Information for families

Who can use Home-Start?

Any family with at least one child under five years, living in Newcastle or East Lake Macquarie areas, experiencing difficulties.

Families benefitting from the support provided by Home-Start include parents with new babies, single parents, families where one partner is working long hours so unable to provide support during work hours, people who have recently moved to the area and have little or no support networks, a child with special needs. Each family will have a different situation.

How do families contact Home-Start?

Families are referred by workers in health services - e.g. GP, John Hunter Hospital, Child and Family Health, First Steps parenting and social workers.

Phone Home-Start on 4921 6842 or 49215758

What happens when a family is referred?

Home-Start coordinators make an initial visit to the family to assess support requirements and discuss the Home-Start concept. If Home-Start can assist, the coordinator will introduce a trained volunteer to the family. The volunteer and family will determine when the visits will occur. The coordinator maintains close links with both the family and volunteer during this time to ensure that support offered is meeting the family's needs.