Background

Newpin (New Parent and Infant Network) is an intensive child protection and parent education program that works therapeutically with families under stress to break the cycle of destructive family behaviour and enhance parent-child relationships.

Originating in the United Kingdom, Newpin was created in response to the needs of new mothers experiencing issues such as isolation, mental illness, family violence, social disadvantage, low self-esteem and for those who were at risk of physically or emotionally harming their child or children.

Following the purchase of the Newpin licence from National Newpin UK, UnitingCare Burnside established Australia’s first centre at Bidwill in Sydney’s outer western suburbs in April 1998, focusing on the needs of parents or carers (known within the program as members) with children under five years of age.

UnitingCare Burnside has since refined the Newpin UK model based on the experience of the Australian operations and on research recommendations. In addition to the original Bidwill program, Burnside operates a Newpin Fathers program and programs at Doonside and St Marys, also in Sydney’s western suburbs. Other Newpin programs have since opened under licence in Victoria, Western Australia, Tasmania, ACT and South Australia.

The Newpin Program

Newpin provides an intensive, therapeutic approach to breaking the cycle of intergenerational child neglect and abuse.

In order to achieve this, the individual elements of a Newpin program:

• Work with both the parent and the child or children


• Focus on emotional development and well-being as an essential foundation for learning and change


• Address issues of child safety and well-being during the parent’s learning, healing and personal development processes

The Newpin Core Values

The principal strength of the Newpin program is its collaborative approach to working with its members and adherence to the core values of:

• Support


• Equality


• Empathy


• Respect


• Self-determination

In turn, Newpin programs work to fulfil these core values by:

• Assisting in the prevention of child abuse and neglect


• Supporting parents and children accessing the program to raise their self-esteem and confidence


• Working to improve the mental health of service users who are experiencing depression and loss of identity