A NEW style of first-time parents’ group is being launched in Portland, with the focus being shifted to parents reflecting on their upbringing and forming a community village for their families.

The new program is being run by Portland District Health maternal and child health nurse Jahzeel Tromp in conjunction with the Portland library.

Mrs Tromp said it would be very different to traditional parenting group models operating over the past 20 years.

“There is very much a reflective practice focus and a parenting focus,” she said.

“I ask a lot of questions that give the parents a chance to think about themselves, their influences and their values, rather than telling them how to bring up a child.

“Instead of saying this is what happens in a child’s development, it focusses on parents sharing about their upbringing and what made them feel loved and cared for.”

Mrs Tromp said a lot of modern adult learning is centred around reflective practice.

“This program is trying to put a parenting spin on it,” she said.

“My philosophy is that if you’re better selfmanaged, you’re a better parent.

“Instead of bombarding parents with information, I’m getting them to think about themselves, how they were brought up and how they want to parent within the community that they live.”

The format for the weekly sessions includes 15 minutes for a guest speaker, 15 minutes of reflective questions, and some time to reflect on how good parenting is.

“Parents can share as much or as little as they want and I recognise that everyone learns in different ways so it is set up with not just one learning style,” Mrs Tromp said.

Speakers will have a community and healthy selfawareness focus and with guest speakers such as dietitians, emergency services representatives, someone focusing on emotional help and another passionate about the importance of play.

They will get conversations going about personal and family nutrition, child and family health and safety, healthy mental health practices and community connections.

The program is for first time parents with a child aged six weeks to six months and it is equally directed at male and female parents.

“I want to encourage all parents to be involved,” Mrs Tromp said.

“Traditionally these sessions are run during the day which makes it difficult for families to attend as a couple but we will run 5-6pm at the library to encourage all parents to attend.”

Mrs Tromp said her goal was to provide opportunities to create change in the direction of a safe, caring community where wisdom of professional services is welcomed, accepted and valued from the beginning of life’s journey.

“The aim is for it to be parent-led,” she said.

“There’s a need for parents to be independent in their critical thinking about their own parenting styles and I want to remove dependence on a maternal child health nurse and put the onus on parents to seek help from relevant professionals when they need it.”

PDH manages the Maternal Child Health service in Portland.

The service hopes to use the first-time parents’ group program as a platform to introduce other new initiatives such as a six-month immunisation event that incorporate workshops in sleep and settling and infant nutrition.

Anyone interested in joining the new group can register through the maternal child health service on 5521 0504, text 0427 818 624 or email mch. pdh@swarh.vic.gov.au with their contact details.