What is Family Preservation?
Parenting is not easy. Sometimes extra help is all that’s needed to prevent family problems from getting bigger.
Brighter Futures is a voluntary program for families with one or more children under the age of nine, or families who are expecting a child, and who find specific issues make parenting difficult.
The program supports families through tough circumstances like domestic violence, mental health issues, significant learning or intellectual disabilities, drug and alcohol problems, and other challenges that may make parenting difficult. We can take some of the weight off your shoulders – and support you to give your children the best possible start in life.

How can Family Preservation help me?
If you decide you would like to participate in the Brighter Futures program, you will have a Brighter Futures caseworker who will provide home visits on a regular basis. They will be able to work with you and your family for up to 18 months. Together you will identify what your family is finding tough and what is working well.

Brighter Futures can provide support for you including:

• Case Management that helps you plan the best support for your family. Together we look at what’s working, what’s not, and what can be changed.
• Structured Home Visits that provide practical support and skills for you in your home.
• Parenting Programs that help you improve your relationship with your children and manage children’s behavioural and emotional problems.
• SafeCare® an evidence based structured in-home parenting program for parents with children aged 0-5. It covers health, home safety, parental child/infant interaction and runs for 18 weeks.
• Referrals to Services.

What can I expect?

• Visits – Initially we will meet at your home once a week. At your planned home visits, you can expect your caseworker to provide information, practical support and advice. Your visits will be planned at a time that suits you.
• Time – Over the 18 months you are with the program, your home visits may reduce to fortnightly or monthly to adjust to your family’s needs.
• Contact – Between visits from your caseworker you are expected to maintain phone contact. If you are uncontactable, your caseworker will need to make an unplanned home visit to make sure you and your children are ok and to confirm you want to continue with the program.
• Child Safety – You can expect to actively participate in talking about your children’s safety. If your caseworker has any concerns about safety, they will talk to and support you to make a plan to keep your children safe.

How can I get more information?
Contact Brighter Futures on 1300 554 260
Our friendly and professional staff are always happy to answer your questions. Privacy and confidentiality are always respected.

Mandatory Reporting
Brighter Futures Caseworkers are mandated reporters. If your caseworker suspects your child or children are at risk of significant harm, they are legally required to make a report to the child protection helpline. This is to make sure your children are safe. You can expect that your Brighter Futures Caseworker will work with you, to ensure each child has what is best for them.

Complaints & Compliments
If you are concerned or want to make a complaint about the Brighter Futures Program or the service you have received from our staff, please let us know. We want to do our job well. If you have a compliment or feedback, we would like to hear this too. Contact us on 1300 554 260 and ask to speak with a Brighter Futures Manager. You can expect your concerns and feedback will be handled confidentially and respectfully. We will let you know once it has been followed up. It is important to us that we support your family in the best way possible.