Raising a family can be filled with challenging but rewarding moments. For Jess* and George*, and their large family, MacKillop’s Early Help Family Service has supported them to navigate the challenges a little easier.
With six children under the age of 12, life can be hectic at the best of times.
Of those six, three are on the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and one has an intellectual disability.
Struggling to respond to the special needs of their children, Jess and George were referred to Early Help to receive assistance with their NDIS applications. The referral came from their children’s school as there were concerns around behavioural issues and a lack of access to help.
Though these issues were addressed in their first meeting with our team, the Early Help team quickly realised there were additional difficulties the couple were struggling with.
Our team, thanks to their commitment and experience, they were able to address many of the issues Jess and George had.
Jess and George received parenting tips and started spending one on one time with their children to respond to and reduce challenging behaviour.
The Early Help team were also able to help with administrative tasks like putting their children on the Royal Children’s Hospital paediatrician waiting list, navigating the Centrelink app, and much needed assistance with practice tests for Jess’ citizenship test.
MacKillop was also able to assist them in their home.
Due to their washing machine being broken, Jess was washing the family’s clothes by hand. This long and demanding job left her physically exhausted, and she was experiencing back pain.
By finding a replacement, the Early Help Service was able to free up Jess’ time so she could spend it with her children.
Jess and George also needed another car seat for one of their children, as they were doing multiple school and childcare trips.
By helping to find this, the Early Help team, along with the other steps taken, has made the everyday lives of Jess, George and their children, a smoother experience.
Our role is to connect families with the appropriate community resources. In Jess and George’s case, we helped them navigate systems including healthcare, education, employment services and housing assistance. Having been empowered to overcome their challenges, the couple and their children have made sustainable and positive changes for the future.
Our Early Help Family Service supports families' access to specialist services and participation in education, training, and other activities to support wellbeing. They assist them to be more connected to and engaged in their culture and communities.
If you’d like to know more about our Early Help Family Service, click the button below.
*Names changed and stock image used to protect privacy
