Programs for Families and Children

VICSEG programs assist newly arrived, socially isolated migrant, refugee and asylum seeker families to learn about and engage with mainstream Early Childhood and Care Services, including allied health, specialist services and primary schools. We aim to enhance social inclusion by creating strong, child-friendly, culturally diverse communities to maximise the early development and education of children at the local level. Through our playgroups, parent support groups and family mentoring programs, children develop social skills, learning competence and positive social-emotional functioning. Parents benefit through opportunities for social support and pathways to learning, vocational training and employment.

Building Connections - VICSEG Resource and Mentoring Program for Refugee Families [Video]

Refugee Family Mentoring Program

The Family Mentoring program operates across the northern and western suburbs of Melbourne. Teams of bilingual bi-cultural workers provide individual support to parents by helping them connect with early childhood services, family support and schools in their local communities. Our family mentors are fluent in English and speak a number of other community languages and dialects. Group activities are also available through our Family Mentoring program including; supported cultural playgroups, parent and child English literacy programs and parent education programs.

Evidence into Action Family Mentoring for newly arrived refugee families (490 KB)

Empowering Parents, Empowering Communities

Empowering Parents, Empowering Communities is a group –based parent education program run by VICSEG family mentors and parent peer educators. Interested parents are trained to facilitate the Being a Parent course in their own communities. Parents enjoy coming together to support each other share information about the joys and challenges of raising children. The course is run in local primary schools and community centres during school terms and includes free on-site childcare.

Empowering Parents, Empowering Communities (419 KB)