Published Friday, 13 July, 2007 at 09:40 AM
Minister for Child Safety
The Honourable Desley Boyle
New funding boosts family intervention services in the South Burnett and Murgon region
A new partnership between the Graham House Community Centre and the State Government will help motivate parents whose children have been removed because of concerns about abuse or neglect.
Child Safety Minister Desley Boyle said she had approved new funding to the centre of over $620,000 to deliver family intervention services in the South Burnett-Murgon area.
“I am told the Graham House Community Centre does really good work within the local community and this funding will help them to provide more help to families,” Ms Boyle said.
The Graham House Community Centre will receive $195,100 a year for three years and a one-off grant of $35,000 in 2006–07 to buy assets and to cover setup costs.
"Sometimes people have never had decent role models themselves and just need some help to develop parenting skills. They need to learn how to set a routine, have regular meals, set guidelines for their kids, and how to resolve conflicts without violence.
“Whatever the background, when children have been abused and taken into care, the message to parents has to be strong and direct. We will help you to sort out your problems, but if you don’t get your act together then an alternative, permanent home will be found for your children.
Graham House Community Centre family support coordinator Angela Harrison said the funding would enable them to provide intensive family support services to 35-45 families within the South Burnett area each year.
”The focus of our Building Futures Together program is to support parents to build and maintain positive relationships with their children, in and out of home care,” Ms Harrison said.
“We will provide in-home visits, supervised contact, - at a playgroup, park or out fishing for example - and in group work. It’s all about building a link between foster carers, parents and children. We want to develop those relationships for the best outcome for the children.
“We’re building relationships that children can have with their parents, with a view to reunifying more families.
“We’d like parents, foster carers and children to see Graham House as a friendly and safe place to come along to at any time to work on the little things that build a bond. It’s so important that children feel that mum and dad love them and are still part of their lives,” Ms Harrison said.
Ms Boyle said the Department of Child Safety valued its community partners, including the Graham House Community Centre.
“Protecting children is everyone’s business and is not something that one department can do alone,” Ms Boyle said.
“More than half the Department of Child Safety’s annual Budget goes to our partners,” she said.
In 2007-08, $287.7 million is allocated to Child Safety partners, including community agencies, foster carers, and other Government departments.
Ends
Media contact:
Minister Boyle: 3224 7477
Graham House Community Centre Association: 4168 2828 (Ruby) or 4168 3232 (Angela Harrison)
13 July 2007
Child Safety Minister Desley Boyle said she had approved new funding to the centre of over $620,000 to deliver family intervention services in the South Burnett-Murgon area.
“I am told the Graham House Community Centre does really good work within the local community and this funding will help them to provide more help to families,” Ms Boyle said.
The Graham House Community Centre will receive $195,100 a year for three years and a one-off grant of $35,000 in 2006–07 to buy assets and to cover setup costs.
"Sometimes people have never had decent role models themselves and just need some help to develop parenting skills. They need to learn how to set a routine, have regular meals, set guidelines for their kids, and how to resolve conflicts without violence.
“Whatever the background, when children have been abused and taken into care, the message to parents has to be strong and direct. We will help you to sort out your problems, but if you don’t get your act together then an alternative, permanent home will be found for your children.
Graham House Community Centre family support coordinator Angela Harrison said the funding would enable them to provide intensive family support services to 35-45 families within the South Burnett area each year.
”The focus of our Building Futures Together program is to support parents to build and maintain positive relationships with their children, in and out of home care,” Ms Harrison said.
“We will provide in-home visits, supervised contact, - at a playgroup, park or out fishing for example - and in group work. It’s all about building a link between foster carers, parents and children. We want to develop those relationships for the best outcome for the children.
“We’re building relationships that children can have with their parents, with a view to reunifying more families.
“We’d like parents, foster carers and children to see Graham House as a friendly and safe place to come along to at any time to work on the little things that build a bond. It’s so important that children feel that mum and dad love them and are still part of their lives,” Ms Harrison said.
Ms Boyle said the Department of Child Safety valued its community partners, including the Graham House Community Centre.
“Protecting children is everyone’s business and is not something that one department can do alone,” Ms Boyle said.
“More than half the Department of Child Safety’s annual Budget goes to our partners,” she said.
In 2007-08, $287.7 million is allocated to Child Safety partners, including community agencies, foster carers, and other Government departments.
Ends
Media contact:
Minister Boyle: 3224 7477
Graham House Community Centre Association: 4168 2828 (Ruby) or 4168 3232 (Angela Harrison)
13 July 2007