Ballarat Family Services
In 2003, Child & Family Services Ballarat joined with Centacare Ballarat, Ballarat Health Services Women's and Children's Unit and the City of Ballarat's Enhanced Parenting Service to provide increased support for local families. The partnership is known as Ballarat Family Services.
The Department of Human Services is progressively making substantial funding available across Victoria in order to reduce the number of Child Protection notifications and re-notifications. These new initiatives are the "Family Support Innovations Projects."
Ballarat was chosen as one of 6 local government areas to receive the initial funding in 2003. More recently (February 2005), funding was extended to Ararat and Pyrenees local government areas. The remaining local Shires (Golden Plains, Hepburn and Moorabool) have been funded from February 2006.
Since the beginning of the Ballarat project in February 2003, child protection notifications in Ballarat have been reduced significantly. This should provide sustainable long-term benefits to Ballarat families.
For information about Innovations Projects across the state, see the DHS website at: www.dhs.vic.gov.au/innovationprojects
For more information on the Family Support Innovations Programs ring Child & Family Services Ballarat, 03 5337 3333 or Centacare Ballarat 03 5337 8999.
Family Services Intake--Child FIRST:
CAFS hosts an Intake and Referral service for people requiring family services who live in the east of Grampians Region ie the Local Government Areas of Ballarat, Ararat, Pyrenees, Golden Plains, Moorabool and Hepburn Shires. This is part of the family services partnership. From April 2007, this will be known as Child FIRST.
Child FIRST will roll out across the state over the next few years. Grampians region is fortunate to have full coverage by Child FIRST in the first round. Child FIRST provides a central intake and referral point for families where the wellbeing of a child is at risk (note--where the safety of a child is at risk, Child Protection is the appropriate service to contact).
To make a referral or inquiry to family services in Ballarat, Ararat, Pyrenees,Golden Plains, Moorabool and Hepburn, ring the Child FIRST Intake number (local call) 1300 78 33 41.