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Communities for Children

“Children are the living messages we send to a time we will not see.”

– John F Kennedy

Children are our most precious resource. They represent our greatest hopes for a better, more joyful and inspiring future. That’s why it’s up to all of us – families, friends, communities, organisations and governments – to ensure they experience the best possible start in life, so they can reach their truest, highest potential. Communities for Children is an important program in optimising their journey.

What is Communities for Children?

Communities for Children is an Australian Government Department of Social Services initiative.

Its aim is to improve the health and wellbeing of children and families from refugee, humanitarian and migrant backgrounds, focusing on supporting the early development of children aged between 0 to 12 years of age.

Melaleuca is proud to have collaborated with the Australian Red Cross to become a member of Communities for Children Facilitating Partners. Collectively, Facilitating Partners supports children and families in 52 disadvantaged communities across Australia, engaging evidence-based practices and delivering services proven to achieve positive outcomes for children and families.

Central to the Program is the creation of strong, child-friendly communities, by providing early intervention and prevention activities and programs.

 

How does the program work?

The program works in conjunction with our Family Harmony Program . It focuses on educating parents about Australia’s legal and cultural policies with parenting, such as positive parenting strategies, including alternatives to physical discipline.
Special attention is paid to supporting parents in providing their children with secure attachment, consistent discipline and quality environments that are stable, positive, stimulating, safe and secure.

In collaboration with other organisations, Melaleuca builds on local strengths to meet the needs of our clients and to create capability within local service systems. Using strong evidence of the strategies that work in early intervention and prevention, our approach to helping families includes:

  • improving the way they relate to each other
  • enhancing their parenting skills
  • ensuring the health and wellbeing of children
  • delivering parenting support sessions
  • peer based learning
  • life skills courses.

 

What outcomes can our clients expect?

To measure the success of outcomes, we collect evaluations and feedback from our clients during and after the Program along with evaluations and feedback from their participation in the Family Harmony Program .

Some of the associated outcomes from attendance at these programs include:

  • greater confidence about Australian parenting guidelines and laws
  • the capacity to adopt positive parenting strategies and gaining community knowledge, that can be incorporated into everyday life
  • increased understanding and more confidence in understanding Australian laws around domestic violence, child protection and mandatory reporting.

 

Any queries?

For more information about Communities for Children, please contact us on 08 8985 3311 or at admin@melaleuca.org.au