available for parents of children (0-12 years) and teenagers (10-16 years) in either an individual or group format.
Seminars can also be conducted in the workplace, Triple P can do seminars on parenting that provide parents with an introduction to Triple P as well as some tips to help them manage common concerns with children's behaviour. They charge $300 for a 90 minute seminar (which includes question time). They accept referrals from parents for either individual sessions or the group Triple P. Parents are charged $45 per session (1 hour in length) to see a psychologist for individual consultations or they can take part in a group program for $300 per family.
Organisations to assist
Employers could also provide employees with contact information of organisations that provide advice on parenting, child health and family support. Some of these are listed below.
The Department of Communities provides information resources about child care, an information sheet (PDF, 99 KB) with helpful contacts for families (e.g. family payments, family support services) and tips on discipline for teenagers.
Queensland Health Community Child Health Service provides information for parents and carers on child advocacy, child development, child health, parenting, nutrition and common conditions. Various programs are available which provide education and support, including a residential care centre.
The service includes a searchable list of Child Health Clinics across Queensland and links to Immunisation Clinics.
The Raising Children Network provides extensive information for parents of children of all ages. It provides information on behaviours, development, health and nutrition, safety and sleep relevant to newborns right up to school age children. It also provides information for parents on issues such as pregnancy, looking after yourself, work and family balance and dealing with separation.
- Parentline (1300 30 1300) is a confidential telephone counselling service aimed at providing professional counselling and support for parents and all persons who care for children. Information is available on what to expect as children develop into young adults, how to manage unexpected problems with the children and how to work out strategies to manage long term problems with children
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dvconnect
is a state-wide telephone service for counselling and support on domestic and family violence matters. dvconnect is comprised of three services: dvconnect womensline, dvconnect serviceline, and dvconnect mensline:
- dvconnect womensline (1800 811 811) provides a 24 hour, 7 day a week service to women and their children experiencing domestic and/or family violence. The service provides crisis intervention, support, information, advocacy, counselling, referrals and the state-wide coordination of emergency refuge and shelter placements across Queensland
- dvconnect serviceline operates in conjunction with dvconnect womensline and provides immediate access for related service professionals such as the Police Service, hospital emergency departments and refuge staff to contact dvconnect. This service is accessed by a '1300' number (available to service professionals on request), during business hours, serviced by a specialised worker; and is managed after-hours by the 24 hour domestic violence counsellors
- dvconnect mensline (1800 600 636 10am - 6pm Monday to Friday) is staffed by male counsellors who provide professional counselling and information to men who are seeking strategies to address their own use of violence and other destructive patterns in their personal lives and relationships. The service also assists those who may be (or have been) victims of violence themselves, family members, parents and friends. In addition, dvconnect mensline acts as a point of referral for men on issues of domestic and family violence, relationship problems and other significant issues for men and maintains a data base of state-wide services, groups, courses and conferences are able to direct callers to services in their local areas for ongoing support
- Mensline Australia (1300 789 978) supports men who are dealing with family and relationship difficulties, particularly surrounding family break-down or separation. Mensline Australia provides confidential, professional and non-judgmental short-term telephone counselling, support and referral to local services and relationship coaching and practical strategies for managing difficult situations. The service is also available for women and children who are concerned about a male family member, partner or friend
Eligibility
The establishment of parenting or family support program is not provided for under the Industrial Relations Act 1999 (PDF, 1.9 MB) and is generally not provided for in awards.
Where there are no provisions under the Industrial Relations Act 1999 or awards, employers and employees may negotiate an informal arrangement, a formal policy or a formal agreement registered or approved by an authority or tribunal. Employees should contact their human resource department or employer to find out what provisions may already be available through any such arrangement.
Last updated 21 July 2009
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