The Centre Against Domestic Abuse – Moreton Bay Region provides front-line support for those experiencing domestic and family violence when they need it most. A Community Bank Samford grant is extending the work of this incredible organisation to run innovative ‘Healing Relationships Through Positive Parenting’ group sessions.
Coordinator and Counsellor for the Children Young People and Families program, Sonja, said through this as well as the ‘Bringing Up Great Kids After Family Violence’ (BUGK) and ‘Bringing Up Great Adolescents After Family Violence’ (BUGA) programs, mothers and safe female caregivers connect with a supportive peer group, reducing the isolation and stigma that so often accompany their experiences.
“The ‘Healing Relationships Through Positive Parenting’ group sessions are vital because there’s a growing demand for programs that support mothers and safe female caregivers as they respond to their children’s needs after experiences of family violence,” she said.
“These sessions provide practical tools to help children make sense of what they’ve been through, rebuild trust that may have been damaged, and address the secrecy that often surrounds family violence.”
“Importantly, they also focus on bringing playfulness and fun back into relationships that have been deeply affected by trauma.”
Community Bank Samford provided the financial resources needed for the Centre to dedicate extra hours to carefully plan and run its first online parenting group.
“Without the support of the Community Bank Samford grant, our team would not have had the capacity to deliver both our face-to-face and online BUGK and BUGA parenting groups,” Sonja said.
“In addition, it enabled us to expand our ‘Bringing Up Great Kids After Family Violence’ program into the new ‘Bringing Up Great Adolescents After Family Violence’ group; the first of its kind in the Moreton Bay region. This funding truly made it possible for us to innovate, adapt, and reach more families in ways we hadn’t been able to before.”
Feedback at the conclusion of each 7 – 8 week group, revealed overwhelmingly positive responses including:
“This program made me feel heard, seen, and supported.”
“This program has helped me grow, learn, and better understand both my own feelings and those of my children.”
“My experience has been amazing. The facilitators helped me feel comfortable, even though I was really nervous.”
“Hearing the stories of other women and families has helped me feel not so alone in all of this.”
Sonja noted that many women shared that they wished the program could have continued beyond the scheduled weeks.
“Participants especially valued the new skills and tools they had gained, and many spoke about feeling a stronger connection with their children and a renewed sense of hope for the future.”
“I’d just like to once again express our sincere gratitude to the Community Bank Samford. Their support has made it possible for women and their children and young people not only to survive but to truly thrive.”
