Children’s Health Queensland’s Ellen Barron Family Centre now offers a new referral pathway through 13HEALTH, making it easier for families to access free, 24/7 virtual support for their child’s feeding, sleep, behaviour or developmental challenges.
The Virtual Residential Parenting Program (VRPP), connects parents and carers across Queensland, northern New South Wales and the Northern Territory with expert, tailored support within the familiar environment of their home.
First introduced in 2022 to support families unable to travel to Brisbane for the residential program due to COVID-19 restrictions, the virtual program is now a permanent part of the service, ensuring access to tailored support and guidance from the Ellen Barron Family Centre team regardless of where a family lives.
More than 650 families have been supported through the program in the past four years, including Cairns mum Cynthia Franco and her eight-month-old daughter Lilly (pictured above), who said the program was a ‘lifeline’ after enduring months of sleepless nights.
“Lilly had an early sleep regression at around three months, and things just kept getting worse. We felt like we created more habits trying to fix it, but it seemed nothing was working,” Ms Franco said.
“After visits with our GP and a Child Health Nurse, we received a referral to the Ellen Barron Family Centre and participated in the virtual program.
“The virtual support was so important for us. Having someone on the phone with us during those tough nights made all the difference. Without EBFC, we wouldn’t have made it through.
“The best part was we didn’t have to go to Brisbane or uproot our lives. We could do it all from home. As a parent, you often feel lost, you don’t know what’s going on. Having someone there to guide and support you makes all the difference.”
Ellen Barron Family Centre Assistant Director of Nursing Lynne Thurbon said the virtual model had transformed how the team delivered care for families outside of Brisbane.
“We know that travel and time away from home can be a significant barrier for many families. The virtual model has allowed us to extend the reach of our care and expertise to help even more families,” she said.
“Our experienced multi-disciplinary team is just a phone call away, available around the clock to help parents build their skills and confidence in parenting and guide them through the challenges they are facing with their children.
“A calm, expert voice on the phone has proven to be incredibly reassuring and empowering for parents, giving them the confidence they need to try new techniques and approaches for parenting.
Families can be referred to the Ellen Baron Family Centre by a GP or other health professional and now can request a referral through 13HEALTH (13 43 25 84) by speaking with a Child Health Nurse.
For more information on the Ellen Barron Family Centre, visit www.childrens.health.qld.gov.au/ebfc.