ONE child is never the same as the next, and Centacare NENW Inverell is offering two free opportunities to build parenting skills and parental and carer support.
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The programs, designed by the Australian government, are delivered by the organisations’ Rural Parenting Resilience Program.
“Bringing Up Great Kids is actually designed to concentrate on the parent,” program worker Sandi O’Donnell said.
“It’s to help them with parenting, but it’s also to help them to assess themselves, and it’s also to empower them with the knowledge to then take that home, and understand their kids a little bit better.
“No child’s the same, doesn’t matter how many you have; they’re all different.”
Centacare NENW will concurrently run a Parenting Peer Support Group, to offer adults a safe place for learning and sharing, and welcomes the children.
Sandi said both groups are natural environments for adults to open up and share their insight and experience to help each other.
Even people that don’t normally stick up for themselves are more than happy to share ideas with the other person,” Sandi said.
“We promote that too,” program support worker Tessa Monckton said.
“I’m a mum of two, so I’ll say, ‘This is what I’ve done’, or I’ll say to one of the older ladies, ‘What have you done?’”
Tessa said the group gives adults a feeling of comradeship.
“Not all kids go to bed at 7 o’clock, it’s that they’re not alone in things and everyone does something different,” she said.
No child’s the same, doesn’t matter how many you have; they’re all different
- Centrecare program worker Sandi O’Donnell
“And if you get something that works, share it,” Sandi added with a chuckle.
The groups have seen mothers, fathers, grandparents and carers as young as 18 up to age 50.
Sandi said it is not only for single parents or carers; those sharing parenting or care for a child may learn from coming together.
“Mums and dads will always parent differently, because of the way we all think,” she said.
“Then sometimes, when you’re doing this, it makes you understand why they process things and do things their way.”
Both the free workshop and group will begin Thursday, October 8 at the Centacare NENW offices, suite 6, in Inverell’s Country Fair building on Sweaney Street.
Places are limited for Bringing Up Great Kids.
To see if you are eligible and learn the times, phone Tessa or Sandi on 6721 6404.
