Director of Nursing Sue Couper and Robyn Gillis. Picture: Luke Plummer
By Melissa Meehan
NOBLE Park’s Queen Elizabeth Centre will soon receive $100,000 from the Federal Government to rebuild relationships with separated families.
The money will be used to run a course to assist local parents who have been separated from their children, due to mental illness, drug use or abuse, to rebuild relationships in a group setting with parents who have experienced similar circumstances.
Director of Nursing Sue Couper said the eight-week program was already running in the Noble Park and Gippsland areas but the funding would allow them to focus on children three years old and under.
“We have already received positive feedback from families who have really been struggling to build strong bonds,” she said.
“But this program creates the context of play, pre-verbal, and how to respond.”
She said that activities like reading, playing music and playing in a group setting were a positive experience, especially with other parents. Isaacs MP Mark Dreyfus said he hoped the program would help parents and children and also reduce the need for out-of-home care in the community.
