Navigating separation and divorce is not easy. There are many decisions to be made around finances, property and parenting. Centacare’s Post-Separation Parenting Course can support you to better understand and manage changes in your family.
Parenting after a relationship ends can be both daunting and challenging.
Parents may feel isolated and low in confidence as they adjust to their family’s new circumstances.
They may also struggle to communicate with one another in a non-adversarial way, and be challenged by their children’s behaviour.
Centacare South East offers a free three-hour post-separation parenting workshop for clients of its Family Dispute Resolution (FDR) service to guide separated parents through change. This workshop is also available at a small fee for parents not accessing the FDR service.
At the workshop, parents can:
- Share with others what is different now that their family has changed
- Learn what their children need
- Develop strategies to communicate respectfully with the other parent
- Identify what gets in the way of working with the other parent
- Explore the development needs of children
The focus of the workshop is on post-separation parenting and how to best support children through this challenging time in a positive manner. A separated couple will need to attend separate sessions.
It is not designed for adults to resolve their personal experiences of grief or anger related to the end of their relationship.
As bookings are essential, please contact Centacare on 8303.6630. Alternatively, expressions of interest may be directed to fdr@centacare.org.au
Case study
The split
Sam* and Gill* had shared three children and a decade of memories when their marriage ended.
Both blamed one another for the demise of their relationship.
Focussed on how one had made the other feel, they were preoccupied with resentment and humiliation.
Sam and Gill commenced Family Dispute Resolution with Centacare.
Gill’s story
Though she worried about the impact of their separation on the children, Gill’s primary focus was on herself – and never having to speak to Sam again.
At intake, the Centacare Family Dispute Resolution practitioner suggested some self-care strategies and asked Gill how the children were managing, given the level of hostility between their parents.
It made Gill stop and think: If she was finding it so hard to cope, how were the children faring?
She wanted to be there for them but worried about parenting alone, so she took her practitioner’s advice and enrolled in Centacare’s Post Separation Parenting Course.
Sam’s story
Sam cited `growing apart’ as the reason for the separation.
His priority was on moving forward towards a new life – without Gill in it.
Sam’s initial thoughts revolved around his new life. However, in speaking with the Family Dispute Resolution practitioner at intake, he became curious about how his children might cope with this new direction and resolved to support them more.
He too commenced the Post Separation Parenting Course.
Sharing responsibility
The course gave each parent a new perspective on their separation and the important place that each has in their children’s lives.
When the day of the joint mediation session arrived after both parents had attended a post-separation parenting course, Sam and Gill chatted amicably in the same waiting area.
Asked by the practitioner what had led to their change of heart, they explained they now saw their separation in a new light.
Previously, they had not been able to see past their own feelings to recognise their children’s needs.
However, undertaking the course had shown them the importance of putting their children first.
After the course, each had contacted the other citing a desire to work together as co-parents for the sake of their son and daughters.
Discussions continued in a child-focussed, cooperative manner.
A parenting plan was reached and both parents made a full commitment to their children.
Gill and Sam continue to build a strong co-parenting alliance based on mutual respect and understanding – driven by the needs of their children.
