Strong Young Mums

Centacare established the Strong Young Mums program in Bourke in September 2005 with funding from the Australian Government through the Stronger Families and Community Strategy.

Strong Young Mums was established in response to the high occurrence of teenage pregnancies in Bourke. Strong Young Mums connects women with the education system and early intervention programs and conducts regular activities to engage mothers with other services and support networks.

The young women also participate in weekly play groups and social gatherings which are attended by health and early childhood professionals as well as older women who act as mentors for the young mums. During these group sessions women learn about health, nutrition, bonding, play, parent-child interaction and parenting. The women and their children participate in play and early literacy activities which they are encouraged to take back into their homes.

Home Visits

The mothers receive regular home visits which create the opportunity to expose the whole family to early childhood education experiences in their home. Strong Young Mums program facilitators conduct a mini VIP (mini visiting play group) which introduces resources and activities to young children and their parents.  Through these activities, the parents get a sense of age-appropriate activities and the importance of them being their child’s first teacher providing early learning experiences in the home.

The program is supported by Centacare's strong partnerships with key agencies such as TAFE, Bourke Community Health, Bourke Aboriginal Medical Service, Bourke Childcare Centre, Bourke Mobile Children’s Service, Family Support, DoCS and the Bourke / Brewarrina Family Violence Prevention Legal Service.

The Strong Young Mums program has successfully connected a highly vulnerable group of parents with many existing services and opened the doors to addressing the disadvantage in their own lives and the lives of their children. The program has now been extended by Centacare to Lake Cargelligo and Narromine.

SYM Enterprises

Supported by Centacare, SYM Enterprises is a new venture in 2009 involving many of the talented young mothers, through which they are now developing the skills and knowledge needed to generate their own income. SYM Enterprises is proud to release an original line of beautiful art cards, distinctive jewellery and fun children’s paint smocks with matching book bags.

When you purchase a product crafted by SYM Enterprises, you are helping and encouraging a group of determined young women to further develop valuable life skills, independence and pride, and in the long term, contribute to the break down of cycles of disadvantage in their families and community.

For enquiries about ordering SYM Enterprises products tel. 02 9390 5878 or email enquiries@centacarewf.org.au