Stories of Impact

Melbourne City Mission - Parenting Support Program

2022 Grant: $30,000
Purpose: Parenting Support Program             
Beneficiaries: Adults
Total Grants to date:    $899,072
Area: Supporting Victorians in need

MCM's Parenting Support (PS) Program is an integral part of MCM's Youth Refugees and Intensive Child and Family Services Program

Melbourne City Mission (MCM) is a leading non-profit community service organisation in Victoria that uplifts and empowers the most vulnerable and disadvantaged members of the community through a broad range of support in homelessness, disability, mental health, early childhood and secondary level education, child and family services and palliative care.

MCM focuses on addressing the needs of the whole person through a holistic healing-oriented approach to drive lasting systematic change in people’s lives.

The Collier Charitable Fund has been a valued MCM supporter for several decades of which we are extremely grateful. Grants in recent years have assisted MCM’s Parenting Support (PS) Program, an integral part of MCM's Youth Refuges and Intensive Child and Family Services Program.

Homelessness is a complex issue with no quick solution. At MCM, we understand that homelessness can affect anyone at any time. We know that housing is only part of the problem. People experiencing homelessness may be dealing with a range of issues, therefore, we conduct programs to give each person the life skills needed to move beyond homelessness. Our holistic, trauma-informed support considers the physical, social, and emotional needs of each young person which is crucial to break the cycle of homelessness.

The PS Program uses evidence-based practices to provide parenting support for marginalised young parents with children (aged 0-5 years) already accessing MCM services. The program builds parenting confidence and parent-child relationships through tailored individual support and group-based experiences that interrupt the inter-generational disadvantage often sighted within this vulnerable cohort. 

The families referred to the program receive specialist support from a dedicated Family Support Worker (FSW) who conducts mentoring sessions and facilitates parent-child bonding through guided indoor and outdoor play therapy sessions. The FSW also provides referrals to external specialist support and services to help them in their parenting role.

The PS Program offers a mix of online and face-to-face support appropriate to each client’s needs. Additionally, parents can access further resources from the program’s online portal. This is crucial for parenting young children around bedtime and at other points of distress.

On 20th November, MCM's Youth Refuges and Intensive Child and Family Services Program received the ‘Award for Excellence in ending homelessness among children and families’ from the Council to Homeless Persons at the 2023 Victorian Homelessness Conference.

We sincerely thank the Trustees of the Collier Charitable Fund for their unwavering support towards our work and hope they are proud of the significant impacts we have achieved together. 

For more information about Melbourne City Mission go to https://www.mcm.org.au/ 

OTHER STORIES OF IMPACT IN THIS AREA OF SUPPORT:
Melbourne City Mission

MCM’s Parenting Support (PS) Program, an integral part of MCM's Youth Refugees and Intensive Child and Family Services Program

Melbourne City Mission
Life Saving Victoria

Building aquatic & emergency care skills in CALD young people also enhances safety, fosters social connections, & improves health & well-being.

Life Saving Victoria
Deaf Children Australia

Early intervention to ensure deaf and hard of hearing children have an equal opportunity to attain their full potential

Deaf Children Australia
The Queen's Fund

The Collier Charitable Foundation has helped The Queen’s Fund to help single disadvantaged women in Victoria for over 50 years, contributing a total of $455,650.

The Queen's Fund