PARENT WELLBEING, HELP-SEEKING AND UPTAKE OF PARENTING PROGRAMS: INSIGHTS FROM THE REPRESENTATIVE PARENTING TODAY IN VICTORIA SURVEY
Mandy Kienhuis, PhD; Catherine Wade, PhD
July 24, 2024, 12-1pm AEST
Findings from the Parenting Today in Victoria study provide a rigorous and credible snapshot of how Victorian parents are faring. To date, survey data has been collected across three waves (2016, 2019, 2022), and will be collected again in 2025. In each wave of the survey, computer assisted telephone interviewing was used to obtain a representative sample of 2600 Victorian parents and carers (40% fathers) of children aged 0-18 years. This seminar will present survey findings focused on parent wellbeing, help-seeking, uptake of parenting programs, and program features that influence parents’ decision to participate in parenting programs. Our findings provide valuable baseline data about uptake of both in-person and online parenting programs – information useful for tracking the uptake of programs over time, including uptake by specific groups of parents (e.g., fathers). Our findings also provide valuable insights into factors that influence parent decisions to participate in parenting programs – information valuable for increasing parent participation in parenting programs.
About the presenter
Dr Mandy Kienhuis has over 15 years’ experience as a psychology researcher, in the areas of clinical psychology, developmental transitions, and parenting, and is passionate about promoting positive adjustment in children and supporting parents and families. Prior to her recent return to the Parenting Research Centre, Mandy has worked in clinical roles and academic settings. As a Research Specialist with the Parenting Research Centre, Mandy is leading the Parenting Today in Victoria survey.
About the presenter
Dr Catherine Wade is Principal Research Specialist at the Parenting Research Centre. She leads research, evaluation and analysis activities at the Centre, managing a team of research staff engaged in projects focused on evaluating the implementation and impact of initiatives aimed at improving the lives of vulnerable families across Australia and internationally. Dr Wade is also a Research Affiliate with the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Sydney. Catherine has over 20 years of experience conducting social policy research, and has been part of the Parenting Today in Victoria study team since its inception in 2016.