Congratulations on your new arrival! The pregnancy and birth is now ‘ancient history’ and you have a precious little one to care for.
Parenting is the best day’s work you’ll ever do, as they say – but everyone needs a little help along the way. That’s why the Families Commission has set up a website www.nzfamilies.org.nz with parenting hints and tips and plenty of links to organizations that can support you.
You’ll find all kinds of helpful suggestions for caring for your baby, such as what to do when they cry and how to settle them down to sleep – and you will be able to refer back to the site throughout the various stages of your child’s life.
To act as a voice for New Zealand families and whanau the Families Commission needs to hear your issues. One of the ways they do this is through online polls on topical family issues via The Couch website . Polls go out every six to eight weeks to signed-up members, and only take a few minutes to complete. Many of the polls contribute to the Commission’s research projects, which ultimately lead to advocacy for positive outcomes for families. You can sign up at http://www.thecouch.org.nz/member/signup.
Keep an eye on the Families Commission’s other work too – the Commission has been set up to listen to families, research the issues and promote the interests of families. Their advocacy includes ensuring parenting is valued by government and wider society and that parents have access to the help and support they need; helping parents and caregivers achieve work-life balance (e.g. extending paid parental leave, improving out of school services, encouraging take-up of flexible work options); supporting families to manage their finances; encouraging councils to put families at the centre of town planning; and calling for an end to family violence .
