Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Parenting Workshop / Camps Project at Albury Community Health Centre

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Parenting Workshop/Camp Project in Albury was designed to facilitate a culturally appropriate model of care that would incorporate the local community's expertise and individual talents in the delivery of parenting education. The aim of the project was to address the parenting issues and needs identified by a New South Wales Cabinet Office report as affecting Aboriginal communities in NSW. The issues included: limited parenting information on the care of children, health, safety, nutrition, child development and behaviour management; the need for culturally appropriate parenting programs; otitis media awareness; earlier engagement in antenatal care; engagement of fathers and young parents. The parenting program was devised by a multi agency partnership in consultation with the local Aboriginal community. This paper describes the project development, the workshop program and its outcomes.