Families of children with disability facing long wait times for diagnosis and support can now access Stepping Stones Triple P Online - a free, evidence-based parenting program funded by the Australian Government that offers immediate, practical strategies to help children thrive and boost parental wellbeing.
Triple P International Country Director, Carol Markie-Dadds, said that approximately 1 in 13 children in Australia (an estimated 356,000 children aged 0 to 14) live with disability. The ongoing strain on the disability workforce, difficulties in accessing support, long wait times, and cost-of-living pressures, mean that children are missing out on critical early intervention support. Parents and carers are left feeling overwhelmed and isolated.
“Early intervention in the form of parenting programs gives immediate support to families with disability by equipping parents and carers with the valuable tools and strategies needed to understand and respond to their child's needs and their own,” Ms Markie-Dadds said.
“Stepping Stones Triple P has been the subject of a large research trial across New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland. The course was found to provide significant benefits to families with disability, including improved family relationships, reduced parental stress, increased parenting confidence, and improvements in children’s emotional and behavioural wellbeing.”
Additionally, the program produces benefits for families with neurodiverse children, who have different thinking patterns to neurotypical children. This includes children diagnosed with autism and ADHD,” she said.
“Childhood is a crucial stage of development for all young people, particularly so for children with disability and unique support needs. Delays to accessing support early in a child’s life have a direct impact on the level of care and support a person with disability will require into adulthood.”
“The mental health and wellbeing of carers is also at-risk - around twice as many parents of children with disability report moderate to high stress levels compared to parents without a child with disability.”
“When parents and carers feel confident and empowered to support their child with managing daily routines, building connections, and being independent, the entire family benefits,” Ms Markie-Dadds said.
AEIOU Foundation Head of Research, Dr Kate Liley said, “With families of autistic children facing unique and heightened challenges, AEIOU welcomes initiatives that provided affordable, evidence-based support to parents to help them navigate these challenges.”
The online flexibility of Stepping Stones Triple P reduces having to attend in-person appointments, which can be impractical for parents and carers of children with disability due to caring responsibilities or those living in regional or remote areas.
Brisbane mother-of-two, Rachel, did the program when her son was 3 years old, after being diagnosed with autism.
“I did the course when Jason was young, and I still use the things I learned daily. It gives you confidence that stays with you for life. You always have this toolbox in the back of your mind to help you navigate parenting. Making the online program free for every family will mean so much to so many,” Rachel said.
“There's a lot of stigma around doing a parenting course, but you do the course if you want to be given all the best information about child development in the most efficient way. There are many reasons to do the program and no reasons to not do it,” she said.
Stepping Stone Triple P Online is based on 25 years of ongoing research with parents and practitioners. The program helps parents and carers to:
use positive, practical strategies to manage everyday life with more ease and confidence, like daily routines, socialising, mealtimes, communication, and family outings/car trips
encourage their child’s independence and self-care skills, like teeth brushing and getting dressed
confidently respond to their child’s needs, behaviours and support their overall development and wellbeing
learn strategies to look after themselves as a parent and feel less stressed in their parenting role
communicate better with each other, including when their child has an alternate communication style
build their child’s social skills to support them to grow relationships at home and in the community
help the whole family adapt and enjoy life more!
“Every child has their own individual qualities and abilities. Triple P encourages parents and carers to value their child’s strengths and abilities, encouraging confidence and the development of new skills,” Ms Markie-Dadds said.
Carol added, “Parents and carers know their child best, so they can choose the tools that fit with their family’s values and needs. Even a small change can make a big difference.”
Parents and carers who do Stepping Stones Triple P Online will join the more than 100,000 parents who have done the face-to-face program and the 490,000 parents and carers across Australia, and millions globally, who have benefited from Triple P’s broader suite of programs.
Parents and carers can sign up for Stepping Stones Triple P Online now at: triplep-parenting.net.au
Stepping Stones Triple P Online is free in Australia, thanks to funding from the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care under the Parenting Education and Support Program. The funding supports free online courses from the Triple P – Positive Parenting Program for all parents and carers in Australia who have children under 12 years.
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Key Facts:
- According to the Australian Institure of Health and Welfare (AIHW) in 2019, more than 380,000 children aged 5-18 years with disability attended primary or secondary school. That is an estimated 1 in 10 school students in most classrooms across Australia.
Stepping Stones Triple P is a tailored parenting program, designed for parents of children with developmental disabilities, neurodiversity, or additional needs. The program equips parents and caregivers with evidence-based tools and strategies for supporting positive child emotional, behavioural, and social development.
Backed by over 25 years of research and feedback from more than 100,000 families worldwide, Stepping StoneTriple P has proven to be effective in supporting children with developmental disabilities or additional needs.
- Stepping Stones Triple P has been the subject of a large research trial across New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland. The course was found to provide significant benefits to families with disability, including improved family relationships, reduced parental stress, increased parenting confidence, and improvements in children’s emotional and behavioural wellbeing.
About us:
About Stepping Stones Triple P:
Stepping Stones Triple P is a tailored parenting program, designed for parents of children with developmental disabilities, neurodiversity, or additional needs. The program equips parents and caregivers with evidence-based tools and strategies for supporting positive child emotional, behavioural, and social development.
Backed by over 25 years of research and feedback from more than 100,000 families worldwide, Stepping Stones Triple P has proven to be effective in supporting children with developmental disabilities or additional needs.
The online course can be accessed on any device, 24/7 and consists of ten interactive modules which take about 30 to 60 minutes to complete.
Stepping Stones Triple P was developed by the founder of Triple P, Emeritus Professor Matt Sanders, and co-authors Assistant Professor Trevor Mazzucchelli and clinical psychologist Dr Lisa Studman.
About Triple P International:
A Certified B Corporation® headquartered in Brisbane, Australia, Triple P International (TPI) aims at creating global positive social change by disseminating the Triple P – Positive Parenting Program and putting evidence-based parenting in the hands of every parent.
Triple P is ranked by the United Nations as the world’s most extensively researched parenting program and is backed by four decades of ongoing research.
Triple P has helped millions of children and their families, has been used in more than 30 countries, and has been translated into 23 languages other than English. More than 109,000 practitioners have been trained in its delivery.
The Triple P – Positive Parenting Program was created by Professor Matt Sanders and colleagues from The University of Queensland’s Parenting and Family Support Centre.
Triple P is typically implemented by government bodies across regions/countries and is supported by Federal and State governments in Australia. For more information on TPI, visit triplep.net
Contact details:
Assets available: experts, case study, and research
For general media enquiries, please contact: Triple P PR Managers-Cate Kennedy 0477 286 557, cate.kennedy@triplep.net or Bernadette Smon 0478 495 457|bernadette.smon@triplep.net
