burnside south west sydney supporting vulnerable families through building community connections
TRANSCRIPT
Burnside South West Sydney
Supporting Vulnerable Families through Building Community
Connections
Brighter Futures Program
Brighter Futures is a voluntary, targeted program for families experiencing problems that impact on their ability to care for their children.
•Funded by FACS•Targets families with children 0-9 years•Families are experiencing the following vulnerabilities: mental health, drug and alcohol, domestic violence and lack parenting skills, families with parents with an intellectual disability•Brighter Futures South West Sydney covers the geographical regions of Macarthur, Wollondilly and Wingecarribee local government areas
How do Families access the Brighter Futures Program?
Families can be referred to Brighter Futures:
•By a community based agency or professional such as a GP, health professional, welfare worker or childcare worker
•By the NSW child protection Helpline
•Families can also contact us to refer themselves
BRIGHTER FUTURESBRIGHTER FUTURES
Service ComponentsService Components
Case Management
Childcare
FAMILY
Brokerage
Parenting Program
Home based
•Communities in which we work are large, diverse and have limited formal support service options for very vulnerable and isolated families
•We need to understand the communities in which we work with families, to be able to best meet their needs
Connecting with our Congregations – Why is it important?
What are we doing?
Sharing with each other: knowledge, information, resources, our passion for social justice and
compassion for people
Community
activitiesPartnership projectsLearning
and Training
Example of partnerships
• Teddy Bears Picnic
UnitingCare Burnside Macarthur Brighter Futures
Community Support
PictonUniting Church
Teddy Bears Picnic
What have been the Outcomes?
A case study:
Why is it Working?
What are we Learning?
• Focus on shared commonalities and values
• Developing a common language to describe each other
• Workers are increasing their skills, knowledge and understanding of the importance of community development within a child protection context
Any questions?
Thank youPresented by:
Louise Smeaton, Manager Brighter Futures and Early Childhood Programs Macarthur, UnitingCare Burnside
Nicola Leng, Early Childhood Facilitator, Brighter Futures Macarthur, UnitingCare Burnside