Welfare

Colleen Allen, Aboriginal Early Intervention worker, Forbes, with Margaret Mary Mary Ward wanted her women to be ready to meet whatever needs appeared as critical in a particular time and country.

Conscious of this, a number of IBVM sisters have moved into aspects of social welfare. Through family counselling and organisational support, they work in rural and urban areas, collaborating with Catholic and other bodies in the provision of professional assistance to people in need. A number also do this in informal ways, through participation in AIDS councils, and similar support networks.

An example of this work is the Strong Young Mums Program at Centacare Wilcannia Forbes. The program was recently awarded the Catholic Social Services Australia Norma Parker Award for Most Innovative Program.

Loreto Sister and Centacare Director, Sr Margaret Flynn, along with her team, established the program at the end of 2005 in response to the large number of teenage mothers in the Bourke community who had dropped out of school once they learnt they were pregnant.

As Director, Margaret was involved in identifying the need for the program in response to the social issues in Bourke. Along with her enthusiastic and committed team, she developed a model for the program and commenced the long process of seeking funding to commence the program. The Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs were convinced it was a model worth supporting and provided funding until June 2008.

After 18 months, the program has:

· 19 young mothers consistently attending TAFE two days per week – on their way to gaining accreditation; thinking of further training and enjoying the support network of other mothers

· Indigenous children attending the Childcare centre for the first time ever – with increased developmental opportunities – social skills development, and other important stimulus

· a group of approx. 40 young mothers who attend playgroup – where they have input on health, parenting, nutrition and issues such as domestic violence and financial management

· young mothers with increased self-esteem and confidence and who are clearer on the life they want for themselves and their children

· strong partnerships with TAFE, Childcare, Maternal Health nurse, DoCS and other agencies.

Through the Strong Young Mums program, young mothers:

· are appreciating education and learning

· have become stronger and clearer about the quality of life they want for themselves and their children

· have improved parenting skills and knowledge of children’s developmental needs

· are better informed of services and more confident in approaching them

· are taking action to end violence in their relationships

· are developing a sense of future and its opportunities.

Margaret says, "We believe the Strong Young Mums Program has the potential to create systemic change and to break the generational cycle of poor health, poor educational achievement and family violence in Indigenous communities and our hope is to extend this program to a number of other communities within western NSW".

The Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs who fund the program recently forwarded this program to the Minister as one of their ‘exemplary’ programs. The Department has now funded the establishment of another Strong Young Mums program in Lake Cargelligo, however the funding for the current Bourke program ends in June 2008. Margaret expresses her concern at the possibility that such as effective program could disappear and is currently in the process of seeking funding from other sources.

The Strong Young Mums Family Workers have been asked to present their program at a number of conferences including the Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care (SNAICC) conference to be held in Adelaide this month.

For further information please contact Margaret Flynn, Director, P: 02 6851 6936, mflynn@centacarewf.org.au