Rural And Remote Communities
Since 2009, Parentline has worked with rural and remote communities to identify needs specific to these areas, and to promote our counselling service as a supportive resource for parents and carers.
In the first year targeted areas will include:
- Far North Queensland
- North/North West Queensland
- Darling Downs and South West Queensland
- Wide Bay Burnett
- Mackay Fitzroy and Central West Region
With the support of schools and local community agencies, Parentline is connecting with communities, both face-to-face and via our telephone counselling service.
Parents and agencies living and working in these areas have told us that due to their distance from capital cities, access to parenting support is often not available. Developing an ongoing relationship with an experienced Parentline counsellor will assist parents to avoid reaching a crisis point, which can occur when there is no one else to turn to.
Local services also tell us that due to their remote location, families often face extreme isolation resulting from limited contact with extended family and other social networks. Parents often have no one to ask the simple questions that come up in the day to day management of our families. Questions such as: “How long before my baby sleeps through the night?” or “How old should my child be before they are toilet trained?”. Community services say having Parentline available to help families work through these every day questions, is invaluable.
