Promoting First Relationships (VIC)

After strong evidence of its success in the United States, Kids First sourced the PFR program and has offered the program for several years. This effective, evidence-based program is available to parents or caregivers and their children aged 0-10 years.

PFR can be delivered in your home or at one of our Centres in Thomastown and Heidelberg. Our practitioner will tailor the support to your family’s unique strengths, experiences and needs.  When working with you, our practitioner will:

• Take short videos during some visits of you and your child interacting in everyday moments. Then, you’ll watch the videos back together, which helps slow things down and allows you to see the little things happening between you and your child that are easy to miss. The videos are a way to support and encourage you – they are never used to judge or correct.
• Share positive feedback about what you are doing to support your child’s social and emotional needs and your relationship with your child.
• Give you the time to think more deeply about your child’s feelings and needs – and your own, too.
• Share handouts with information about social and emotional development and invite you to think about how the ideas fit for you and your child.

Participating in PFR will help you to understand and respond to your child's behaviours by looking at the feelings and needs that sit underneath it and understand how to support your child's social and emotional health. It is designed to increase your confidence as a parent and strengthen the relationship between you and your child.

• Building an enjoyable and trusting relationship with your child.

• Understanding and responding to your child’s behavior by looking at the feelings and needs underneath it.

• Understanding how to support your child’s social and emotional health.

• Discussing strategies for coping with difficult times as a caregiver.

• Understanding ways you can help your child through emotionally difficult experiences.

"It (PFR) has been a fantastic support especially in my confidence as a parent. Before the program I doubted myself a lot thinking I must be doing something wrong or could be doing something better. You helped me see all the little things I was doing well and reflect on what I also needed. You always made me feel comfortable to share and I felt you very quickly picked up on our needs and went out of your way to accommodate these. You explained everything so well and were inclusive in how we worked together. I never felt judged and the way you delivered feedback was encouraging and motivating. A huge thank you, you have made a huge difference in my life and hopefully a flow on effect to my child’s life.”

Promoting First Relationships is a free program offered by Kids First. To access the program, enquire using the form below, or contact our intake and engagement team on 03 9450 0900

Please note: This program is currently available in the Melbourne Metropolitan areas of Whittlesea, Nillumbik, Banyule, Darebin and Yarra.  If you are located outside of these areas, please contact your local Orange Door to enquire about parenting programs available near you.