[Sub ID 4817] Peer-to-peer family support for young parents (The Australian Centre for Social Innovation)

Submission ID: 4817
Organisation name: The Australian Centre for Social Innovation
Contact name: Ms Vita Maiorano
State: SA
Contact email: vita@familybyfamily.org.au

Which priority group of the Try, Test and Learn Fund does your idea support?
Young parents

What need or issue are you trying to address?
Family by Family (FbyF) is a unique peer-to-peer family support service that enables families that have been through tough times and have come out the other side (Sharing Families) to support families that are going through tough times and seeking changes in their lives (Seeking Families). Further information about the program can be found at:
• FybF journey: (not available)
• FbyF handbook for professionals: http://familybyfamily.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/FbyF_for_Professionals_sv001.pdf

Whilst the program was established to reduce the number of children, specifically of Seeking Families, cycling through the child protection system, evaluation and administrative data indicate that the program has positive outcomes for Sharing Families, with families specifically indicating they have:
• Increased self-confidence and self-worth
• A greater sense of working and contributing to and giving back to their community
• Developed a new sense of career direction
• In many cases, going onto study and find employment.

Administrative data indicates that over 40% of Sharing Family parents go onto study, with 60% going onto paid employment whilst in the program.

What is your idea?
The development of career pathways, increased education and employment have been positive unexpected outcomes of the program to date. The idea is to create an intentional adaption and re-design process to the program to specifically create a targeted cohort of young parents with the aim of amplifying these outcomes in a full and co-designed service model.