MyTime Support Groups

MyTime support groups are the result of an Australian Government initiative titled ‘Peer support groups for parents of young children with disabilities’ that was announced in the federal budget of May 2006. Implementation of the MyTime initiative is being co-ordinated by the Parenting Research Centre with assistance from a range of community based organisations across Australia.

Further background to the initiative can be found using the search mechanism on the website of the Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaCSIA). Searching with ‘peer support groups’ or the full ‘peer support groups for parents of young children with disabilities’ will bring up a number of relevant documents.

MyTime groups are designed to provide locally based support for mums, dads, grandparents and anyone caring for a young child under school age with a disability or chronic medical condition. MyTime provides parents with the chance to socialise and share ideas with people in similar circumstances, to have fun and to hear about available community support. Research-based parenting information is also available at group meetings. Eligibility is for parents and carers of children under school age with a disability or chronic medical condition who are eligible to receive the Carer Allowance (Child).

For more information, contact MyTime staff at the Parenting Research Centre on:

1800 889 997 or 03 8660 3555 or

www.mytime.net.au

www.parentingrc.org.au