Family Practitioner Program

Family practitioners respond to the needs of high-risk families and support Children’s Centres in their responses to child protection concerns.

Family practitioners work alongside vulnerable families and children and support parents to better understand and respond to their child’s needs.

Family practitioners work with parents, centre staff and other organisations to help families find relevant services to maintain safe, caring and resilient relationships.

Goals of family practitioners

Family practitioners aim to:

• Ensure that families understand why they are engaged with the Family Practitioner Program and that the child protection risks have been explicitly discussed
• Ensure that families engaged with the Family Practitioner Program develop sustained links with Children’s Centres and community supports
• Improve the safety and wellbeing of children engaged with the Family Practitioner Program
• Ensure children are connected to culture and cultural identity
• Help parents understand how important relationships are for children
• Support parents/caregivers to develop safe, trusting and meaningful relationships with their children
• Support parents to improve their early childhood development skills and knowledge
• Encourage families to get involved in their community
• Connect families with learning, health and support services.

How family practitioners can help

Family practitioners can provide case management services to high-risk children and families and undertake therapeutic interventions and liaise between external agencies and Children’s Centres to support the needs of the child and their family.

Family Practitioners work with families to address:

• Domestic violence
• Housing
• Drug and alcohol problems
• Mental health
• Follow up and advocacy
• Other identified concerns that may be affecting children's safety and wellbeing.

Related information

• Find a children's centre
• Services offered at children's centres
• Playgroups and playcentres
• Parent easy guides (PEGs) – Parenting SA
• Child and Youth Health
• MyChild.gov.au