Family Connections

Family Connections is a holistic, short term family support and advocacy service which responds to families in financial, spiritual, emotional and health crisis. It works with the family and the community to find solutions to these needs. Family Connections believes in cultural sensitivity and promotes a strength based approach to promote family health and wellbeing.

Family Connections is run by two qualified professionals with over 35 years of experience of working with children, teenagers and families in the school, Parish and community environments.
  • Jan Imarisio Dip Ed; Ad Dip Christian Counselling and Family Therapy; M Counselling
  • Tracey Langford Grad Cert Counselling and Guidance; Grad Cert Human Services

Over the past two years Family Connections with the support of St Joseph’s Catholic Parish and the Society of St Vincent de Paul has trialed this service in St Joseph’s Parish community. The service supported 15 families and responded to specific crises that affected their functioning and wellbeing. This included practical, emotional and spiritual support whilst visiting the family in their home.
  • Practical: Meals, food and groceries, transport, telephone, rent, school uniform, medical, sporting equipment, school expenses, hampers for special occasions ie Christmas, Easter and Graduation, school camps/excursions, connecting families to agencies, taking families to appointments.
  • Emotional: Face to face consultation, individual therapy, family therapy
  • Spiritual: Connection of families to Schools and Parish, prayer, bearing witness to the Gospel values.

Due to the success of this piloted service, the Catholic Foundation Grants Committee has awarded $5000 to assist with funding Family Connections in 2017. We hope to continue this service with your support so that we strengthen our families in our schools and parish and live the Gospel values. With your participation and cooperation, this service can grow and be a model of Catholic family support.