The work undertaken through family Services include providing referrals and support for parents that require parenting skill development, suffer from domestic violence, as well as children who require early detection and diagnosis of development delays. We also undertake innovative community development projects that assist change the way we work with and for the community.  Some such initiatives are the Paint Auburn Read Project and the Building Inclusive Communities Pilot Project. The core aim of the project is to:

• Help parents to build their skills and confidence in their parenting
• Support parents so they can respond to problems early
• Build communities that support families
• Improve the way agencies work together to provide satisfactory services to families

The main aim of the project is to hold activities that bring members of the various communities in Auburn LGA together to develop networks between community members and groups. The aim is to increase the respect, trust and connection in the wider Auburn community.

At the same time, the activities will aim to increase the use and knowledge of existing social and physical infrastructure in the community.

Berala Playgroup was established in partnership with Berala Public School. The program runs at Berala Public School and includes Transition to School, Sing and Grow and information sessions such as Sleep Settle, Toddler Behaviour and Vitamin D Deficiency.

The Sudanese / Multicultural Playgroup is an outreach playgroup facilitated in partnership with St Anthony’s Family Day Care. It was originally established to support Sudanese families in particular, due to the high rate of children who accessed school without having engaged in early literacy activities. The playgroup has developed into a multicultural playgroup and is accessible to the target community.  It aims to increase literacy and social skills of children so they can become school ready.

The refugee women’s housing project targets women who come from refugee background and facing urgent housing needs or at risk of homelessness.

Services include,

• Assisting clients to access crisis or short term accommodation
• Assisting clients to apply for social housing  assistance and private rental properties
• Providing relevant information related to housing issues
• Providing support, referral, assistance and advocacy to clients who are experiencing tenancy issues

Karen Burmese Women‘s group connects newly arrived Karen Burmese communities to support services. The group strives to reduce isolation and improve access to services via home visits and case work referrals. The group builds skills and knowledge related to early intervention and parenting through information and training sessions. Sessions include FICT, New Healthy Women’s program, Family Planning, Triple P, Community Gardening etc.

We provide support to the Karen Burmese community so that they can re-establish themselves in Australia and meet the needs of their children. The group also provides an opportunity for isolated community members to link with others. Excursions provide opportunities to introduce the community to see places they have never seen in Australia.

The Tamil Women‘s Support group links newly arrived Tamil Community members to support services with the aim of reducing isolation. We improve their access to services, through assessment/referrals, home visits, and information sessions. We help parents build parenting skills and knowledge so that they can have necessary skills to support their children.  Through the group we

• Build community capacity via Skill building activities
• Enhance knowledge through information sessions on health wellbeing and parenting
• Increase access to services via assessment and referrals
• Create a sense of belonging through cultural Celebrations