Parenting

This free program helps couples maintain a healthy relationship after the arrival of their baby. The program helps parents to:

• Understand what it means to become a parent and the impact it may have on their relationship.
• Develop a greater respect for each other’s roles and improve communication.
• Share their experiences and hear from others who are going through the same journey.

See flyers below for term 3 dates and location details.

Baby Makes 3 July Dates Baby Makes 3 August Dates

Are you a dad living in Cardinia Shire with a child aged between 0-6 years? would you like to:

• Meet other local dads and share your parenting experience?
• Discover more ways to connect with your child?
• Learn more about your child’s development and local parenting support services?

Cardinia dads is a free program for dads to meet, connect and share parenting experiences in an informal and supportive setting.

2026 T3 Cardinia dads program

A free 6-week interactive group for fathers with children aged 0-17 years. This group will help explore:

• Parenting
• Children’s development
• Healthy relationships
• Managing a work/life balance
• Cyber safety
• Supports and activities available to you and your children.

For fathers/carers in Southern Melbourne and Bayside Peninsula. Light refreshments will be served.

Flyer 2026Being Dad Flyer T3 2026

Bringing Up Great Kids: is a reflective and mindful 6-week program providing parents/carers with the opportunity to reflect on their own unique parenting journey, in a safe and supportive online group space.

Bringing Up Great Kids supports parents and carers of children ages 3 – 13 to:
• appreciate how to welcome safety, respect,
care and love into their relationships with their children;
• discover ways to take care of themselves as parents/carers & find support when they need it.
• understand the meaning of children’s behaviour and what may be influencing it from their
experience of trauma/violence;
• learn more about brain development in children & its influence on their thoughts, feelings &
behaviour;
• explore new ways of responding to, and communicating with their children;

BUGK Flyer 

BUGK Referral Form

Bringing Up Great Kids: Parenting adolescents is a reflective, mindful, respectful program that provides parents with an opportunity to reflect on parenting their adolescents.

This program supports parent and carers to:

• Learn more about brain development during the adolescent period and its influence on their thoughts, feelings and behaviour.
• Explore the meaning and context behind adolescents behaviours and how to respond to the underlying feelings and needs.
• Explore new ways of communicating with adolescents.
• Discover ways for parents to take care of themselves and to find support when they need it and practice self-compassion.

BUGK flyer – Term 2 2026BUGK – Referral Form 2026

An eight-session course designed for parents of children aged 4 months to 6 years.
Are you ever puzzled by your child’s behaviour, unsure of how to respond to their needs? Imagine confidently understanding and addressing what your child is truly seeking from you.

Through this program, you will:
Decode Your Child’s Emotions: Learn to interpret and respond to your child’s emotional cues effectively.
Foster Emotional Resilience: Equip your child with the tools to manage their emotions successfully.
Boost Self-Esteem: Support your child’s confidence and self-worth.
Trust Your Parental Instincts: Embrace your natural wisdom and commitment to your child’s security.

Circle of Security T2 2026 flyer

Parent-child Mother Goose is an evidence- based program that strengthens attachment and interaction between parents or carers and their young children by introducing them to the pleasure and power of using rhymes, songs and stories together. Through the program, parents gain skills and confidence that help them create positive family patterns during their children’s crucial early years. At the same time, children benefit from enjoyable, healthy early experiences with language and communication.

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MacKillop Family Services’ Early Help Program is excited to facilitate a vibrant peer support group for multicultural mothers raising children in Australia. This community driven initiative provides a welcoming space where mothers can connect, share experiences, and engage in discussions that cater to their unique needs.

Each session is shaped by the collective input of the mothers and the Early Help team, ensuring that topics and themes reflect what matters most to the group. These interactive sessions promote positive relationships within families and the wider community, fostering both personal growth and stronger family connections. The group actively encourages participation from both mothers and their children, creating a nurturing environment that supports the well-being of all. Since its inception, the group has expanded from two families to six, and we invite other mothers in the Pakenham area to join us.

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The New Parent Infant Network (Newpin) is a centre based parenting program, which provides an interactive and supportive approach to enhancing parent-child relationships. Newpin supports parents and children’s social and emotional development through individual and group work programs that support parents to build their self-esteem and confidence in parenting.

What does the program offer?

• One on one parenting support
• Information about your child’s development
• Parent education groups on topics such as sleep, fussy eating, behaviour management
• Individual play groups
• Getting to know other parents with children of similar age

Contact the program on (03) 9793 3707 or email [email protected]

Newpin Flyer

This free 6-week program offers an opportunity to reflect on parenting and adolescents, and how you can support your child in having the experiences you hope for as they grow. It is suitable for parents and carers of children aged 10 to 17 years. The Bringing Up Great Kids Parenting Adolescents program supports you as a parent or carer to:

• Explore your parenting style.
• Learn more about brain development during the adolescent period and it’s influence on the adolescents thoughts, feelings and behaviour.
• Explore new ways of communicating with your adolescents.
• Discover ways to take care of yourself, practice self-compassion and how to find support when needed.

*This program is for caregivers residing in the City of Casey, Cardinia Shire and Greater Dandenong who have at least 50% custody. Please be aware that children cannot attend the sessions and childcare services are not provided.

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This program is designed to support parents of neurodiverse children living in and around Pakenham. The group offers and opportunity for parents to share experiences, build connection, and gain support alongside others facing similar challenges.

Topics covered include:

• Understanding ADHD, ASD and other neurodivergence.
• Supporting your own self-care.
• Connecting with others with shared experiences.
• Navigating social services

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• Does your home sometimes feel like a battleground?
• Are you feeling discouraged or overwhelmed?
• Are you juggling work, parenting and life with no time for yourself?
• Did you know that your children will learn about healthy boundaries and self-care by observing you (no pressure)

Parenting is one of the toughest jobs you will ever do, with many challenges that can feel overwhelming at times. It is normal for parents to feel many of these emotions and you are not alone.

These free sessions will explore how to create space and practice self-care so that it does not feel like another thing to add to your “To Do” list.

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• Child requesting not to go to school and becoming distressed about attending.
• Showing signs of distress at school.
• Spending more time in wellbeing.
• Increased level of anxiety or worry.
• Peer issues, social isolation or bullying.
• Feeling sick (Headaches, stomach aches)
• Increased amount of time off for illness.
• Changes in sleep and morning routine.

 Flyer Contact SASP on (03) 9704 8377 or [email protected]

This free engaging six session parenting program is designed for parents and carers of children aged 2-10 years. based on an easy-to-follow five-step emotional coaching approach, Tuning in to Kids empowers families to build stronger relationships and support children’s emotional wellbeing. Join and make a lasting impact on your family’s wellbeing.

By participating you will learn how to:

• Understand and nurture your child’s emotional intelligence.
• Confidently coach your child through big feelings by tuning in to their emotions.
• Equip your child with tools to manage emotions, solve problems, and navigate challenges.
• Teach your child healthy ways to handle conflict and build resilience.

*This program is for caregivers residing in City of Casey, Cardinia Shire and Greater Dandenong who have at least 50% custody. Please be aware that children cannot attend the sessions and childcare services are not provided.

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Emotionally intelligent parenting for parents of primary school-aged children.

Would you like tips and strategies to:

• Better communicate with your child?
• Help your child learn to manage their emotions and deal with conflict?
• Manage challenging behaviours?
• Parent anxious children?

Children with emotional intelligence:

• Have greater success with making and keeping friends.
• Show improved concentration at school.
• Have increased wellbeing.
  

  When:	6 sessions, free of charge 27th July-31st August
  Time:	10:45 am-12:45 pm
  Location	Cranbourne Library
  Contact:	Carey Cole 0437 428 281 or [email protected]

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Tuning in to kids is a suite of globally recognised evidence-based parenting programs that teach adults how to use emotion coaching to interact with children. The program supports those in a parenting or teaching role to develop an emotional connection that helps children learn about emotions to foster their ability to understand and regulate emotions. The early years focus teaches parents skills in emotion coaching with greater emphasis on non-verbal ways of responding to emotions and a focus on responding to the attachment and exploration needs of younger children.

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This free, fun, practical, and evidence-based 6-week program is designed for parents and carers of children aged 1 to 4 years. Discover how to navigate your toddler’s big emotions while building a calm, confident, and strong connection.

Come along and learn how to:
–  Understand, accept, and
respond to your toddler’s
emotional needs.
–  Build practical skills to stay
calm during tough moments.
–  Deepen your daily connection
and attachment.
–  Create a safe environment for
your toddler to grow, learn, and
thrive.

*This program is for caregivers residing in the City of Casey, Cardinia Shire and Greater Dandenong who have at least 50% custody. Please be aware that children cannot attend the sessions and childcare services are not provided.

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Emotionally intelligent parenting for parents of pre-teens and teens.

Would you like tips and strategies to:

• Be better at talking with your teen.
• Be better at understanding your teen.
• Help your teen learn to manage their emotions.
• Help to prevent behaviour problems in your teen.
• Teach your teen to deal with conflict.

Please note: this is an interactive program via zoom. Participants are expected to have cameras on and join from an appropriate setting.

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Please refer to the attached document that outlines the regular group parenting programs that Uniting offer. Also find below flyer containing contact details.

Groups Expressions of Interest Flyer