African-Australian Family and Parenting Support Services (AFPSS) is a family friendly and parenting support service, tailored to foster positive parenting and family relationships through providing social support and education to African-Australian families and other groups that are struggling with parenting challenges. Our work includes strategies on how to be more effective parents and caregivers. We help parents in the areas of disciplining children with love, better communication skills, and helping to access the relevant support services within each families’ locality. We aim to bridge gaps existing between service providers, African-Australian families and others receiving social support services in Victoria.

Research work and work in the community has indicated a lack of cultural awareness training for some community-based service providers, government agencies and corporate sectors, creating barriers between providers and the intended beneficiaries of services. Through our awareness campaigns and through providing training and information sessions about African-Australian parenting challenges, the AFPSS hopes to enhance cultural awareness, intending to help break down myths, misconceptions, misunderstandings and stigma and other potential barriers that have led to a lack of access to culturally appropriate services.