Launch of Parent Link Home Visiting Service, Mirrabooka

16/5/97

Parents of young children in the Mirrabooka area can now explore the challenges of parenthood through the launch of a new Parent Link Home Visiting Service, Family and Children's Services Minister Rhonda Parker said today.

Mrs Parker was launching the service, which is provided by the Centrecare Marriage and Family Service and which receives funding from Family and Children's Services.

"The Parent Link Home Visiting Service will provide advice, support and skills development for parents with children aged from new-born up to five-years-old," she said.

"Trained volunteers, who are parents themselves, will provide the service in people's homes.

"A parenting skills program has been designed specifically for use by the volunteers who can work with parents in areas like understanding children's behaviour, handling stress and anger and building a sense of family belonging."

The service will operate from Shop 13/14 in the Mirrabooka Square Shopping Centre.

"The Centrecare Parent Home Link Visiting service is unique in the State, as it is the only Government-operated Parent Link service which is co-located with a Family and Children's Services Parent Information Centre," Mrs Parker said.

"Being co-located with the Parent Information Centre at Mirrabooka Square makes the new service very visible and accessible to the local community."

The Minister said she was delighted that the Centrecare Marriage and Family Service, which had been providing professional and innovative services to Western Australian families for nearly 30 years, was offering this service for families in the Mirrabooka district.

"Centrecare already has a strong presence in the area," she said.

"As well as the Parent Link Home Visiting Service, Centrecare also operates the Family Link Service and the Family Skills Program in Mirrabooka."

Mrs Parker said 11 Parent Link Home Visiting Services were now operating throughout the State and with the Mirrabooka service representing one of three non-Government programs which had recently started in the metropolitan area.

Market research conducted by Family and Children's Service since 1995 found that many new parents felt unprepared for assuming the relevant responsibilities.

"The early years of a child's life are a time of great joy and wonder," the Minister said.

"However, for some parents, those years can be quite frustrating and they do not know where to turn. This service helps fill that need."

Media contact: Kaye Hopkins 8481 7810