Butterfly Wings program brings struggling parents hope

BEING a new parent can be hard – but for those struggling with isolation and depression it can be awful.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE: Luise Manning has won the 2015 volunteer award for Child Protection Week. Picture: Inga Williams

BEING a new parent can be hard - but for those struggling with isolation and depression it can be awful.

When Springfield Lakes mum Luise Manning realised there weren't any support groups for parents struggling with post-natal depression or isolation she knew she could help.

She founded the Springfield Lakes Butterfly Wings Parent Child Program to help new mums, dads and their kids.

On Thursday Ms Manning won a Queensland Child Protection Week award for her volunteer work to establish the program.

Ms Manning said she started the program when she realised most childcare centres catered to older kids - and many parents had no one to turn to.

"We have a large expat community and with the armed forces - air force and army - as well as being a fairly multicultural suburb with lots of new homes being built," she said. "Often they have just moved here, they aren't working with a new baby and they don't know anyone."

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Ms Manning said the program let new parents learn from each other how to deal with problems new parents come up against.

"Sharing a concern is better than feeling like you are the only one with this problem and becoming depressed about it. A problem shared is a problem halved," she said.

Queensland Child Protection Week chairwoman Lorraine Dupree said Ms Manning's actions were a great example of how to help parents and children. "Luise's innovation in developing a program in her local area when she noted a gap in services for new parents is what Child Protection Week is all about - everybody taking responsibility," she said.

Ms Manning said she was stunned when she heard the news - but hoped it showed it was possible for regular people to help families. "If something makes a difference for you and your child, it could also make a difference for 10 other people," she said. The group meets at the Camira Community Centre every Thursday at 9am.

Originally published as Butterfly Wings program brings struggling parents hope