By Martina Boese, Janet Stanley, Carole Baker and Jody Hughes / Brotherhood of St Laurence

An evaluation of the Cottage Centre for Families and Children which served inner-Melbourne families with young children shows that it was an effective model for assisting families with complex needs.

Defining principles included early intervention, considering the child in the context of family and community; and treating parents as expert partners. Children benefited in all areas of development, while parents showed improved self-esteem, trust and skills in accessing services. This in turn improved parent-child relationships and reduced families’ social isolation—both essential for wellbeing and eventual independence.

Download the report from http://www.bsl.org.au/pdfs/Boese_etal_Cottage_service_review.pdf.

Source: Australian Policy Online