Back in 1994 when Parent Line NSW first formed, the parenting landscape was drastically different from how it is today. As Practice Manager Vanessa Harnischmacher remarks, the act of parenting back then was not viewed as a verb, “…the awareness around the complexities and challenges that came with looking after children was not as normalised as it is today.”
It’s been estimated that over the past three decades, the Parent Line team has provided support to over 135,000 families and taken over 250,000 calls.
Times have changed, and so too have the concerns and issues that parents and care givers come to Parent Line with, but their team have been able to adapt and provide support based on individual needs Thirty years later, there has never been a more challenging time to be a parent, as renowned Dr. Norman Swan remarks, and our team of experienced and qualified counsellors have seen it all, adapting to the moving trends and concerns that come with parenting in 2024.
Last October, the Parent Line and CatholicCare Sydney team were honoured to be joined by special guests, including the Hon. Minister Kate Washington, Minister for Families and Communities, and Minister for Disability Inclusion, and the NSW Children’s Guardian Steve Kinmond, OAM. We were also joined by representatives from NSW Health, Department of Communities and Justice, and other social service agencies.
Event proceedings began with a Welcome to Country by proud Marrawarra and Barkindji man, Brendan Kerin, who also reflected on the importance of supporting parents and carers, especially those who may have had difficult upbringings or lacked proper guidance themselves. Children’s Guardian of NSW, Steve Kinmond OAM, also touched on this point too by reflecting on his own childhood journey and highlighted the importance of ensuring we break the intergenerational cycle of trauma and abuse for children, with it all starting with parents and carers being supported and receiving the support they need.
The Hon. Kate Washington spoke of the impact of Parent Line’s legacy over three decades, drawing emphasis on the service’s strong leadership and dedication to evolving with the changing nature of parenting.
“This significant birthday milestone highlights our counsellor’s ongoing commitment to ensuring parents feel supported, no matter how complex their concerns. We are proud to deliver a service that empowers families by providing guidance tailored to their individual needs, helping them build resilience.” said Practice Manager Vanessa Harnischmacher.
A big thank you to all who joined us to celebrate this milestone with a special acknowledgement to both current and previous Parent Line counsellors —the voices at the other end of the phone serving families all over regional and metro NSW.
If you are working with parents or caregivers who are needing extra support, they can call Parent Line on 1300 1300 52 or visit parentline.org.au. Our team of experienced and qualified counsellors are available seven days a week, 9am to 9pm Monday to Friday, and 4pm to 9pm Saturday and Sunday.
Parent Line NSW is proudly funded by the Department of Communities and Justice NSW.