Program objectives and intervention approaches
EIP and GBP projects are aimed at child abuse prevention, improved parenting and strengthening families, with a key focus being meeting the special needs of families in rural and remote areas; Indigenous families; and families from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds (CALD). The projects use a range of intervention models including: parenting education; home visits by professionals and volunteers; supported playgroups; outreach services; family support services; and community development.
The program is funded as an early intervention parenting support program. Although many projects focus on assisting parents who have young children, projects are not restricted to focusing on parents of children in the early childhood years. Rather projects are able to assist parents with children of all ages by intervening early in key transition points in children’s and young peoples lives. Early intervention can be viewed as part of a continuum of intervention approaches that seek to assist children and parents through:
- preventing adverse outcomes by ensuring children and families have access to information and resources they need to develop to their full potential;
- intervening early when risk is identified to maximise potential and prevent further harm
- providing crisis intervention services when children and families need help to address immediate harm; and
- transitional support to help stabilise children and families once an immediate crisis is attended to .
The objective of the program is to “provide funding for projects that support and strengthen parenting roles and contribute to the development and well-being of children. It is anticipated that these initiatives will assist in building stronger families with enhanced parenting practices”.1 A total of 41 projects were funded under the program, although this has reduced to 39 projects in this financial year. Four of the projects funded under CAP are Good Beginnings Prototypes. Good Beginnings Prototypes are linked to the National Good Beginnings Australia network that directly or indirectly assists organisations to operate Good Beginnings programs, and are jointly funded by State/Territory or local government.
- From Guidelines for Tenders for Prevention and Early Intervention Parenting Projects, Department of Family and Community Services.