COMMUNITY   WELLBEING   PROGRAM
AFSS is committed to providing a continuum of care to Aboriginal families.  Historically, AFSS has provided services to children, young people and families who are experiencing significant difficulty and require intensive intervention.  In addition to this, AFSS has maintained a small but vitally important community support and development role through emergency financial assistance and referral and advocacy.
What has been missing is dedicated, targeted services to families who need support, information and assistance before a real crisis occurs.  Research consistently shows that Aboriginal children still enter alternative care largely due to neglect.  The neglect is the outcome of higher rates of poverty and previous separation from family and culture.  It is our contention that programs targeting these areas will impact on the rates of child protection notification and placement.
The Community Wellbeing Program will provide services that:

  • Build capacity in families to care for their children
  • Break the cycle of abuse and neglect

The Program is currently delivered at AFSS property located at 503 Cross Roads, South Plympton.

Community Well Being Programs include
Bright Future is an eight week parenting program that is available to any adult who is in the parenting role of an Aboriginal child.  This may/can include mums, dads, grandparents, aunts, uncles or other guardians. 
The Community Wellbeing Program is structured to work with families who are still operating relatively well – it is not appropriate for families who are the subject of Families SA intervention for serious child protection notifications.  Families who have already had their children removed may be suitable for AFSS Family Reunification program if reunification is the goal.  Families who are the subject of low level Families SA intervention, where the notification is not of a serious nature and the family is still intact, would be suitable for the Community Wellbeing parenting course.
Bright Future has been developed to address the areas most in demand.  Consultation with past AFSS Family Preservation clients and extensive consultation with Aboriginal Elders and other community members has identified some common key elements that include cultural child rearing practices, impact of past government policy, discipline, child protection, abuse and neglect.
The sessions are largely activity based and practical; they are designed to build on the knowledge and skills the participants already possess.  A strong emphasis on fun will underpin the course.

Child/Adult Play
These sessions are designed to facilitate parent/carer and child/ren interaction in a fun manner. The sessions are designed to build on the knowledge the participants already have with a strong emphasis on fun. The participants will be encouraged to set up play, for and with their children at home, using basic household items available in most homes.
The parents will be given (on a weekly basis) a resource booklet that will outline the day’s program and activities and the children will be given a resource kit that will contain craft items from the day’s activities that they can do at home.  By the end of the 7 week program the family will have the necessary resources to continue the activities at home with other family and/or extended family members.

Homemaker Program
This program is designed to offer support and direction to Aboriginal families in their homes. The program will assist families by teaching and developing effective ways to maintain good home management skills and safety within the home. It enables Aboriginal families to improve on daily responsibilities and promote a safe and healthy lifestyle.

Bonding Moments
This program is designed for new parents and parents with babies 0-3 years old.  The sessions are designed to establish a bond between the parent/s and the baby/child. Bonding Moments is currently being developed by Sasha Nichols, one of CWB’s Family Workers.

Community Assistance Program
The program assists Aboriginal community members experiencing difficulty to access emergency food assistance. The program also provides advocacy and referrals for housing, funeral and travel assistance

Resource and information service
The Cross Road facility will become a hub of information and activity – it will gather together useful resources for the community.  Any community member will be able to access this part of the Community Wellbeing Program.

For more information regarding the Community Well Being program, please contact

Coordinator, Community Well Being
Aboriginal Family Support Services
503 Cross Roads, South Plympton  SA  5038
Telephone 08 83512661 or Fax 08 83512989
Email: afss@afss.com.au