Helping vulnerable young women and their babies

The New Families Program is based at Zillmere and helps young mothers with babies who live on the northside of Brisbane.

The Program supports young women who are pregnant or parenting a young baby in circumstances that would, without participation in the program, result in their baby being assessed by the Department of Child Safety as at risk of significant harm.

The program has three components:

• antenatal support

• intensive postnatal support (for mothers and newborn babies) and

• transitional support preparing mother and baby for independent living and then offered support at home

These components can be accessed together or individually, according to need of young mother and her baby. Assessment is offered to some mothers and babies utilising a small residential facility in the North Brisbane area staffed 24 hours a day. The program also supports parents and babies in their own homes.

Staff can help young mothers learn parenting skills and gain confidence in caring for their babies. They can also help young mothers overcome behaviour that puts babies at risk such as substance abuse, anger and domestic violence. Fathers can also be assisted to be more supportive of their partners.

Participation in the program is voluntary and young mothers can withdraw at any time.

Contact us

Contact: Colleen Manning
Tel: (07) 3865 7456
Email: zillmere.admin@mfsq.org.au

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