People making time for people

Are you a new parent, have a young family or struggling to cope with the pressures of parenting? Are you the parent of a child with a disability or have a disability yourself and need a break, support or assistance?

Then the Volunteer Home Visiting Service may be able to assist you.

What is the Volunteer Home Visiting Service?

Friends for Families is a free, volunteer home visiting service offering practical support and friendship to parents who are exhausted, isolated or overwhelmed by their situation. Volunteers have parenting experience, attend a preparation course and undergo a screening process before being linked with a family.

Volunteers offer friendship and practical support. This may be as simple as playing with the children, accompanying the family to a medical appointment, helping out with the shopping or just having a coffee and a chat.

Just a few hours a week can make a real difference in the life of a family with young children.

Who does the Volunteer Home Visiting Service assist?

The service assists parents/carers with at least one child under 5 years of age and who may be, a new parent, young parent, exhausted or feeling overwhelmed by the stresses of life with small children, suffering from depression, feeling isolated or lonely, a sole parent, new to the area, a parent who has had a multiple birth or a parent of a child with a disability or have a disability themselves.

How does the Volunteer Home Visiting Service work?

A Volunteer Home Visiting Coordinator will visit with you and talk about what is working for you and your family and what you may need help with. The Coordinator will arrange another meeting so you can meet with the Volunteer and together plan the support that you need for you and your family.

Volunteers are members of the local community and have been selected for their caring attitudes and ability to relate to others. They all complete a short training course and undergo a strict screening process before being matched to a family. Volunteers come from all walks of life, are of different age groups and cultures and are all committed to supporting the well being of a young family, strengthening the community and those people who live in it.

Where is the Volunteer Home Visiting Service available?

The Intereach Volunteer Home Visiting Service is available in the Jerilderie, Berrigan, Corowa, Lockhart, Urana and Greater Hume Shires.

Download a brochure:  IntereachVHVS.pdf 381.67 Kb

The Volunteer Home Visiting Service is funded by Families NSW - Supporting families to raise children.