Family support services to be offered in Armadale, Cannington

CENTRECARE Inc and the Wungening Aboriginal Corporation have partnered to provide important services to vulnerable families in the Armadale and Cannington areas.

The Family Care Support Service offered through the partnership is part of the State Government’s Earlier Intervention and Family Support Strategy (EIFSS) and aims to keep families out of the child protection and out-of-home care systems.

As part of the contract, Centrecare and Wungening have become the Family Support Network Lead Agency for Cannington and Armadale and will offer intensive family support services in the two areas.

Community Services minister Simone McGurk said the services would look to reduce the number of children entering foster care by helping family carers provide a stable environment for them.

“Family carers currently make up more than 40 per cent of care arrangements for children in the child protection system, yet there have previously been limited services available to them,” she said.

“Intensive in-home family support services will be available to families who are most at risk of child protection intervention, along with those who require support to improve family wellbeing and keep their children safely at home.

“Providing out-of-home care services that help children and young people to heal from the trauma they have suffered, while remaining connected to their family, community and culture, is integral to achieving better outcomes for children in out-of-home care.”

Centrecare Community Services general manager Catherine Spini said the services would be managed from a hub at Centrecare’s Gosnells branch.

“The hub will provide a suite of services targeting the individual needs of each family,” she said.

“The Family Support Network will work closely with partner agencies to coordinate access to appropriate local services to meet their needs and intensive case management will be provided to vulnerable families with higher support needs.

“The hub will also provide intensive in-home support to families who are most at risk of child protection intervention or families who require support to reunify children back to their care.”