Pathways to Prevention (QLD)

Based in the Inala and Ellen Grove (Carole Park) areas of south-west Brisbane, Pathways to Prevention is a holistic early intervention and crime prevention program that works with children aged from birth to 12 years and their families.

This partnership between Mission Australia, Griffith University and Education Queensland has been promoting positive parenting, healthy family relationships and enhancing children's experience of school since 2001.

Pathways to Prevention works intensively with families to improve life opportunities for children through the development of social, communication and behavioural skills with the aim of establishing healthy and respectful relationships between children, their carers, families, peers and schools.

By reducing developmental problems in childhood, Pathways to Prevention aims to prevent the growth of social problems such as educational failure, substance abuse, crime, anti-social behaviour; alienation and unemployment.

What does the program provide?
The program provides a suite of linked family support programs that are designed to give “wrap-around” support to local families and children.

These include:

• Eearly childhood initiatives
• Parenting education programs
• Parent support programs
• Targeted personal development programs for primary school children
• Counselling and individual support such as advocacy and referrals

Who this service supports?
According to the 2008 Australian Bureau of Statistics Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), Inala is Brisbane’s most disadvantaged Statistical Local Area. It has large Pacific Islander, Vietnamese, African and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations relative to the rest of south-east Queensland.

In 2010-11 Pathways to Prevention worked with 933 individuals and 453 families – and more than half were from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

Pathways to Prevention is co-located with Mission Australia’s Communities for Children (CfC) program and operates in partnership with five local state primary schools.

Pathways to Prevention research
Since 2001 the program has been continuously evaluated by Professor Ross Homel and his team at the Key Centre for Ethics Law Justice and the Governance at Griffith University as part of an ongoing research project. The program’s proven outcomes have achieved national and international recognition.

• Download the Pathways to Prevention Project: The first 5 years, 1999-2004 report

Contact
37 Kulgun Circuit, Inala, QLD 4077 
P: 07 3278 9130
E: lambc@missionaustralia.com.au