Strengthening parenting skills in Toowoomba

Hundreds of Toowoomba parents are being helped to care for their children safely at home.

Minister for Child Safety Di Farmer said the Intensive Family Support (IFS) service had worked with more than 450 families in Toowoomba since April last year.

“Children of parents who are finding it difficult to cope are at greater risk of neglect or harm,” Ms Farmer said.

“That’s where services like these, with their intensive, face-to-face support make all the difference and I am delighted that more parents are reaching out and getting the support they need.”

In Toowoomba, the services are run by Uniting Care Community, Mercy Community Services and Act for Kids.

Each works with vulnerable families with children under 18 who have either been referred to the organisations or have voluntarily sought help.

These services work with families to help develop parenting skills, establish family routines and budgets and address issues such as domestic and family violence and drug and alcohol misuse.

“Every family struggles sometimes, and some families struggle more than most,” Ms Farmer said.

“Our priority is to make sure families are caring for children. The best thing for children is for their parents to keep them safe.”

Ms Farmer said $3 million for the services was part of the government’s commitment under the Supporting Families Changing Futures program.

“All three organisations do a wonderful job supporting the most vulnerable people in Toowoomba and boosting our child protection system,” she said.

“They empower mums and dads to take responsibility for their lives and the wellbeing of their children by first looking at the issues and then creating an achievable plan of action.

“That plan teaches families the skills they need to keep their children safe and their family unit together.”

They are among 44 Intensive Family Support services rolled out across Queensland since January 2015 in response to recommendations from the 2012 Child Protection Commission of Inquiry.

Ms Farmer said the Government remained focused on providing services and support to keep families safely at home together whenever possible.

This includes Family and Child Connect, Intensive Family Support and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Family Wellbeing Services.

“We continue to invest in services like these so vulnerable children are kept safe,” she said.

Media Contact:  Minister Farmer’s office       3719 7336