MacKillop’s Family Support Service provides culturally safe and trauma informed support and assistance to families to:
- Help them keep their children safe, at home
- Reunify children in care with their birth family or kinship group
- Support pregnant mothers to grow up healthy and safe children
Family support involves two primary forms of service and support:
- Providing practical support in the family home and in families’ daily lives to help them build parenting skills and maintain a safe environment for children to grow up at home.
- Connection and referring families to the services they need and monitoring their progress towards success.
MacKillops Family Support Service provides support and guidance to families on a range of complex issues such as family and domestic violence, housing instability, school truancy, substance abuse, poor mental or physical health, parenting challenges, and family functioning.
MacKillops Family Support Service is delivered in partnership with local Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (ACCHO), Danila Dilba Health Service who provide culturally-appropriate, comprehensive primary health care and community services to Biluru (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) people in the Yilli Rreung (greater Darwin) region of the Northern Territory.
How to access this service
The Family Support Service is available free to families living in the Greater Darwin Region. Families can be referred by the Department of Territory Families, Housing and Communities (TFHC) or by community organisations. Families can also self-refer by contacting us directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I refer myself to the Family Support Service?
Yes, you can refer yourself by calling our office on (08) 9160 4650 and speaking to the Team Leader or Senior Practitioner. If you are involved with another service, they can also refer you by completing our referral form and emailing to us at referralsdarwin@mackillop.org.au.
How long can families receive support for?
Family Support Service can provide support for between 3 – 12 months.
Do families need to be involved with TFHC receive Family Support Service support?
No, we can accept referrals directly from other organisations or families themselves.
What if I am already involved with TFHC?
Families can be referred to the Family Support Service at any time however if you are already involved with TFHC we recommend you talk to your TFHC worker and ask them to make a referral to us on your behalf.
What if I am not sure who my TFHC worker is or how to contact them?
Give us a call on 9160 4650 or drop in to our MacKillop office at 3, 4 Shepherd Street, Darwin City and we can make enquiries on your behalf and request a referral.
What can I expect once a referral has been made?
Families will be assigned a Practitioner who will contact you to make a time to meet and discuss the Family Support Service program in more detail. You will also receive support from one or more of our Aboriginal Family Support Workers.
How often do Family Support Service workers meet with families?
Practitioners and or Aboriginal Family Support Workers meet with families up 1-2 times per week, however this usually tapers off towards the end of work when families are feeling more equipped to manage independently.
What is the difference between a Practitioner and an Aboriginal Family Support Worker?
Practitioners provide case management responsibility and oversee child protection matters. They also assist families with navigating complex systems including child protection (TFHC), the NDIS, and Centrelink. Practitioners can liaise with TFHC on behalf of families and or support them to attend meetings and communicate with TFHC. The Senior Practitioner is able to work with complex child protection cases requiring more intensive supports.
Aboriginal Family Support Workers are employed by Danila Dilba under our partnership agreement. They provide cultural oversight and can assist with a range of activities such as transport and attendance for health or other appointments, support with budgeting, education on meal prep, health and hygiene, school attendance, and parenting support.
What types of issues does the Family Support Service assist families with?
MacKillop Family Support Service can provide support and guidance on a range of complex issues such as Family and Domestic Violence, housing instability, school truancy, substance abuse, poor mental or physical health, parenting challenges, and family functioning.
