Orana Early Support

Our early intervention volunteer home visiting program supports vulnerable mothers with new babies and young children. Trained volunteers are carefully selected & supervised by the coordinators to support and mentor mothers in their own homes. Our mission is “to improve the quality of life for families with newborns and young children and building a healthier community”. Our goals are to: decrease family stress and reduce/prevent future crises, reduce social isolation, promote family resilience through enhancing parents’ knowledge and parenting skills, promotion of health & wellbeing through healthy eating, active play, practical & emotional support, referral for additional services, promoting key messages for reaching developmental milestones, early risk identification, promotion of links with health professionals, encouraging the principles of early literacy, & strengthening parent/child attachment and interactions. We support mothers with postnatal depression or anxiety, multiple birth families, families with ill health or disability.

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  Research shows that the first 3 years of life are critical for children's development. Their emotional, physical & neurological growth is affected by their experiences in these early years. Our service builds positive experiences for mother & child and strengthens family resilience. This achieves better outcomes by assisting with problems before they become entrenched.
  
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  Postnatal depression may affect 1 in 5 women in the first year after the birth of their child. Perinatal mental health is closely connected to infant mental health, so looking after mum means looking after the baby too. For a mother experiencing postnatal depression there may be less bonding with her baby.Our priority is newborns & our support focuses on the critical relationship between mother & baby. Getting in with early support may prevent the development of mental health problems in children. Our home visitors model & encourage positive play & interaction with babies, help the mothers attend their medical/psychologist/counselling appointments, as well as reduce the family's isolation.
  
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  Volunteering builds a strong community & makes a significant contribution to building social capital. Our team of 80 volunteer home visitors have formed trusting relationships with local families & created a healthier, happier, caring Sutherland Shire community.
  

Your donation will greatly assist us in continuing this vital work:

$30 funds: reference and screening checks for a volunteer

$50 funds: 1 volunteer training pack which includes training manual, antibacterial gel, sunscreen, disposable gloves

$200 funds: 1 initial training session for 1 volunteer

$500 funds: Mileage  reimbursement for a coordinator's home visits to families for 3 months

$1,000 funds: 1 trained volunteer to support a family for 6 months