A University of Queensland conference will gather the world’s leading experts in family intervention in an event that could transform the lives of children in Australia and overseas.
The Helping Families Change Conference, to be held in Sydney in February, is regarded as one of the world’s most important annual events for family support services researchers, policy makers and practitioners.
Conference organiser John Pickering, of UQ’s Parenting and Family Support Centre, said the conference would focus on how programs that aim to normalise parenting support can help at-risk families, including families whose lives have been complicated by disability, divorce, mental health issues, alcoholism or extreme poverty.
“Over the past 30 years, the Triple P – Positive Parenting Program has set out to ensure that accessing parenting support has become a normal process for families,’’ Mr Pickering said.
“The challenge now is to ensure that those parents with greater need are included without feeling stigmatised.
“Governments in Australia and overseas now realise that population approaches are the most effective means of preventing child abuse and neglect.
“This is at the heart of what next year’s conference is all about.’’
Jointly staged by UQ with the NSW Department of Families and Community Services, the conference will include a keynote address by Australian Institute for Family Studies Director Prof Alan Hayes, who will present the latest findings from his landmark longitudinal study into Australian families, “Growing Up in Australia’’.
The conference will feature the latest research in family intervention studies and practical workshops to apply new knowledge to hands-on skill development.
UQ Parenting and Family Support Centre Director Professor Matt Sanders said the annual event had become an important driver for change in public policy development and implementation around the world, helping to transform the lives of children and their families.
“The evidence base has shown that properly implemented, quality parenting programs can lead to educational advantages, lifelong success and good peer relationships for children,’’ he said.
“It also shows that the risk of serious mental health problems and social and emotional problems in children can be reduced.’’
Professor Sanders, founder of the Triple P programme, will present a master class on working with complex families who need tailored support. He will also present a keynote address on the past, present and future of parenting research.
Leading international experts such as Professor Patricia Howlin from Kings College, London, and Dr Patricia Kohl, from Washington University, St Louis, will also present their work.
For more information on the conference, contact helpingfamilieschange.org.
The latest episode from UQ News TV features the Triple P – Positive Parenting Program, a scientifically researched family intervention strategy designed to assist parents to improve their parenting skills and build positive relationships with their children. The program was developed by Professor Matt Sanders, Director of the UQ Parenting and Family Support Centre. More information about the program can be found here.
Media: John Pickering, 07 3346 8743 or j.pickering@psy.uq.edu.au.
