About

The aim of this project was to enhance social competence and emotional maturity among parents by providing valuable resources and opportunities for connection. Through collaborating with local educational institutions, the project delivered a series of family fun days, and parent workshops. Workshop events were held across various locations in the region and over several months.

Background

This project responds to the Australian Early Development Census (AEDC) data that showed 27.5% of the children in Kapunda are developmentally vulnerable in two or more domains. The project focused on a number of activities to connect families with the council and other services.

Outcomes

This project was able to directly support 78 children aged 5 or under, from disadvantaged backgrounds in the Light Regional Council area.

The project was successfully able to deliver 12 free family events and parent/carer workshops. First aid workshops were provided as a couple of these sessions for parents/carers and were well received by the community. Children were able to learn about growing foods, recycling and creative arts and crafts.

The program was impacted by staff changes during the project period, that resulted in the steering committee not being sustained. The council will continue to seek options to collaborate on learning, social connection, and health and wellbeing initiatives and parenting skills workshops with local educators and family service providers.

The council observed this project help the local community to:

• reconnect with free public venues (library, pool, parks & reserves)
• an increase in new library memberships
• through the purchase of $2 bags of book parents & grandparents took the time to read stories or listen to their children read
• By including not for profit service providers (Uniting & Lutheran Care) at events it allowed discussions to take place about support services available for local families

Through this project the council has gained a greater awareness of the different levels of disadvantage and restrictions faced by some in the area. They also identified that with the cost of living pressures, free events and resources were well received by their community.

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