Helping families parent from a distance

Parents spending significant periods away from their families will be assisted by a new book launched today by Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Larry Anthony, and Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence, Danna Vale.

Parenting at Home and Away has been developed by the Australian Early Childhood Association in collaboration with the Defence Community Organisation. While it is particularly applicable to Defence families, it will also be useful for all Australian families balancing their work and family commitments.

“All Australians share pride in our Defence personnel, who often have to spend extended periods away from home in the service of their country. The Government recognises that long absences by personnel who are parents is an issue of great concern to all Australian Defence Force families,” Mrs Vale said.

“This resource provides some sound, practical strategies that will help minimise the impact on families of extended periods of service away from home.

“The experiences of ADF families contributing to this book will also be of use to all Australian parents facing similar absences from home.”

Mr Anthony said that while Defence families often had special circumstances to deal with, many Australian families had parents spending considerable amounts of time away from home and needed to consider parenting from a distance.

“The kind of care children experience early in their lives can make a difference to their happiness and success as adults. This basically comes down to good parenting.

“Many families today have a parent who is separated from the family through work commitments or through relationship problems. What most families have in common is a commitment to their children.

“By bringing together practical parenting ideas from Defence families and information about children’s emotional needs, thisbooklet provides parents with a valuable tool for enriching their families lives and relationships,” Mr Anthony said.