May 15 is International Day of Families; a day that recognises families as a fundamental unit within the communities we live in. At The Benevolent Society, we believe that all families are different and can sometimes face complexities which is why we work to ensure the right support is offered through our Intensive Family Support (IFS) services.  

IFS work with families over a six‑to‑nine‑month period, providing in‑home case management support across Beenleigh, the Redlands, and the Logan regional council areas in Queensland. 

Team leader Ashleigh says the biggest priority for families is understanding their needs and providing options, so they feel connected to networks in their local community. 

“Parenting in isolation is difficult and often the families we meet have additional complexities. We like to discover the needs of the family and look at the different ways we can support them – whether that be formal or informal.” 

Within IFS, each family is connected with a child and family practitioner. Together they discuss the strengths, concerns and identify gaps to deliver the right supports for that family. 

There are two team leaders who support 12 practitioners within the service, including two domestic violence specialists, a senior practitioner, a group practitioner, a casual worker, and two Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander practitioners. Team Leader Nikki says the team’s breadth of experience and knowledge allows practitioners to deliver programs in unique and tailored ways. 

“There’s a wealth of knowledge within our team and a range of experience levels, qualifications and interest areas so depending on the unique circumstances of the family, the in-home family supports can vary.” 

A key component of the service involves building positive parenting connections and helping families understand the causes of their challenges, the barriers they face, and the strategies that can be implemented at home through in‑home therapeutic parenting support. 

Another focus is advocacy work for families particularly children whose voices can sometimes be overlooked. The team has recently created a child, youth and family practitioner role specifically to support younger children within families, which Ashleigh says helps ensure they feel seen and heard. 

“Sometimes children can be misinterpreted so we like to provide that voice for them and capture that when we are working alongside the parents to see where the gaps may be,” Ashleigh adds. “Often parents are parenting the same way they were raised when they were growing up so we like to see where we can come in and do some tweaks to ensure a happy, healthy and safe home environment.”  

For more information about our Intensive Family Support services, eligibility criteria, visit here or call us directly on 1800 236 762.