Dialog Box

CatholicCare Victoria

Parenting Programs and Workshops

Discover parenting tools to better understand and support your children

CatholicCare Victoria offers group workshops and programs for parents and carers across Victoria.

Our programs and workshops can help you build resilience and emotional intelligence in your kids, navigate the complexities of blended and separated families, and learn how to form a better understanding of and relationship with your children. 

Parenting can be tricky, but we’re here to help

To discover our upcoming workshops and programs in Bendigo and Ballarat, see below: 

What's On in Ballarat: Term 4 2023 

What's On in Bendigo: Term 4 2023 Sign up for updates on What's On in Bendigo 

Free single-session workshops:

For parents and carers with teenagers aged 13+


Multi-session programs:

For step and blended families
For parents and carers with teenagers aged 13+

For parents with kids in out-of-home care



Workshops and programs for all parents and carers

Boys Brains workshop

This free 1.5 hour workshop aims to help parents better understand their boys; it will provide practical strategies for how to connect with them and support them to succeed.

Bookings

This workshop can be run in community settings in Bendigo and surrounds, and can also be offered through Zoom.

For more information, please contact our Bendigo office:

T (03) 5438 1300

Bendigo

Fees

There is no charge to access this workshop.



Bringing Up Great Kids program

This multi-session program is for parents and carers with children under the age of 12, and uses mindfulness and reflection to help parents examine and improve communication with their children. By building more respectful and positive interactions, parents and carers can support their child’s development and positive identity.

This program helps parents and carers to:

  • build strong and positive relationships with children
  • increase children's confidence and resilience
  • listen and talk more with children
  • understand communication from children and how to respond
Bookings

The Bringing Up Great Kids program is available in Ballarat, Bendigo, Melton and Warrnambool. To book a Bringing Up Great Kids program or learn more, please contact one of our offices below: 

Bendigo | T (03) 5438 1300   Book online (Bendigo)

 Bendigo Term 4 2023 Flyer

Warrnambool | T (03) 5559 3000 

 Warrnambool

Ballarat FRC | T (03) 5327 7900 

 Ballarat FRC

Melton | T (03) 9069 3210  

 Melton

  

Fees

There is no charge to access this workshop.



Building Resilience in Kids workshop

This free two-hour workshop is for parents and carers who would to like to support their kids to build resilience.

Resilience is the ability to cope with the ups and downs of life. Resilience is not just about managing current stresses, but also developing skills for dealing with challenges throughout life and enhancing mental health.

In this workshop, parents and carers can learn how to can help kids develop skills, habits and attitudes for building resilience, including how to:

  • build good relationships
  • develop independence
  • build confidence to face challenges
  • manage strong emotions
Bookings

This workshop can be run in community settings in Bendigo and surrounds, and can also be offered through Zoom. For more information, please contact our Bendigo office:

T (03) 5438 1300

Bendigo Learn more

Fees

There is no charge to access this workshop.



Circle of Security Parenting

Circle of Security Parenting is a relationship-based parenting program helping you to:

  • understand your child’s emotional world by learning to read emotional needs
  • support your child’s ability to successfully manage emotions
  • enhance the development of your child’s self esteem
  • honour the innate wisdom and desire for your child to be secure
Bookings

The Circle of Security Parenting program is available in Ballarat, Bendigo, and Warrnambool. To book a Circle of Security Parenting program or learn more, please contact one of our offices below:

Ballarat FRC:

T (03) 5327 7900 

 Ballarat FRCTerm 4 2023 Flyer


Bendigo: 

T (03) 5438 1300 

 BendigoBook online Term 4 2023 Flyer

Warrnambool:

T (03) 5559 3000 

 Warrnambool

Fees:

There is no charge to access this workshop.



Connect workshop

The secret to happy, healthy, confident children is a closer connection with their parent. Bonding, being present, seeing things from their point of view, building trust; it takes time and hard work.

This workshop teaches parents to recognise - and respond to - the signals that children make to connect with their parents. The Connect workshop is run as a single session.

Bookings

The Connect workshop is available in Melton. To book a Connect workshop or learn more, please contact our Melton office:

T (03) 9069 3210 

 Melton 

Fees

There is no charge to access this workshop.



Connecting with Kids workshop

This free two-hour workshop helps parents and carers learn how to use emotional intelligence to understand and guide children's behaviour.

Emotional intelligence is the ability to identify our emotions, understand them and be in control of the way we express them.

This workshop covers information on brain development and children's emotional development. 

Bookings

This workshop can be run in community settings in Bendigo and surrounds, and can also be offered through Zoom. For more information, please contact our Bendigo office:

T (03) 5438 1300 

 Bendigo 

Fees

There is no charge to access this workshop.



Programs for separated parents 

CatholicCare Victoria offers three programs for separated parents: Focus on Kids, Building Bridges, and Our Kids.

Focus on Kids & Building Bridges

Our Focus on Kids and Building Bridges programs are available in Gippsland, and are part of our Parenting Orders Program. To book one of these programs or learn more, please contact our Pakenham office:

T 1300 522 076 

 Pakenham 

Focus on Kids fees:

  • $175 per person
  • $100 per person for Concession card / Health Care card holders and students

Building Bridges fees:

  • $70 per person
  • $50 per person for Concession card / Health Care card holders and students
Our Kids - Post-Separation Cooperative Parenting Program

Is your child exposed to conflict between adults they care about? Witnessing conflict between parents can cause distress, behavioural issues, and can negatively impact children’s mental health and wellbeing.

Our Kids is a five-week Post Separation Parenting Program which explores:

  • how ongoing parental conflict affects children
  • how to support your children through changing family relationships
  • how to develop effective communication with your co-parent
  • how to move forward towards a co-operative parenting arrangement.

On completion of the program, participants will receive a Court approved certificate.

The Our Kids program is available in Bendigo and can also be offered through Zoom. 

To learn more, please contact our Bendigo office:

T (03) 5438 1300 

 Bendigo Book online

Fees are for the full program:

  • $150 per person
  • $75 per person for Concession card / Health Care card holders and students


Helping Kids with Big Emotions workshop

This free two-hour workshop combines the key points from our Kids and Anger and Kids and Worry workshops.  

Anger and worry can be challenging emotions for children and parents alike; this workshop explores children's experiences of these emotions, as well as giving parents practical tools to assist children in managing strong emotions.

Bookings

This workshop can be run in community settings in Bendigo and surrounds, and can also be offered through Zoom.

For more information, please contact our Bendigo office:

T (03) 5438 1300

 Bendigo 

Fees

There is no charge to access this workshop.



Hooked Online

Technology can provide hours of entertainment and can aid in child development. But how much screen time is too much?

This workshop is for parents wanting to know more about the benefits  - and pitfalls  - of technology and provides practical tips on managing your child’s screen time. This workshop is run as a single session.

Bookings

The Hooked Online workshop is available in Melton. To book this workshop or learn more, please contact our Melton office:

T (03) 9069 3210

  Melton 

Fees

There is no charge to access this course.



Kids and Anger workshop

This free two-hour workshop helps parents and carers to understand why children get angry, understand their own response to their children's anger and gain strategies in assisting children to appropriately express anger.

Bookings

This workshop can be run in community settings in Bendigo and surrounds, and can also be offered through Zoom. For more information, please contact our Bendigo office:

T (03) 5438 1300

 Bendigo 

Fees

There is no charge to access this workshop.



Kids and Worry workshop

This FREE two-hour workshop explores reasons why children worry and ways parents and carers can support them. It will include ideas and practical tools to help parents and carers assist children to manage their worries.

Bookings

This workshop can be run in community settings in Bendigo and surrounds, and can also be offered through Zoom. For more information, please contact our Bendigo office: 

BendigoTerm 4 2023 Flyer

Fees

There is no charge to access this workshop.



Knowing your Teen workshop

Parenting teenagers is not easy, it requires creativity, determination, and patience! It is a tough phase for everybody, but you are not alone.

Join other parents and carers in this workshop that aims to provide information, improve understanding, and explore strategies that focus on the strengths and challenges of this stage of development.

This free workshop looks at the latest research around teenage brain development, as well as discussing peer relationships and tips for building and maintaining a positive relationship with your teenager.

Bookings

This workshop can be run in community settings in Bendigo and surrounds, and can also be offered through Zoom. 

For more information, contact our Bendigo office:
T (03) 5438 1300  

Bendigo

Fees

There is no charge to access this workshop.



Living with Teens

The Living with Teens workshop covers:

  • how parents can build strong, secure connections with their teenagers
  • what teens need from parents, and how parents can meet these needs
  • adolescent development
Bookings

The Living with Teens workshop is available in Ballarat. To book this workshop or learn more, please contact our Ballarat FRC office:

Ballarat FRC | T (03) 5327 7900 

 Ballarat FRC

Download Term 4 2023 Flyer 

Fees

There is no charge to access this workshop.



My Kids and Me program

My Kids and Me is a six-week program specifically designed for parents who's children are in Out-of-Home or Kinship Care. It is led by two trained and experienced facilitators. The program covers the following topics:

  • how did we get here
  • what's it like for you
  • Looking after yourself
  • talking and listening
  • the legal system
  • what's it like for your kids
  • where to from here
Bookings

This program can be run in Bendigo and can also be offered throughout the Loddon-Mallee region through Zoom. For more information, please contact our Bendigo office:

T (03) 5438 1300

 Bendigo Book online

Fees

There is no charge to access this workshop.



Re-partnering with Kids program

This four-session program is aimed at parents who are newly re-partnered as well as those already living as a stepfamily.

The 'Re-partnering with Kids' program equips parents and stepparents to support children, while also building their own relationship.

Couples and individuals can attend this program.

Bookings

This program can be run in community settings in Bendigo and surrounds, and can also be offered through Zoom. For more information, please contact our Bendigo office:

T (03) 5438 1300 

 Bendigo

Fees
  • $60 per couple
  • $30 per individual
  • $20 per concession


Tech Strategies for Families workshop

Parenting in a world driven by technology presents a set of challenges for parents, guardians, grandparents and carers. Tech is a part of our reality, but setting boundaries around it's use is not always easy.

Join other parents and carers in this workshop which:

  • presents current research
  • helps you reflect on tech use in your family; considering both the challenges and opportunities
  • explores strategies that focus on creating a safe and healthy tech environment for your family
Bookings

The Tech Strategies for Families workshop is a free 1.5 hour program.

To register for this workshop, please book online or contact our Bendigo office:

Bendigo 

Fees

There is no charge to access this workshop.



The Importance of Dads workshop

The free two-hour workshop is for dads with children aged 0-10 years old.

This workshop will:

  • explore the unique role of dads in their child’s development
  • consider the benefits of play
  • discuss how dads can maximise their child’s social, emotional and academic growth
Bookings

This workshop can be run in community settings in Bendigo and surrounds, and can also be offered through Zoom. For more information, please contact our Bendigo office:

T (03) 5438 1300

 Bendigo 

Fees

There is no charge to access this workshop.



Understanding Toddlers workshop

This free two-hour workshop for parents and carers of toddlers covers the developmental stages of toddlers, as well as how you can connect, communicate and manage difficult behaviours in toddlers.

Bookings

The Toddlers workshop can be run in community settings in Bendigo and surrounds, and can also be offered through Zoom. To book this workshop or learn more, please contact our Bendigo office:

T (03) 5438 1300  

Bendigo

Fees

There is no charge to access this workshop.



Tuning in to Kids & Tuning in to Teens programs 

CatholicCare Victoria offers the following programs: Tuning in to Kids, Dads Tuning in to Kids, Tuning in to Teens, and Tuning in to Tweens.

Tuning in to Kids

Would you like to learn how to help your child manage feelings and emotions (emotional intelligence)?

Children with emotional intelligence have greater success making and keeping friends, are more able to calm down when upset or angry, and have better concentration at school. 

In this program you will find out how to help your child understand and manage feeling such as frustration, worry and anger. 

The Tuning in to Kids program is available in Bendigo and Warrnambool, and can also be offered through Zoom from our Bendigo office. To book this program or learn more, please contact one of our offices below: 

Bendigo | T (03) 5438 1300  

 Book onlineBendigo

 Download Bendigo Term 4 2023 Flyer

Warrnambool | T (03) 5559 3000 

 Warrnambool

Ballarat FRC | T (03) 5327 7900  

 Ballarat FRC

Download Ballarat Term 4 2023 Flyer 

Fees: 

There is no charge to access this workshop.


Dads Tuning in to Kids

Would you like to learn how to help your child manage feelings and emotions (emotional intelligence)?

Children with emotional intelligence have greater success making and keeping friends, are more able to calm down when upset or angry, and have better concentration at school.

In this program you will find out how to help your child understand and manage feeling such as frustration, worry and anger.

The Dads Tuning in to Kids program is available in Bendigo, and can also be offered through Zoom. To book this program or learn more, please contact our Bendigo office:

T (03) 5438 1300 

 Bendigo 

Fees:

There is no charge to access this workshop.


Tuning in to Tweens

Tuning Into Tweens is a FREE six week program that assists parents to navigate their child’s transition into teenage years. This program supports mums and dads to build strong relationships with their teenagers and enable them to communicate, even in difficult times.

The Tuning Into Tweens program is available in Melton. To book this program or learn more, please contact our Melton office:

T (03) 9069 3210

 Melton 

Fees:

There is no charge to access this workshop.


Tuning in to Teens

The adolescent years are among the most challenging for parents to navigate.

This program helps mums and dads to build strong relationships and ensure positive interactions with their teenager - even in difficult times. 

The Tuning in to Teens program is available in Bendigo, and can also be offered through Zoom.

Book online

To learn more, please contact our Bendigo office:

T (03) 5438 1300 

 Bendigo  

Fees:
There is no charge to access this workshop.


More information

Client Rights and Responsibilities 




Other services

You might also be interested in some of the following services offered at CatholicCare Victoria:

Donate