Program supports NQ families
WE aren’t talking about the card game but a long running Centacare NQ program which adapts with the times to provide practical and genuine support to North Queensland families.
Centacare NQ’S Bridge Program manager Cailin O’ROurke praised her team for continually refreshing their professional knowledge base across a range of concerns that families may face in 2021 and beyond.
“COVID-19 has brought new challenges for families and support services, we have found new ways to communicate and have benefited from resources across the world in the best way to work through the pandemic,” she said.
“We have moved through mask wearing and increased our skills in video technology however our care to families remains the same.
“Our ideal goal is to have families feel that they have been supported, listened to and that the team has created individual plans unique to their needs.
“Our program does not have a cookie cutter approach and will adapt to the needs of clients.”
Families often enter the program when things don’t seem to be working the same way as they may have previously.
Many times discipline strategies and family functioning could be better.
Behaving differently to parent expectations, struggling in school, not communicating needs, silence, getting in to trouble, excelling in school, hypervigilance or continuous worries could be indicators that family matters are impacting children.
“Impacts to children cannot be placed in to one category, they may have multiple ways to display their problems and some of them include not displaying any problems at all,” Ms O’rourke said.
A key message to come from Child Protection Week this year was that to develop in healthy and positive ways, children need life to be stable, even when families face rough times. Just as a strong skipper learns to be adaptable and to seek help when they need it, we can help parents to navigate life’s storms.
“Sometimes parents need guidance through new situations, child development stages or structure in their household,” Ms O’rourke said.
“Families also seek support in preventing problems occurring or in some instances happening again.”
It has been reported that 174,700 (1 in 32) children had an investigation, care and protection order and/or were placed in out-of-home care during 2019-20.
Some families believe that they can get through their issues alone or that they will be told that they are doing things wrong but this is not the case.
“Our team recognise that families are the experts in their own lives and will be guided by the family on what their needs are,” Ms O’rourke said.
“We care about creating an environment where families are able to move forward with more information, practical ideas, and knowledge than they may not have had previously.
“It is a privilege to see firsthand the move towards selfsufficiency and confidence of local families in my role. My staff have also reported a sense of joy when they see families incorporating ideas and strategies in to their lives.”
To access information on Centacare NQ’S Bridge program please visit www.centacarenq.org.au or call 1300 672 273. This service is provided free of charge and is funded by the Department of Children, Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs.