Supporting families: Tracking interactions between families and professionals in Sydney, Australia

Abstract

This paper reports an exploratory study which attempts to identify processes and interactions leading to family change. By interweaving narratives of two workers and two parents from Barnardos’ Children’s Family Centres the paper highlights ‘sensitive outcomes’ and steps-onthe-way to change. Pervasive life stresses inherent in the deprivations of poverty including inadequate housing and financial resources, sole parenthood, absence of social supports and the experience of domestic violence reduces parents’ coping skills. The supportive and accessible environment of the Family Centres worked effectively to contain the families in crisis. Key messages from this study are the need for services to recognise the multiple and overlapping nature of stressors and disadvantage experienced by parents so that support can afford containment and tackle stressors at the child, family and community levels simultaneously. That service users can provide insightful input on their needs, their experience of service interactions and service effectiveness, and contribute usefully to service planning is acknowledged.