Families who qualify for this program may display any of the following:
• Isolation due to lack of transport
• Lack of additional support from friends or family (possibly living interstate or in the defence forces)
• History of depression or violence in the family
• Multiple births
• Other individual circumstances

Volunteers are available to help with 2 hour visits once per fortnight.
A standard program lasts for 2 months (i.e. 4 visits).
In extreme cases more visits can also be arranged.

Volunteers are able to help with some cleaning, cooking, minding siblings while parent is attending to the baby, assistance with outings such as shopping or doctors visits.

PARENTING GROUPS & PROGRAMS

Mums & Bubs
Meets every Wednesday 10am-noon for mothers of new babies up to 12 months old. This is an informal discussion group giving information on babies’ first year of life. Friendship and parenting support are shared over a relaxed cup of coffee together.
Free

Playgroup
Meets fortnightly on Thursdays 10am-noon. Structured and interactive play sessions for parents, carers and children. $4 per child or $5 per family includes craft activities and morning tea.

Kindergym
Meets on alternate Thursdays. Our kindergym program is aimed at enhancing your child’s confidence in movement as well as stimulating them socially and intellectually with unique motor activities, skill development, singing and dancing. Casual and term rates.
Accredited with Gymnastics Australia and run by qualified paediatric physiotherapist.
9:30am – 12:30pm

PARENTING COURSES
Courses are held over 5 weeks at the centre and are available during the daytime. Phone Toni Salter on 9826 0300 for details and dates.

Toddlers: Terrible or Terrific?
Developed by The Healthy Lifestyle Unit of the Northern Sydney Area Health Service, this course teaches parents what it’s like to be a toddler through an awareness of children’s social, emotional and physical development. Topics include: tucker without fuss, toilet training, discipline and tantrums, sleep and speech development.
4 to 6 week course, sessions 2 hours each.
Suitable for parents of toddlers aged 1 to 3 years. Daytime and evening courses.

Triple P – Positive Parenting Program
As seen on 60 minutes and A Current Affair, this popular and well researched program teaches how difficult behaviour can develop, and gives tips on managing strong-willed behaviour. It also looks at ways to develop a positive relationship with children and helps parents to plan ahead to prevent problem behaviour occurring.
5 week course, sessions 2 hours each.
Suitable for parents of children aged 2 to 10 years. Daytime and evening courses.

Living with Teenagers
This course was developed by Burnside to help parents meet the challenges of raising teenagers and pre-adolescent children. Topics include understanding teenagers, effective communication, drugs and alcohol use, discipline that works.
6 week course, sessions 2 hours each.
Suitable for parents of children aged 11 to 14 years. Evening courses only.

PARENTING SEMINARS & INFORMATION SESSIONS
Seminars are one-off sessions and are held in the evening at the centre.

The Power of Positive Parenting
This seminar introduces parents to the 5 core building blocks of positive parenting.
• ensuring a safe and engaging environment for children to play
• creating a positive learning environment
• using assertive discipline
• having realistic expectations
• taking care of yourself as a parent
90 minutes plus question time. Evening session.
Parents of children aged 3 to 12.

Raising Confident, Competent Children
Children are more likely to be confident, succeed at school and get on well with others when they develop certain life skills. These skills include being respectful and considerate, communicating well with others, thinking positively and having healthy self-esteem, being a problem solver and becoming independent and able to do things for themselves.
90 minutes plus question time. Evening session.
Parents of children aged 3 to 12.

Raising Resilient Children
Parents are often uncertain about how to respond to children’s expression of emotion in ways that help children learn to manage their feelings. This seminar deals with
• how to recognise and accept feelings
• expressing feelings appropriately
• building positive feelings and dealing with negative feelings
• coping skills and handling stressful life events
90 minutes plus question time. Evening session.
Parents of children aged 5 to 14.

Living with Teenagers
As children become teenagers they usually want more independence from their parents. At the same time, parents often expect more responsibility from their teenagers. The key ingredients for teenagers becoming mature responsible adults are:
• taking part in family decision making & family activities
• being respectful and considerate
• developing a healthy lifestyle
• being reliable and assertive without aggression
90 minutes plus question time. Evening session.
Parents of children aged 11 to 14.