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Parenting centre expanded

The Victorian Parenting Centre has expanded to new premises in Carlton South.

The Victorian Parenting Centre was initiated by the State Government to provide extra training for 1000 family-support, child-care and pre-school workers.

Over a period of 18 months the centre has grown from a budget of $400,000 a year for a director, a research officer, an education officer and running costs, to employing 21 staff on an annual budget of more than $1 million.

The Minister for Youth and Community Services, Dr Denis Napthine, announced a membership and support program for the Centre to encourage sponsorship and promote partnership between the centre and private companies, businesses, service providers and interested people.

Along with the Victorian Parenting Centre, the Government’s parenting strategy includes nine regional Parenting Resource Services, the Positive Parenting Program with the Family Intervention Services, and Parentline, a 24-hour telephone service to enhance parents’ skills and knowledge.

The Minister said the Government cannot ignore links between certain parenting styles and emotional and behavioral disorders in children.

"It is essential that we learn more about the effects of different parenting styles on the development of children, and that we make available services to assist parents before a problem becomes entrenched," he said.

(News Release, Office of the Minister for Youth and Community Services, June 2, 1999)