WA celebrates second Family Week from May 15-21

15/5/95

Western Australians are being encouraged to remember the family theme during May 15 - 21 as WA celebrates its second Family Week.

In the wake of the successful 1994 Year of the Family (WA), the Department for Community Development (DCD) has earmarked the week to become an annual event for State-wide discussion on the family and community activities to celebrate family relationships.

DCD offices throughout the State are supporting activities in their local areas to highlight the theme.  Activities include outings for disadvantaged families, fun-days encouraging parent/child interaction, community sausage sizzles and morning teas bringing together a variety of family groups.

Community Development and Family Minister Roger Nicholls said Family Week was the ideal opportunity for families to celebrate the value of their relationships.

He said the 1994 Year of the Family (WA) had highlighted the importance of families for a successful, safe and productive community.

The Institute for Child Health Research had reinforced these messages in its recently published research which showed that positive family relationships were vital for the mental health of children.

"It is important to keep focussing on the family and recognising the many benefits families contribute to individual and community life," Mr Nicholls said.

"By setting aside one week every year to acknowledge that we are all part of a family and valuing the role we have as family members, we can build stronger foundations for our future."

Family Week activities include:

·        'Care Week' at the Galleria Shopping Centre in Morley.  Perth DCD will take part in the expo style celebrations and will be giving away DCD information at a display site.

·       Scarborough DCD has organised a family outing to Rottnest Island on Tuesday May 16 for 20 local families living in the North Beach Homeswest flats.  Many of these families, are sole parent families and have never been to Rottnest before.

·       Launch of the Taskforce on Families report on May 15.

·       Handing over of the WA Year of the Family Public Artwork in King's Park on May 21.

·       A children's playground will be built at Bicentennial Square in Bunbury.  The playground will include a carved and colourful five-sided gazebo providing a setting for families to interact.

·       Merredin DCD staff are organising a morning tea for members of the Yallembee Women's Support Group and their children.  Most of these women are from disadvantaged backgrounds and are sole parents or receiving little support from their partners.

·       A sausage sizzle will be held on Tuesday May 16 at the local Apex park in Moora.  The Playground and Women's Support Group will take part in the celebration.

·       An activities' and storytelling day for the local child care centre and family day carers has been organised in Northam.

·       Bert Weir - a self-esteem workshop facilitator from Queensland - was sponsored by ALCOA, Mandurah Gates Resort and Ansett to conduct a self-esteem family communication seminar in Peel on May 13.

·       Members of the Yok Yuruk (an Aboriginal Women's Support Group) are being assisted by DCD to organise a morning tea and activities for children in Kellerberrin.

·       Playground Fun-days will be held in various locations in the Great Southern including Albany, Mt Barker, Katanning and Lake Grace.  Activities will include bubble-making, tunnels and mazes, badge-making, pony rides, face-painting, windmills and streamers.

·       A movie night for families will be hosted by the local DCD office in the South-West Rural area.  DCD displays will be set up at the cinema and family 'showbags' will be given away.

Media contact:  Hugh Ryan  221 5468