Thursday, 19 July, 2018

The Andrews Labor Government is giving parents in the Latrobe Valley a friendly helping hand by hosting a series of free parenting seminars.

Minister for Early Childhood Education Jenny Mikakos today encouraged parents to attend the free workshops run through the evidence-based Triple P – Positive Parenting Program.

International parenting expert and Triple P founder Professor Matt Sanders will present three seminars in Sale, Morwell and Warragul on July 24 and 25.

They will include easy-to-follow skills and strategies on building children’s resilience, helping develop their social and emotional skills and providing parents with strategies to promote positive behaviour.

Further workshops will run throughout Latrobe City, Baw Baw Shire and Wellington Shire in July and August.

The Labor Government is funding the program through the $9.9 million Supporting Families of the Latrobe Valley investment package.

This includes providing families with access to Supported Playgroups, which helps them build their parenting skills while meeting other parents.

Supported playgroups are run by trained facilitators who are able to provide advice and information to parents.

Local Maternal and Child Health nurses will also receive training from Monash University to implement the What Were We Thinking Program.

This provides first-time parents with tips and strategies to help their babies sleep and settle in those challenging first few months.

Work is underway through the Labor Government’s landmark $202.1 million Education State Early Childhood Reform Plan to ensure kids are ready for kinder, ready for school and ready for life.

The Victorian Budget 2018/19 invested a further $135.9 million toward realising our early childhood vision.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Early Childhood Education Jenny Mikakos

“There’s no doubt raising a family can be challenging – that’s why we’re providing parents access to evidence based advice and support while their children are in those vital early years.”

“This is about providing parents with crucial information and support to ensure they’re getting the help they need to give their children a great start to life.”

“All parents can benefit from learning new ways to respond positively to parenting challenges and support their children’s development.”