Australia

National Director for Schemes

Marilyn Barnes
Tel: +61 (0)2 4952 9488
Fax: +61 (0)2 4952 9922
Email: marilyn@home-startnat-aust.org
http://web.archive.org/web/20060507133917/
http://www.home-startnat-aust.org

Origins

Home-Start National (Australia) Inc. is an independent organisation that establishes new Home-Start schemes and supports all Home-Start schemes throughout Australia by offering training, information and guidance on the Home-Start model.

Home-Start began in Australia in 1989 in Newcastle, since then the development of Home-Start has expanded and in 2007 there are 26 Home-Start programmes operating in New South Wales and Victoria in the following regions:- Southern Sydney, Mid North Coast NSW, Western Area NSW, Newcastle, Riverina, Central West NSW and Melbourne.

About the schemes

In Australia Home-Start schemes are either auspiced by a community agency/organization or they are managed by a community management committee with representatives from the community, Home-Start volunteers and professionals working in early childhood fields. Home-Start National also auspices Home-Start schemes as well as providing Home-Start policies and procedures, training for co-ordinators and on going support to all Home-Start schemes in Australia to ensure the Home-Start ethos and approach is maintained.

Many of these schemes are in rural areas where the tyranny of distance and confidentiality are major issues for the programs. In urban regions such as Sydney and Melbourne ethnic population mix is high and in Newcastle there are a number of families who are new to the area and do not have a social support network. It is important each individual Home-Start program reflects their community's needs and responds to the diversity and uniqueness of their local areas.

Working co-operatively with Aboriginal communities has been a beneficial experience for schemes on the mid north coast of NSW. Forming partnerships with community agencies and working collaboratively to best meet families needs has proved to be very successful in all areas Home-Start is operating.

Home-Start National (Australia) Inc. liaises with Home-Start International and is a member of the Home-Start International Advisory Group.

Funding

The Families NSW Strategy has funded many of the Home-Start programs in NSW. Home-Start in Australia welcomes this avenue of funding as a preventative initiative to support parents in the early years of child rearing.

Home-Start National (Australia) Inc. has also received recent funding from the Commonwealth’s Crime Prevention Community Grants program to support incarcerated Dads and their families. Another project currently being developed by Home-Start National (Australia) Inc. is the Healthy Kids Manual – this project is being funded through a foundation based in Newcastle.

In 2000 the Home-Start model in Australia was highly commended in the inaugural NATIONAL CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION AWARDS by the NATIONAL CHILD PROTECTION COUNCIL. Home-Start has also received a merit award from the NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF CRIMINOLOGY for the PREVENTION OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN.

Future Activities

This is an exciting time in the development of Home-Start in Australia as there is enormous potential for further expansion and for Home-Start to reach out to many more families in need of support. For further enquiries about Home-Start in Australia please contact:

Marilyn Barnes
Director
Home-Start National (Australia) Inc.
P.O. Box 29
BROADMEADOW NSW 2292
AUSTRALIA

Phone: 02 49 529488
Fax: 02 49 529922
Email: marilyn@home-startnat-aust.org

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