Guiding Values
All children have the right to grow up in an environment free from neglect and abuse. Their best interests are paramount in all decisions affecting them.
Improving the safety and wellbeing of the children is a national priority.
The safety and wellbeing of children is primarily the responsibility of their families, who should be supported by their communities and governments.
Australian society values, supports and works in partnership with parents, families, and others in fulfilling their caring responsibilities for children.
Children and their families have the right to participate in decisions affecting them.
Policies and interventions are evidence informed
Children’s rights are upheld by systems and institutions
Guiding Principles
Many services and programs including Safe Start are playing a critical role in supporting families to keep children safe and well at home and reduce the need for children to be removed from their families to ensure their safety. Safe Start is guided by the principles of the Case Management Framework that works with the family, whilst keeping a Child Centred approach. This is done through:
Proactive engagement
Strengths based approach
Logical processes
Partnership with children, families and partnering agencies
Systemic links to broaden referral pathways
Outcomes driven to achieve family’s goals
Culturally responsive in an inclusive approach that respect culture and see culture as a strength
Holistic processes to encompass all factors to the child and family’s safety and wellbeing
Dynamic to be open to change and responsive to needs as they arise
Introducing UponFutures Safe Start Program
UponFutures Support Services Safe Start works with infants in the first 1000 days (pre-birth to 24 months) and their families who are experiencing complex issues. It provides coordinated, targeted, and culturally responsive engagement. Safe Start provides support to infants and their families to improve their safety, health, development, and wellbeing outcomes where child protection risk factors exist. Safe Start is committed to ‘Closing the Gap’ and enhancing interaction with health, wellbeing, and developmental outcomes for Aboriginal infants and their families. Safe Start does this through building strong local Aboriginal partnerships to guide interventions and case planning guided by formalised cultural consultation.
The key objective of the Safe Start is to engage at-risk women and their partnersthrough the antenatal period. Safe Start will assist with building on the family’s level of protectiveness and understanding, and their connection to kinship and community to strengthen their parenting capacity in preparation for the birth of their child. Safe Start will also provide support to families who have infants with a disability or complex needs, and child protection concerns. Safe Start will assist families in navigating the most appropriate pathways and in accessing services.
The Safe Start model is based on a collaborative, empowering practice, with a strengthens-based approach. Safe Start staff will work alongside families, colleagues, and agency partners, to provide an integrated and holistic approach. This model of practice supports the engagement of families earlier into the pregnancy and enables services to engage, that may not have been connected.
SEWB Social & Emotional Social Wellbeing
Alcohol & other DrugsDrug and alcohol support services can be helpful if you’re struggling with substance use. UponFutures Support Services can offer a broad range of services including emotional support, counselling, treatment, relapse prevention, and long-term recovery strategies. Whether you're looking for help for yourself, a family member, or a friend, UponFutures Support services can help you break the cycle of addiction and support you in rebuilding a healthier, more fulfilling life.
Mental Health Support Mental health support through UponFutures Support Services can provide help for a wide range of emotional, psychological, and behavioural issues. We can provide Counselling, Case management support, support plans, care plans, and long-term strategies for maintaining mental well-being. Accessing mental health support can help you better understand your condition, improve your quality of life, and work toward lasting recovery and personal growth.
AOD & Mental Health Counselling Drug and alcohol and mental health counselling provides a holistic approach to managing both substance use and mental health challenges. By offering counselling, support, and education, our counsellors help individuals develop healthier coping mechanisms, reduce the risk of relapse, improve their emotional well-being, and achieve long-term recovery.
Family Violence SupportUponFutures Support Services works with Family violence victims supporting individuals with services designed to help victims and survivors who are experiencing or have experienced abuse within a family, household or relationship. Our services provide immediate safety, emotional support, legal advocacy, housing, and long-term assistance. UponFutures Support Services aims to empower victims to regain control of their lives, protect themselves and their children, and rebuild their mental and emotional well-being.
Homelessness SupportUponFutures Support Services supports individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of homelessness by providing immediate support such as emergency housing, long-term housing solutions, and services aimed at addressing the root causes of homelessness. These services include case management, access to health care, employment assistance, mental health and substance use treatment and more. The goal is not only to get individuals off the streets but also to help them regain stability, self-sufficiency, and quality of life.
Crisis Intervention UponFutures Support Services Crisis intervention support provides immediate assistance to individuals facing an emotional, mental, or physical crisis. This is also aimed at individuals at risk of homelessness. We aim to stabilise the person, assess risk, provide emotional support, ensure safety, and connect them to necessary resources. Whether dealing with mental health emergencies, domestic violence, substance use crises, or trauma, crisis intervention aims to reduce immediate distress, prevent escalation, and provide a individual with stability.