While covering a wide range of needs, all PRC programs, projects and information products share one goal: providing real outcomes for children by supporting parents, carers and professionals.

Scientific Knowledge of Effective Parenting
Research-based Resources for Parents
Solutions to Contemporary Parenting Challenges
Building Community Capacity to Support Parenting

Scientific Knowledge of Effective Parenting

Education for Parents with a Learning Disability
Research on what makes parenting interventions successful when a parent has a learning difficulty.

Home Learning Environment
Research looking at what parents know about factors at home that can impact on a child’s development.
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Parent Adaptability
The development of a resource for practitioners who work with parents of children living in vulnerable circumstances. The framework and practice tool will be based on the ‘Parent Adaptability’ model’.

Parenting, Child Health and Wellbeing at a Population Level
A research project focusing on the parenting experience, what factors influence this experience and how these factors relate to outcomes for children. More than 8,500 parents in Victoria took part in a survey designed by PRC and the Victorian Government Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD). Survey outcomes can now be used to support parents and caregivers.

Parent Fatigue and Wellbeing
Research looking at the relationship between parental stress, fatigue and parenting. Fatigue is a major issue for both parents and professionals. This new research will help support parents and promote their wellbeing.
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Parenting for Resilience
A four-year study of how parenting factors can affect children’s ability to bounce back from difficulties, and adapt to changes in their lives. In particular, the study has identified important parenting factors that are linked with how well children adapt to stress.

SHINE Evaluation
Research looking at the effectiveness of the SHINE service delivery model. This model aims to promote wellbeing of children (8-14 years) and prevent the incidence of anxiety, depression, and conduct disorders.

Research-based Resources for Parents

Raising Children Network
A landmark, award-winning Australian website providing parents and professionals with research-based, engaging and impartial information on raising children aged 0-8 years in a user-friendly format. With nearly 8 million visits, RCN has grown considerably since its establishment in 2006. Since launch we have published new content developed specifically for parents of children with disability and autism and are now in the process of developing content for parents of teenagers as well increasing the accessibility of the site with more online resources for parents who prefer not to read.
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Solutions to Contemporary Parenting Challenges

ABCD: Parenting Young Adolescents
A program helping parents of young adolescents develop strong relationships with their children and understand the challenges they face. ABCD builds confidence for parents by offering ideas and strategies, including discouraging risk-taking behaviour in adolescents. Training is offered to professionals who deliver the program across Victoria and other states. Other projects in ABCD include: a controlled research trial of the program, a one-to-one intervention for parents assessing its effectiveness, and adaptations of the program for parents of CALD communities such as Sudanese, Somali and Chinese.
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Behaviour Skills Builder
An online interactive tool to assist parents to resolve childhood behavioural problems. To be published on the Raising Children Network.

Family Agreement Toolkit
A project developing resources to help parents manage difficult behaviour in children aged 8-15 years. The toolkit helps families work together to negotiate new ways of dealing with difficult and challenging behaviour.

MyTime
A national strategy providing peer support groups for mums, dads and carers of children with a disability or a chronic medical condition. MyTime groups give parents the chance to socialise and share ideas with others who understand what they’re going through, as well as accessing evidence-based information, other resources and community support. Each group has a facilitator for parents and a play helper to involve children in activities.
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Program Evaluation: PlaySteps
PlaySteps is a program designed to help parents improve parent-child relationships and meet the challenges of early parenthood. PRC is working with the Queen Elizabeth Centre to evaluate the effectiveness of this program.
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Signposts for Building Better Behaviour
A program that helps parents prevent or manage difficult behaviour of children aged 3-16 years who have developmental delay or intellectual disability. The program is delivered by trained professionals and is available to parents across Victoria. Other components include supplementary resources developed for families with specific needs (families of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders, ABI and toileting issues, and families from CALD and Indigenous communities) and for the practitioners working with them.
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Building Community Capacity to Support Parenting

AusParenting in Schools
A program working within schools to engage parents and address the needs of families. This strategy offers a framework of support and information to help primary schools and parents develop partnerships that promote the wellbeing and resilience of children. Includes a randomised controlled trial of the program as well as a feasibility study.
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Early Days
A national workshop program for mothers, fathers and family carers promoting development of young children on the autism spectrum.
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EvidenceWise
An online tool used to assess the evidence base of a parenting program. Focusing on demonstrated outcomes that address parent needs, this website resource will enable practitioners, policy makers and service providers to evaluate parenting programs they are interested in funding or implementing.
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Healthy Start
A national initiative supporting parents with learning difficulties. This program builds the capacity in the community sector by providing professionals with evidence-based resources and a strong network of support. The initiative includes evaluations of:

• the Step by Step  DVD as a stand-alone resource for parents
• two parent education programs: ‘Parenting Young Children’ and ‘Healthy and Safe’.

In-home Support for Aboriginal Families
A collaborative development of an in-home support program for Aboriginal families in five communities across Victoria. PRC is working with community-based Aboriginal agencies and peak bodies to develop curriculum materials and support for community workers.

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