The Karitane Volunteer Family Connect program connects trained volunteers with families experiencing parenting challenges with children aged from birth to 5 years.

Our trained volunteers visit you at home or in the community to offer practical support. They help parents adjust to life with a new baby, manage multiple children, and deal with feelings of isolation or frustration. This free service is available to parents with children from birth to 5 years, living in Shellharbour

Volunteers are skilled, trained and supervised. They are caring, experienced, respectful, and confidential. They help by being good listeners and are non-judgmental and friendly to you and your family.

Watch the Karitane VFC Program in action here

We are here for families who:

• Have young children aged 0-5 years
• Feel in need of more support in their parenting role
• At times feel isolated or overwhelmed
• Have limited or no local networks to support them
• Need more support connecting to services in their local community
• Would like a volunteer home visitor

Volunteers can assist with:

• Developing your skills and confidence as a parent
• Establishing routines that work for your family
• Helping you become aware of services available to you
• Helping you identify your needs or concerns
• Accessing the community, going to the library, the park or even the shopping centre - things that can be overwhelming for some new parents

Benefits for families:

• Encourage parent and child relationships
• Reduce isolation, stress and anxiety
• Connect to a network of parent and community supports
• Have access to information and support
• New ideas for playing with your child
• Increase resilience and parental capacity

How to start the process:

If you are a parent with child under 5 years and live in Shellharbour area and would like a volunteer - fill in this short form at karitane.com.au/vfc and our team will be in touch.

Volunteers make a life changing difference to families – if you’d like to learn more about volunteering for the program please click here and complete the short form, alternatively you can email: [email protected] and our team will respond.

Watch here How You Can Volunteer to Help Families with the Karitane VFC Program