Innovative free parenting course extended to NW and Mid-West regions

23/2/96

Parents in the North-West and Mid-West are being offered the chance to join a program to help develop better relationships with their children.

Family and Children's Services Minister Cheryl Edwardes today announced the extension of an innovative free course for parents in rural and remote country areas which challenges children aged between two and six years.

The program was launched in September last year for residents of the South-West.

Mrs Edwardes said the course was specially designed to help isolated parents who did not always have ready access to services.

It aimed to help mothers and fathers improve their parenting skills, learn effective strategies to manage children's behaviour and build better family relationships.

The program was co-ordinated from Perth through McCall Community Support Units, one of the department's support service for families, by department clinical psychologist Jackie Smith.

Ms Smith said parents would receive, free of charge, a manual and work book which included exercises, information and advice to improve parenting skills. Parents would work at their own pace in their own home with help and support from the experts at McCall. Regular telephone counselling would be available at some stage of the program for all families.

Ms Smith said parents of difficult-to-manage pre-school age children who were demanding, defiant, aggressive or generally disruptive were particularly likely to benefit.

"Research studies have shown repeatedly that it is important that parents establish an influence over their children's behaviour during their early years to prepare their children for school," she said.

"Children who show signs of aggression, whining, demanding behaviour or disobedience risk developing more anti-social behaviour later on in childhood. This is especially the case when there is conflict between parents or where there are excessive stresses on the family."

The program is based on the successful Triple P program developed by Professor Matt Sanders of Queensland University's Behaviour Research and Therapy Centre and recently started in Perth.

Queensland parents in rural areas who have completed the course reported fewer child behaviour problems, improved skills and confidence in parenting and less stress, depression and anxiety. To participate call your local Family and Children's Services office or McCall on (09) 384 5566.

Geraldton (099)210 768 East Kimberley (091) 680 233 West Kimberley (091) 911 577 East Pilbara (091) 732 505 West Pilbara (091) 850 155

Media contact: Diana Russell Coote 4217777