Connected Parenting

Our attachment-based parenting resources, developed in consultation with leading Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander service providers, academics, health workers and the Circle of Security developers, support the social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families.

Why is parent-infant attachment important?

Attachment-based parenting emphasises the importance of consistent, reliable, sensitive, responsive and kind caregiving. Such caregiving ensures children feel safe and secure and supports them to reach their potential. Our Connected Parenting resources and training are designed to support health professionals to undertake early intervention and promote safe, secure relationships for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parent/carers and their children.

Connected Parenting eLearning resource

The Connected Parenting eLearning resource was launched in February 2019 - access the module.

The resource is designed to support health workers and health professionals working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islands families to:

explore the relevance of attachment-based parenting for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents
facilitate the sharing of this knowledge with families
facilitate conversations with parents and carers to identify supports available to assist them in their parenting role
support parents to be the best parents that can be in order for their children to achieve their full potential.

The resource has been developed by St John of God Social Outreach and Child and Adolescent Community Health, and supported by the WA Mental Health Commission. Explore the Connected Parenting eLearning package.

How were the resources developed?

In 2013/14, St John of God Health Care Social Outreach secured funding through the WA Mental Health Commission to develop culturally secure and sensitive parenting resources for working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families.

We developed the resources (posters and video) and training in consultation and collaboration with leading Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander service providers, academics and health workers and the Circle of Security (COS) developers.

Our resources, training and eLearning package focus on attachment parenting and incorporate COS principles with an emphasis on the role family and community play in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parenting.

Connected Parenting - The Big Picture incorporates connection to:

culture
country
community
spirit, spirituality and ancestors
family and kinship.

Connected Parenting - Coming Together incorporates the universal hopes and dreams that all parents all over the world want for their children:

to have good self-esteem
to be able to trust
to be strong
to be respectful.

Our training program is based on knowledge and understanding of parent-infant attachment within Aboriginal, cultural and historical contexts. It is designed to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers and health professionals working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islands families to undertake early intervention and promote parent and infant/child attachment.

Our impact

We have provided tools and built confidence for health professionals and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers to promote parent infant attachment within a cultural context.

Since 2015, we have provided face-to-face training to over 250 health professionals and Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander health workers; often in very remote areas and have facilitated networking opportunities in these communities to build capacity and enhance professional relationships.

Contact us

For more information or to order the Connected Parenting resources, email [email protected]

To access the Connected Parenting Resources

The poster and video resources are available for download free of charge.
To assist us in gaining an understanding of where and how the resources are being used please complete this short application form. We will then provide access to the resources.