Coffs Coast parents of bubs and toddlers encouraged to access Karitane support service Coffs Coast Coffs Coast News by News Of The Area - Modern Media - August 20, 2021 Virtual access: Karitane’s toddler behaviour program in session. PARENTS of newborns and toddlers, feeling anxious, lonely or impacted in some way by the current COVID restrictions, are being encouraged to seek support through a range of free, virtual, early parenting services provided by Karitane. With a newly extended offer of support services thanks to funding from a $348,000 NSW Government grant, Karitane is urging parents to call their careline, or visit their website to self-refer to their range of services. Advertise with News of The Area today. It’s worth it for your business. Message us. Phone us – (02) 4981 8882. Email us – media@newsofthearea.com.au The not-for-profit parenting support service recorded its highest ever number of referrals in its 100-year history over the past few months. “Approximately fifty of those referrals were families in the Coffs area,” CEO of Karitane, Grainne O’Loughlin told News Of The Area. “We know that 80% of mums with children under five years need at least some moderate level of support, but only 30% seek it out, and this can be due to difficulties in physically accessing the right care – particularly for families in regional areas where access to a wide range of early parenting support is few and far between.” By accessing Karitane’s virtual support services, families in the Coffs area can receive professional care by way of virtual home visits, virtual residential stays, virtual breastfeeding clinics, mental health consults, toddler behaviour programs, virtual playgroups and daily parenting virtual workshops. “At Karitane, we know it takes a village to raise a child. “The first five years of a child’s life are considered a critical early developmental period, which is why we’re proud to be leading the way with our ‘virtual village’, providing help, support and social connection to those who need it right now. “This grant has allowed Karitane the opportunity to extend our virtual services at an incredibly challenging time for many Australian families. “Our experience through many years of delivering virtual care has proven that specialised virtual care can be just as impactful as face-to-face care,” said Grainne. For information on Karitane’s services, please visit: https://www.karitane.com.au/ or call 1300 227 464. By Andrea FERRARI Log on to a virtual home visit with Karitane.
