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Signposts
Overview
Signposts for Building Better Behaviour is a program that helps families prevent or manage difficult behaviour of children in the 3-15 years age group, who have developmental delay or intellectual disability. Trained practitioners deliver the program to parents across Victoria.
About the program
Signposts helps families develop strategies to prevent difficult behaviour, encourage appropriate behaviour and to teach children new skills. Evaluation shows that Signposts strategies have been successfully used by families who have completed the program.
Signposts practitioners, trained by the Parenting Research Centre, deliver the program to families in one of four modes: in groups, individual face-to-face, via telephone or self-directed. Signposts, in group and individual face-to-face mode, consists of a minimum of six sessions of 2-2˝ hours duration, usually conducted fortnightly. Signposts in telephone and self-directed mode is delivered by Parentline and Upper Hume Community Health Service. Parents receive the program and accompanying materials free of charge.
For a brochure or more information call the Signposts Hotline on (03) 8660 3562.
Signposts Statewide
Signposts Statewide was the Victorian rollout of this program and was made possible with funding from the Victorian and Commonwealth governments from 2005-07. The two-year statewide project aimed to strengthen communities by empowering families, schools and practitioners to more effectively address the needs of children. The project has come to a successful completion, with the Signposts program delivered to more than 3000 families and carers across Victoria and program delivery still continuing across the State.
During 2007-08 the Parenting Research Centre will continue to coordinate Signposts with funding from the Department of Human Services.
The Right Signs
We published the booklet The Right Signs to share our learnings from the highly successful Victoria-wide rollout of Signposts for Building Better Behaviour. Read more on the background of the project, parent stories, family case studies and key findings in our booklet The Right Signs.
For parents
Families tell us that after Signposts they feel less stressed, more capable of managing their children’s behaviour and less hassled about meeting their own and their family’s needs. They also report that their children’s behaviour improves. For more information about the program see For Parents.
For practitioners
The Parenting Research Centre supports a network of trained practitioners. This provides opportunities to share experiences, problem-solve and further develop skills. For more information about professional support and how to become involved in Signposts see For Professionals.
To maintain an up-to-date record of programs that can help parents access Signposts across Victoria, please give updates of your program dates and venues to the regional contact in your area (see below) so they can link parents up with your services.
Regional contacts
Some regions in Victoria have a dedicated contact point where parents and practitioners can make initial enquiries about Signposts. While the role of the regional contacts does not include case management or practitioner support, the regional contacts will record parent enquiries and match them with information provided by practitioners.
Barwon South West – Warrnambool
South West Respite Network, PO Box 269 Warrnambool 3280
Sharon Lane: Ph: (03) 5561 8127, E: slane@mpower.org.au
Barwon South West – Geelong
Regional Parenting Service
Ph: (03) 5227 0817, E: rps@geelongcity.vic.gov.au
Gippsland West – Warragul
SCOPE, PO Box 450 Warragul 3820
Rhonda Jackson: Ph: (03) 5623 1033, E: rjackson@scopevic.org.au
Upper Hume - Wodonga
Parent Education Service UHCHS, PO Box 173 Wodonga 3689
Maria Hutchings: Ph: (03) 6022 8816, E: mhutchings@uhchs.vic.gov.au
Telephone and Self-Directed Signposts enquiries
Upper Hume Community Health Services
If calling from a landline: 1800 880 660
If calling from a mobile: (02) 6022 8802
E: droddy@uhchs.vic.gov.au
Other Regions
To find out about Signposts in other regions - East Gippsland, Grampians, Hume, Loddon Mallee, Metropolitan Regions: North, South, East, West - contact the Parenting Research Centre on (03) 8660 3562 or signposts@parentingrc.org.au
Signposts Hotline (03) 8660 3562
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