Release of report on a review of parent education

A landmark State Government report has called for a major upgrading of the status of parents and their role in the Western Australian community.

Community Services Minister Eric Ripper today released the report on 'Effective Parenting - A Review of Parent Education in Western Australia'.

Mr Ripper was the chairman of the review committee and represented the Premier at the Ngala Family Resource Centre in South Perth.

The Minister said the report encouraged Western Australian parents to seek advice on raising their children instead of relying on instinct.

It highlighted parent education as critical to:

·         developing positive, capable adults able to cope with life;

·         preventing future problems such as family breakdowns, youth homelessness, drug abuse, suicide and juvenile crime;

·         promoting 'job satisfaction' for parents.

"A high priority of the State Government is helping families, and supporting parents in their child-rearing roles is probably one of the most important things we do," the Minister said.

"Upgrading parent skills is one of the best investments we can make in ensuring a better future.  Parenting is a difficult task and thankfully most find it rewarding but society and families are changing and services to support parents must also change.

"The traditional family pattern of a husband working and the wife at home with the children now comprises only 25 per cent of two-parent families."

The latest Bureau of Statistics figures showed that more than 203,000 Western Australian families had dependent children.

About 33,000 of these, or 16 per cent, were single parent families.

There were nearly 100,000 couples with two or more dependent children, making up more than 26 per cent of the total State population.

The report found the existing range and extent of available services was very impressive and well patronised, although they should be more visibile and accessible.

The Minister said there was a lack of interest amongst fathers in parenting courses, and a need for services better targeted to families where both parents worked.

The report made 51 recommendations aimed at better co-ordination of Government and non-Government agencies in providing parent education services and at making these services more relevant and accessible.

Recommendations included:

·         a comprehensive community education campaign to raise the awareness of the significance of parenting to the health and well-being of the community;

·         the establishment of a Parent Information and Referral Service as a 'one-stop shop' for people wanting to know about the availability of services and resources;

·         the formation of an on-going liaison committee to foster an integrated approach to policy development and service delivery across all Government departments and non-Government agencies;

·         improved parent education services for step and blended families and those with adolescent children;

·         upgraded services for Aboriginal and other ethnic families.

The Minister said the report would be open for public comment to the Office of the Family for two months, before being taken to Cabinet for consideration.