Programs for parents with a mental illness (parenting courses and programs)

Our Space is a mental health promotion, illness-prevention and early intervention program. It aims to provide psycho-education, peer support to reduce feelings of isolation, opportunities to build resilience and coping skills, improve self-expression and creativity, as well as fostering a positive learning environment for children and parents, siblings or close relatives with a mental illness. […]

The Sunshine Coast Koping Network (SC-Koping, 2002) is an association of government and non government agencies working collaboratively to support children and young people in a family system affected by mental health and/or dual diagnosis issues. The SC-Koping Program’s overarching aim is to reduce the impact and intensity of mental illness and dual diagnosis on […]

Family to Family Workshop series – 6 sessions for the whole family where a parent experiences a mental illness. This partnership arises from the family members themselves saying “”what we really needed was a place where the whole family could learn and share together about mental illness and how it affects each of us””. The […]

The outreach service staff visit the families’ homes or where children and young people are most comfortable to meet. The COPMI Program offers the following: Individual counselling of children of parents affected by mental illness. Crisis planning and development of safety plans for children and their families. Identification of family support systems. Practical support for […]

Taz Kidz Clubs is an early intervention program designed to prevent mental health difficulties in at risk children and young people. Psycho-social educational groups are run for children aged 7-12 years and adolescents 13-17 years who have a parent with mental illness. See a video about the program here: http://vimeo.com/74438154 Champs Camps is an early […]

Separated Mums WA is a unique service that provides support to mothers before, during and after separation. Counsellors provide support, education and group workshops for mothers who want to: Access practical and emotional support and assistance. Negotiate shared care arrangements for their children. Communicate effectively with the other parent. Be prepared for mediation and to […]

Covering the geographical areas of Marrickville, Redfern, Camperdown, Canterbury, Croydon, Bankstown and surrounds. Provision of resources, clinical work and group programs for families and children where a parent has a mental illness. Education, in service and consultation also provided to community members, health staff, education, non government organisations and other services regarding COPMI issues.

CONSULTANCY ROLE Providing consultation to adult mental health workers and child youth and family staff around COPMI cases. Advice to community organisations regarding COPMI issues. CLINICAL ROLE Short term clinical work with COPMI cases where either the parent or the child is a client of mental health services. Joint family assessments with adult mental health […]

COPMI’s position coordinates a range of prevention and capacity building strategies: education, training and consultation for MH services and key partners such as service development for COPMI services on the Central Coast, facilitating Mental Health and Parenting programs for parents with mental health problems, facilitating mental health first aid programs and mental health literacy programs […]

Covering the geographical areas of Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, the Hunter Valley and surrounds. Consultation and education to Tamworth, Moree, Inverell and Armidale as requested. YP-COPMI is a clinical team whose staff include a clinical psychologist, two clinical nurse specialists and a registered nurse. YP-COPMI is part of Child and Adolescent Mental Health however, works within […]

Activities: Consultation, supervision and advocacy. Education and training for Mental Health Workers and other professionals. Groups for children, adolescents and parents. Local implementation of the NSW Children Of Parents with a Mental Illness (COPMI) Framework for Mental Health Services 2010-2015.

The Charmian Clift Cottages offer support and accommodation for mothers that live with a mental health issue and are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Aims of the program: To provide safe and secure accommodation To enable mothers with mental health issues to become more independent To help them develop their living and parenting skills […]

ARAFEMI is a non-profit community based organisation, which works from a recovery perspective. ARAFEMI is unique as it houses both the peak support agency for carers of people with a mental illness and a broad range of consumer services. Our mission is to promote and improve the wellbeing of people affected by mental illness. Our […]

Eastern Region Integrated Family Services offers a comprehensive suite of services that predominantly incorporates outreach, case management and group work to children and families within Maroondah, Knox and Yarra Ranges areas whom are assessed as being in need. Services include: Mental health support Parenting support – 0 to 18 years Crisis intervention Personal issues Drug […]

A joint project initiative between Barwon Health Mental Health and Glastonbury Community Services, operational since 2003. Funded as part of the statewide FAPMI with additional funding from Barwon Health and Glastonbury. Elements of the project include: Education of adult mental health staff, school, child and family sector. Facilitation of group programs for adolescents and primary […]

The AMEND Program provides an 18 session home-based relapse prevention and parenting enhancement program to pregnant and parenting women who experience problems related to their use of alcohol and other drugs. The program also provides individual or group counselling and support to children aged 0-18 affected by a parent’s or caregiver’s substance use. The AMEND […]

The Parents Group is held during Term 3 over eight weeks. It has a peer support focus, in order for parents to be able to share experiences and safely explore strategies that may reduce parenting stress and increase self-confidence. The group program includes guest speakers who address topics of interest for the parents; this includes […]

Partners in Depression is a group education and support program for people who love, live with or care for someone experiencing depression (evidence-based psycho-education group). Six session program (2 hours per week over 6 weeks) run by two facilitators in community settings. It covers a range of topics including: What is depression Treatments for depression […]

FIN-NSW is a family support, advice and advocacy service. It promotes family inclusive child protection practice.

Child and Family is a new integrated service for children and families with a range of complex issues. These may include mental health, parental neglect, abuse (or risk of), drug and alcohol, complex parenting issues, domestic violence, CALD/Indigenous, etc. Child and Family works with voluntary clients in the short-medium term. Generally most clients will work […]

The Northern Beaches Mental Health Service has one part time COPMI clinician. The clinician works across adult and child and adolescent mental health as well as with other statutory and non-government agencies to promote best practice in working with parents who have a mental illness and their children (0-18) The role includes the following activities: […]

The COPMI Co-ordinator works in partnership with mental health services to facilitate service enhancements for families where a parent has a mental illness. The NSW COPMI Framework for Mental Health Services 2010-2015 provides the overarching framework across services, and the local Western Sydney Local Health Network COPMI Implementation Plan (2010-2015) provides specific direction for all […]

The Family Support Program recognises that building family resilience is the foundation for achieving positive outcomes. The Family Support Program will: promote and develop resilience and recovery in families assist in the prevention of unnecessary hardship through early prevention strategies assist families to participate in community life.

The Carer Consultant role supports the carers and families of mental health consumers in Mimidi Park, Rockingham General Hospital. The Carer Consultant runs support groups and education and training events. One-to-one support is provided by the Carer Consultant whereby information on mental health, the carers experience and support services for the carer and family can […]

The Individual Psychosocial Rehabilitation Support Services provide community support and independent housing for people with mental health related disabilities in the Salisbury and Elizabeth area. Support is provided in the areas of accessing and maintaining independent housing, daily living skills, community linkage and personal support to maintain health and wellbeing. The Individual Psychosocial Rehabilitation Support […]

The COPMI Consultant works across adult and child and adolescent mental health services to support the needs of children and families where a parent experiences a mental illness or mental health disorder. CONSULTANCY ROLE Providing consultation to adult mental health workers and child youth and family staff around COPMI cases. Advice to community organisations regarding […]

ARAFMI has three part-time Carer Peer Workers who offer assistance and support to friends, family and Carers of someone with a mental illness, diagnosed or not. This is a free service which a person can access as many times as they need. The Carer Peer Workers are carers of someone with a mental illness themselves […]

ARAFMI has two part-time Carer Advocates who can assist friends, family and carers who provide support to someone who has a mental illness, diagnosed or not. The Carer Advocates can provide the following: Information for individuals. Support to self-advocate. Have the advocate speak on their behalf. Obtain assistance from the advocate. Receive referral support. Obtain […]

Family By Family is a network of families helping families. Family By Family links up families with things in common to change the things they want to change. Families who have been through tough times and come out the other side are linked to families that have things they want to change. Process: You choose […]

The Parent Peer Support Program together with the Mental Illness Fellowship of WA’s Family Support Program, provide support for parents living with mental illness by trained Parent Peer Support Workers. These Parent Peer Support Workers have a direct lived experience of what it is like to be a parent with mental illness and are at […]

Separated Dads WA is a unique service that provides support to fathers before, during and after separation. Counsellors provide support, education and group workshops for fathers who want to: Access practical and emotional support and assistance. Negotiate shared care arrangements for their children. Communicate effectively with the other parent. Be prepared for mediation and to […]

The REACH Program is a 9 week (2 hours per week) psycho-educational wellbeing group (based on the principles of responsibility, education, acceptance, connection and hope) to help participants with depression or bipolar disorder manage their illness and stay well. Topics include fostering strengths, dealing with loss and grief, identifying early warning signs and triggers, wellbeing […]

The REACH Program was formulated by the Black Dog Institute, a world leader in the diagnosis and treatment of mood disorders. The REACH Program is a free, nine week program/support group for people with depression and bipolar. Participants can learn helpful strategies for managing their illness and can share experiences in a supportive and caring […]

Partnership with Parents works with vulnerable families with under 5’s in inner Sydney. This includes parents who have mental health struggles, developmental delays, younger parents, Aboriginal families, families who have drug or alcohol involvement or have contact with Family and Community Services. The program tries to build parent trust, develop relationships and support people who […]

The Eastern Metro PHaMs (Personal Helpers and Mentors) Program offers an outreach service for people whose ability to manage their daily activities is impacted by mental illness. The program consists of a Service Manager, Community Outreach Workers and a Peer Support Worker that assist clients in the following areas: Increased access to appropriate support services […]

FIN-NSW was developed to support families/parents that have children in out-of-home care (OOHC) or are at risk of losing their children through the child protection system. Parents with a mental illness make up a substantial proportion of these families. FIN-NSW provides information, support, advocacy and education to families and professionals alike. The main intake number […]

Eastern Parentzone provides resources to parents and professionals who work with parents, across the eastern metropolitan area of Melbourne. Parentzone staff facilitate parent education groups and workshops in the office at Lilydale and at various other locations (eg community agencies, schools and community houses). Limited one on one consultations are available for parents. In addition, […]

The Mum’s Well Being Group is for women who are at risk or have a diagnosis of antenatal/postnatal depression or anxiety with a baby under 12 months of age.

The First Touch Program is a five-session, evidence-supported program that helps parents to promote their baby’s mental health. In the First Touch Program, parents have the opportunity to explore and learn about the ways in which their baby uses body language, sounds and other signals to communicate their needs. Parents also learn how to use […]

The Mothers Support Program is a community based support service for mothers with dependent children residing in the inner city or lower north metro area, who experience or are at risk of experiencing mental health issues. Services include individual assessment and care planning, outreach, information and referral, support and advocacy, counselling, art therapy and a […]