Boroondara Family Network
Boroondara Family Network
 
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the boroondara family network

     

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Rotary International

Rotary Club of Glenferrie

District 9800

City of Boroondara

Families & Children

 

Young families today are increasingly stressed, often with greater demands and less support. Difficulties in child-rearing and social isolation can in some cases exacerbate the problem. The Boroondara Family Network (BFN) works towards enhancing the potential of children in such families within the Boroondara Municipality, comprising Camberwell, Hawthorn and Kew.  It helps these parents (and other family members) cope by providing much needed emotional support following the arrival of the new baby. 

The BFN has been operating for the past seven years and is centrally located in the City of Boroondara. The office is administered by an experienced and caring Co-ordinator of Volunteers who assists with the allocation of suitable volunteers to the families in need of help. All suitable volunteers undertake thorough training which enables them to tackle the problems associated with those families who don't have a social or family network and who may suffer some stress with newborn babies and very young children. Each of these volunteers makes regular home visits to their allocated families. In all cases the volunteers are mothers (and grandmothers) who have reared families and enjoyed parenting.

Families are referred to the BFN through organisations such as the Maternal and Child Health Services in the local Boroondara community and have a good working relationship with Camcare.

Volunteers provide friendship and support with parenting, giving commonsense advice on everyday issues and helping with the problems which can arise when a new baby arrives in the family. They provide encouragement and information on how to access local child care, education, health and social services.

The co-ordinator of volunteers reports to a Management Committee established under Rotary guidelines and maintains a close working relationship with the Committee.  This committee is comprised of Rotarians from clubs within the Boroondara community and representatives of other community groups.  It is responsible for the efficient administration of the service and works to provide avenues of funding to maintain the Boroondara Family Network.

Studies show that children growing up in families where the parent (or parents) are under some form of stress, often social and environmental, are more likely to suffer from illness, accidents and injuries, more likely to require hospitalisation, and to develop learning disabilities. Later in life they can be prone to vandalism, drug and alcohol problems, suicide and criminal behaviour.  The volunteers from the BFN are there to be a sounding board and can talk through sometimes simple but important problems.

Evaluation of similar services already operating in New South Wales and USA has shown that support given will:

  • Help families to replace damaging behaviour.
  • Assist parents to manage conditions impeding effective parenting.
  • Bring order to households rendered chaotic by successive and compounding crises.
  • Guide families to use community services with discretion and purpose.

The Boroondara Family Network Management Committee welcomes inquiries regarding its service:

  • From people in the area who may wish to register their interest in becoming a support volunteer.
  • From people or organisations who can assist with funding.
  • To find out more contact Boroondara Family Network
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