NSW Government announces therapeutic program to support vulnerable young families

The New South Wales Government has announced that it will direct $3.34 million toward a program designed to support healthy child-caregiver connections within families.  

As well as supporting healthy connections the program will provide holistic support for new parents impacted by psychological distress or trauma in Sydney and the Mid-North Coast.

The Nurturing Connections program will be delivered in three areas across the state – Kempsey, Hurstville and North Ryde – and will support families who are pregnant or have an infant or young child (aged 0-4 years of age) and are experiencing psychological distress, trauma, or social adversity that impacts their relationship with their child.

The program will be delivered by the Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Service’s multidisciplinary team, including perinatal and infant mental health workers, psychiatrists, allied health professionals, peer workers, Aboriginal mental health workers, and child and family health professionals. 

The teams will also partner with local non-government organisations (NGOs) who will provide integrated social and welfare support in partnership with the Nurturing Connections team.

“Mental health and new parenthood have important linkages – around 1 in 5 mothers experience symptoms of anxiety and depression during pregnancy or after birth, and some experience more serious and ongoing perinatal mental health disorders,” NSW Minister for Mental Health Rose Jackson said.

“We also recognise that parents and caregivers of all genders and backgrounds can have pre-existing trauma and complex mental health conditions which may impact their early parent-child relationships.”

“Nurturing Connections aims to provide holistic support to address these mental health challenges, supporting better social outcomes and healthier relationships within families.”

The program is due to benefit up to 120 families and is inclusive of fathers, caregivers and gender-diverse families as well as mothers and their children.

As well as supporting families, the program aims to boost children’s emotional wellbeing through providing integrated child and family health services and access to early childhood care and education.

“The Nurturing Connections program recognises that some families require more intensive, layered services than what is already available,” NSW Minister for Health Ryan Park said.

“Holistic, multidisciplinary teams will combine mental health care, relationship support, child wellbeing and social support services into a single program, designed to reach out to vulnerable families and reduce any stigma, barriers or fears they may have in accessing this care.”​