The New South Wales Government has announced renewed funding for the Virtual Residential Parenting Service (VRPS), committing $14 million over the next five years to continue supporting families with young children across the state. The service provides free online parenting assistance for families with children aged between zero and three years and has supported more than 3,400 families since its launch in 2021.
The Virtual Residential Parenting Service is delivered through not-for-profit organizations Karitane and Tresillian, which will each receive $7 million under the new funding arrangement. The program offers intensive virtual support through video consultations and phone sessions, helping parents manage challenges related to infant sleep, feeding, child behavior, development, and parental wellbeing.
The initiative was developed to improve access to parenting support services, especially for families living in regional and rural areas where in-person specialist services may be difficult to access. By using telehealth technology, families can receive professional guidance from child and family health nurses, psychologists, social workers, and doctors directly from their homes.
NSW Government officials highlighted the importance of early intervention and accessible family support services during the early years of childhood development. The renewed funding forms part of broader state efforts to strengthen family wellbeing, improve child health outcomes, and reduce pressure on hospitals and emergency healthcare systems by providing preventative and community-based support services.
Parents who have used the program described the service as highly valuable, particularly for first-time parents experiencing stress, anxiety, and uncertainty during early parenthood. The flexibility of accessing support remotely has made the service especially beneficial for busy families and those unable to travel for residential parenting assistance.
