Family Inclusive Practice Projects

Our tailored implementation methods also support services to deliver other family inclusive practices.

In 2019, we partnered with the Australian Defence Force (ADF) to develop the ‘Family Engagement in Health Care’ training and a train the trainer package targeting health service providers in Defence. This focused on promoting family sensitive practices by health care practitioners.

We conducted two pilot projects to explore ways to include families in the Post Operational Psychological Screening (POPS) process. The pilots conducted in Darwin (2011), and Townsville and Sydney (2012), involved building capacity of ADF staff to conduct Family Sensitive POPS.

In 2010, we also delivered the Family Practice Implementation Project, Working Effectively with Veterans, Their Families and Their Children, for the then Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service (now Open Arms). This involved introducing the SSFC and Let’s Talk practice models to centres across Australia.

Between 2010 and 2018, the Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Program was funded by the then Department of Health to provide support, education and linkages to pregnant women who were unable to access antenatal services or required additional support. The program operated from community health services in the outer growth suburbs of Melbourne, and aimed to improve the health and wellbeing of mothers and babies.

The project was documented and practice wisdoms of workers were shared via the project e-newsletter and a final report [PDF 1.8 MB].

We have been responding to the unique needs of families supporting people with an Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) since 1984.

We provide specialist family therapy support for families where there is a member with an ABI (child or adult), where there are also other mental health issues in the family.

We also deliver training, supervision and consultation across the state to professionals working with this client group who are interested in building and sustaining effective working relationships with:

  • clients
  • family members
  • carers
  • practitioners
  • other services.

Services for people with disabilities and their carers

The Department of Health and Human Services provides a wide range of resources and services for persons with a disability and their carers. Information is available in diverse languages and accessible formats.

Training and consultation services for service providers

We offer capacity development training, supervision and consultation in ABI and disability and family sensitive work to service providers throughout Victoria, including alcohol and other drugs, mental health and juvenile justice service settings.

Email Penny Wong or call (03) 8481 4800 to discuss tailoring training and consultation options at your workplace.

Research Activities

The ABI team were awarded the La Trobe University School of Psychology and Public Health – Income Growth Grants Scheme and the 2020 Jeff Lipp Award to support the development of family sensitive practice guidelines for clinicians working with acquired brain injury. These guidelines will lead to better services for families supporting a family member with an ABI, with the objective of improved outcomes for the person with the ABI. In addition, the research is supported in kind from The Bouverie Centre, La Trobe University.

For information about this research, contact Franca Butera-Prinzi – ABI & Community Services Team Leader on (03) 8481 4800.