Young Parents

This web directory is an initiative of the Young Parents Project, coordinated by the Area Youth Coordinator and the Early Parenting Coordinator and conducted in collaboration with Non Government Organisations, Child and Family Health Services, Royal Hospital for Women, St George Hospital, Sutherland Hospital, Young Parents Committees and Young Parents.

This resource aims to support health and allied health professionals and community based services by facilitating greater accessibility to young people's pregnancy care and parenting services located within the South Eastern Sydney and Illawarra Area Health Service region.

Information, including services and links, has been provided on pregnancy health care, community support, welfare, social services and childbirth education services for pregnant and parenting young people. This information has been listed under the local hospital in the area it relates to.

To access pregnancy and parenting resources for young people in your local area, please click on the hospital closest to you.

Pregnancy and Parenting Services

• Royal Hospital for Women
• St George Hospital
• The Sutherland Hospital
• The Wollongong Hospital
• Shellharbour Hospital
• Shoalhaven District Memorial Hospital
• Milton Ulladulla Hospital

Other services

• Emergency Accommodation for young homeless people under age 24 years
• Financial Assistance for young people under age 24 years
• Supported Playgroups

Resources

• Breastfeeding leaflets - these leaflets contain tips and information on all aspects of breastfeeding including expressing and storing breastmilk, increasing breastmilk supply, mastitis and information care and use of nipple shields, dummies, bottles, teats, and preparation of artificial formula feeds. 
• Fathers Matter - a new resource for fathers covering all aspects of the fathering role. Sections on father-child bonding, depression in fathers and how mates can help when your partner is depressed, and many more. There is a section devoted to services for fathers. However as the resource was developed in Victoria (produced by the Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood Development in collaboration with the Parenting Resource Centre) the local resources are not applicable in NSW. The resource is being distributed through Victorian Parentline.
• MotherSafe - is a free service for the women of NSW, based at the Royal Hospital for Women, Randwick that provides a comprehensive counselling service for women and their healthcare providers concerned about exposures during pregnancy and lactation.
• Single Mothers: a resource for parenting solo - this is a colourful, youth friendly resource for single parents. It contains strategies and tips for managing parenting alone. The booklet contains stories from other single mothers. There is a list of support services both local and national in the back of the book. However as the resource was developed in Victoria (produced by the Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood Development in collaboration with the Parenting Resource Centre) the local resources are not applicable in NSW. The booklet is distributed through the Council Single Mothers and their Children, the Victorian branch of the National Council of Single Mothers and their Children (NCSMC).

Other Links

• Australian Breastfeeding Association - support and information for breastfeeding families
• Bursting the Bubble - information about healthy relationships
• Early Words - western Sydney Early Literacy Program for Families. This is a childrenfirst program funded by Families NSW, the website contains links to resources  which are designed to give parents understanding and practical advice to help their children on the road to literacy. Some resources, like the tip sheets, may be downloaded from this website and printed out for personal use. The resources are available in a number of languages in addition to English, including Aboriginal English, Arabic, Chinese, Dari, Hindi, Korean, Tamil, Turkish, Urdu and Vietnamese.
• Early Words Aboriginal Website - western Sydney Aboriginal Early Literacy Program for Families. This is a childrenfirst program funded by Families NSW, the website contains links to resources which are designed to give parents understanding and practical advice to help their children on the road to literacy. Some resources, like the tip sheets, may be downloaded from this website and printed out for personal use.
• Families NSW - resources for parents and links to other services
• Family Planning Association NSW - Family Planning Association NSW provides advice, assistance and treatment for all sexual and reproductive needs including contraceptive advice, IUD and contraceptive implants, pregnancy testing and advice, sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing and treatment and referral for termination of pregnancy.
• Greater Eastern and Southern NSW Child Health Network (GESCHN) - was established in 2001 by the NSW Department of Health in response to the Government Action Plan for Health. It is one of 3 State wide Child Health Networks in NSW, the others being the Western and Northern Child Health Networks (CHN), each of which have a tertiary Children's Hospital within their domain. The major Paediatric facility in the GESCHN is the Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick.
• Karitane - information and support for parents of babies and young children
• Live Smart - A new multilingual living skills website for young people. The website, based in Victoria, provides living skills information in 6 languages (Arabic, Amharic, Dinka, Swahili, Karen and English). The website features an interactive ‘make your own budget’ tool to assist young people to manage their finances and household budget. Please note local service and housing information will not be relevant to Sydney residents.
• MensLine Australia - The website for Mensline Australia provides information for men with family and relationship concerns. There are links provided for Vietnamese, Arabic and Indigenous men and well as youth friendly information for young men on relationships and becoming a first time dad. The site includes an an online young men's service directory.
• Net Adolescent Pregnancy Services Connect (NAPSConnect) - Western Sydney Area Health Service - links to young parents services in western Sydney
• Playgroup NSW Inc - information for parents and carers. The site includes a search option for location of playgroups by postcode
• Raising Children Network: the Australian Parenting Website - information, resources and useful links for parents
• Royal Women's Hospital (Melbourne) - a-z women's health fact sheets available in many languages
• Strengthening Families Resourcing Parents - find a parenting group or program near you
• Tresillian Family Care Centres - information and support for parents of babies and young children
• WEEO WISER - This website is designed by young women and WEEO WISER workers for young women. WEEO WISER equips young women with knowledge, skills and attitudes to reject violent, abusive relationships and to expect healthy, safe, equal relationships
• Young Love - mentor support program for pregnant teenagers.

Young Parents Project Report Stage Two 2008-2009

The Young Parents Project – Stage Two 2008-2009 (YPP) working in collaboration with relevant non governement organisations (NGOs), aimed to improve service delivery to young people who were pregnant and/or parenting.

Young Parents, An Insight: a DVD for Health Professionals

This short film, Young Parents, An Insight: a DVD for Health Professionals, was produced as part of the Young Parents Project of South Eastern Sydney Illawarra Health. The film, which runs for 15 mins, aims to improve service delivery to young people who are pregnant or parenting by increasing health professionals understanding of young parents' experience of the healthcare system. The young parents involved in this film all had their first baby before age 20 years. This film documents their experiences of relating to health professionals as young parents.

Feedback and comments are welcome and can be directed to:

Kim Brickwood

Area Early Parenting Project Officer

Tel: 02 9382 8422

Email: Kim.brickwood@sesiahs.health.nsw.gov.au
 

 

Amanda Webster
Area Youth Health Coordinator Monday, Thursday and Friday

Tel: 02 9382 3448

Email: Amanda.webster@sesiahs.health.nsw.gov.au

 

Jessica Dawber

Area Youth Health Coordinator Tuesday and Friday

Tel: 02 9382 8297

Email: Jessica.dawber@sesiahs.health.nsw.gov.au

http://www.sesiahs.health.nsw.gov.au/Services/Youth_Health.asp

Disclaimer: The links above are to agencies and other organisations that contain useful information. These links do not imply any endorsement, support or commercial gain by South Eastern Sydney and Illawarra Area Health Service or NSW Health Services or the State of New South Wales. See our Disclaimer for more information.