July 2004

Seminar centres on parenting skills

A seminar organised by the O’Connell Family Centre will enhance the knowledge and skills of health care professionals and others working with parents with a learning difficulty or intellectual disability.

The seminar targets Maternal Child Health Nurses, family support workers and others who provide support and education to parents with disabilities.

The seminar will address communication skills, teaching and learning strategies and appropriate ways of intervening.

The seminar will be held on Thursday, July 15, between 6.30 and 9.30 p.m. at Strathdon Community Centre, 17 Jolimont Road, Forest Hill.

The O’Connell Family Centre is a statewide service funded by the Department of Human Services.

As an early parenting centre, it provides a range of services for families experiencing difficulties in the early stages of parenting.

These difficulties may include babies who are difficult to settle or babies who need to develop age-appropriate behaviours.

The centre also offers support and counselling for parents who may be feeling stressed or overburdened and conducts education and training for health professionals who work with these families.

The O’Connell Family Centre is located at 6 Mont Albert Road, Canterbury.

• For further information contact the O’Connell Family Centre on 8416 7601 or email ofc_reception@mercy.com.au.