Volunteer Family Connect Tasmania

Volunteer Family Connect (VFC) is a community-based early intervention program providing one on one support to parents and carers in their home, and offering volunteers a rewarding opportunity to share their knowledge and skills.
VFC is a universal free service that supports families with children in the 0-5 years age group. Participation in the program is entirely voluntary and free of charge.
The broad objectives of the program are to:
• Increase parents’ confidence in their parenting
• Increase families’ connectedness to other parents and their local community networks
VFC works by linking trained volunteers with a newly referred parent who has identified as needing extra support to raise their children, most often due to social isolation.
The volunteer works in partnership with the family to offer friendly support and encouragement in a non-threatening, non-directive, non-judgemental manner, by visiting on a weekly basis for 1-2 hours, for approximately 12 months.
Who may need this service?

Families referred to the service may:

Not have family or friends nearby for support;
Be managing a disability or chronic illness (child or parent);
Have had a multiple birth or several young children;
Find parenting stressful;
Be adjusting to a relationship breakdown;
Come from a non-English speaking background.

The benefit for families:

Encourage/develop positive parent and child relationships;
Reduce isolation, stress and anxiety;
Get out and about;
Connect to a network of parent and community supports;
Have access to information and support;
Feel supported as a parent;
New ideas for playing with your children;
Build resilience and increased parental capacity;
Gain support and assistance adjusting to parenting roles.

The benefit for volunteers:

Develop and learn new skills and share those skills;
Undertake long-term meaningful participation in their community;
Promote self-efficacy, health and well-being;
Enjoy giving their time in helping others;
Meeting new people.