Family Relationship Programs

We are working to strengthen Koori families and develop healthy and supportive family units.

Integrated Family Services: Integrated Family Services (IFS) provides specific targets to be delivered to our Aboriginal parents or other carers with ATSI children and such, provide a comprehensive range of services and approaches. Our team are responsible for helping and assisting our families to stay together or, to be reunited with their family.

We achieve this by connecting our families with the necessary support systems, exactly when, and where they need it most. We walk alongside our families in creating changes in the family and strengthening connections to culture and community. Within this, family services provide education and support around increasing parenting capacity and childhood development.

Family Preservation: The program aims to support families to stay together and prevent children from being placed in out-of-home care.

Family Reunification: If a child is already in care, the FPRR aims to help facilitate their return to their family.

Evidence-based and Coordinated Support: The program uses evidence-based practices and coordinates support from various agencies, including Child Protection, to ensure families receive the necessary assistance.

Intensive Intervention: The FPRR often involves an initial intensive intervention phase, followed by step-down support.

Targeted Groups: The program prioritizes specific groups of children and families, including those with children aged 0-5 years and 10-15 years, as well as pregnant women.

Cultural Sensitivity: The program acknowledges and incorporates cultural elements, particularly for Aboriginal parents or other carers with ATSI children, to ensure culturally appropriate support be available.

Focus on Family Needs: FPRR practitioners work with families to develop Child and Family Action Plans, addressing individual and family needs. Essentially, the FPRR is a comprehensive approach to supporting families, aiming to keep children safe and thriving within their own homes or to facilitate their return home when necessary.

Intensive Family Services: This program is working with our ATSI parents or other carers with ATSI children in collaboration with Child Protection services. The program includes 200 hours of support provided and while working alongside child protection in reducing risk, also working alongside families to create goals that they are ready to make changes in and work in collaboration with other services at times when needed. The support often has a strong focus on parenting, child development and strengthening relationships within the family unit.