Parent Support Group helping families

Facing life’s challenges with the support of people in a similar situation to your own can be invaluable.
That is why the Parent Support Group for families living with disability has been around for more than a decade – it’s provided such a strong support network for participants.
The group is for parents and carers of children with disability or developmental delay and meets on the third Saturday of each month at the Intereach Family Centre in Trickett St, Deniliquin.
The Dennison family have been a part of the group for about five years and can’t speak highly enough of the monthly gathering, which is run by the parents and carers themselves.
Mark and Emma’s son Morgan, 8, has a developmental delay.

“Having a group like this reinforces that you’re not alone,” Emma explained.

“It’s a place where you can talk to other parents and carers who have similar experiences. It’s not that other parents aren’t understanding, because they mostly are, but it’s just nice to sit and chat with people in a similar situation while the kids are playing with other kids who can probably relate to them a bit more easily. And the Family Centre’s an excellent facility where the kids can play safely indoors and outdoors.
“There’s no issue if you can’t get there every month or whether only some of the family are there. Sometimes it’s nice for Mark to stay at home with our daughter Chloe and they get to spend some special time together.”

Emma also praised the support they receive from Intereach. She said Deniliquin and the wider region is “very fortunate” to have such a wonderful support service.
“In our case, Intereach Early Childhood Early Intervention helped identify Morgan’s development issues and how we can work to solve these issues. Intereach has fantastic resources and the most up-to-date information, which is really beneficial when you’re learning about your child and their issues, and the support group is just another support for our family.
“Every now and then an Intereach staff member will attend (the group) and talk about a specific program that may be helpful or show us some new resources or information, and we’ve also had special trips away together to BIG4 (holiday park) or somewhere else fun. It’s a great group – very inclusive and a relaxing atmosphere.”

The Parent Support Group meets from 10.30 am to 12.30 pm. If you’re interested in attending, please contact Carla at Intereach on 5890 5200 or Leesa on 0419 649 471.