Child & Family Support Services

This program has provided support for both Lady Gowrie Tasmania (LGT) families, employees and their children at a state-wide level with the program responding to multiple requests for a variety of child and family wellbeing and parenting matters. These requests were considered and delivered in a manner that was identified to be the most helpful including but not limited to, information provision, referral to specialised support services as well as more intensive and targeted child and family wellbeing support to 28 families and employees.

The program provided support for families referred for support via Strong Families Safe Kids Advice and Referral Line via the Integrated Family Support Service Program which operated at capacity throughout the year with 31 families and 79 children and young people receiving support. 

The Integrated Family Support Service Program delivered child and family focused parenting support for vulnerable and at-risk families across Southern Tasmania via a case management model. Families receiving support were impacted by a variety of social and environmental factors that impact on, create barriers to and can prevent parents from raising their children and providing a family structure that is safe, nurturing, harmonious and happy.

By developing a respectful and trusting working relationship with families and supporting them in identifying what is working well for their family as well as where they see gaps. Targeted, fit for purpose, goal driven action plans that families have ownership of were then developed. Integrated Family Support Service Program staff have been able to support families in navigating their pathway of change at a pace and in a manner that reflects the family’s individual circumstances.

The Program continues to work with families using the Domains of Wellbeing and goals are set in the areas of Loved, Safe, Material Basics, Health, Learning, and Participation and having a positive sense of Culture and Identity. All family members including children and young people are able to participate in the process and have their voices heard. 

Families seek support for a variety of life factors. The overwhelming numbers of families in receipt of support have reported that the program has made a real difference to their lives and enabled them to make changes they may not have felt were possible. For some, this may be having their young person re-engaged in learning and enjoying watching them experiencing success at school. For some, it is being able to recover and move forward after surviving a situation of family violence, or the impacts of their own or a loved one’s substance addiction, or to feel confident as a parent whilst living with a mental health illness and the impact this might have to their capacity at times. 

Strengthening parenting and helping parents to re-gain and/or increase their knowledge, skills, confidence, and enjoyment in their parenting role continues to be the program’s focus, often at times of great stress and when families face enormous challenges.

Cindy Woolley –  Family Support Service Manager