Intensive Family Support
Intensive Family Support
The Brisbane North Intensive Family Support (IFS) service is a free and voluntary service that can support families under pressure with the aim of keeping children safe. The service is delivered in partnership with Act for Kids.
We understand that families facing the possibility of entering the child protection system often have various challenges that have been present for a long time and may affect their ability to care for their children safely. Sometimes, these challenges are so deeply rooted that they have affected family life for years, even across generations.
You can contact us on 3308 4577 during our opening hours, 8:30am – 5:00pm, Monday to Friday (excl public holidays). If we are unavailable to answer your call, please leave a message and one of our Family Support Practitioners will return your call as quickly as possible.
You can also contact Act For Kids on 3084 6600 with enquiries about the IFS service.
Families can self-refer online.
Currently there is a waitlist for the IFS service. We understand that waiting can be difficult, so while your referral is on our waitlist, which typically lasts 4 to 6 weeks, we provide a callback service. During this time, one of our family support practitioners will reach out to you to explain that you’re still on the waitlist, and depending on your needs, they may offer information about and referrals to alternative specialist support services.
For Practitioners and Referral Services:
Referrals to our Intensive Family Support (IFS) service are accepted from a variety of sources, including prescribed entities, Child Safety, other government and non-government agencies, as well as families themselves (self-referrals).
Referrals with consent
Professionals and organisations, including Early Childhood Learning Centres, who identify vulnerable families meeting the referral criteria may refer the family to an IFS service with the family’s consent. This also applies to referrals from transferring IFS services.
Certain professionals from entities prescribed under the Child Protection Act 1999 (s159M) have the authority to refer a family to Intensive Family Support services without the family’s consent.
Who we help
IFS supports families who are:
- located in the Brisbane North area (see a map of eligible suburbs)
- have a child or young person ranging from unborn to 17 years of age
- experiencing challenges in raising and nurturing those children.
Our intensive home-visiting family support service is designed to provide you with the assistance and resources you need to overcome these challenges. By working together, we can reduce the likelihood of any future involvement from child protection services.
If the concerns about your child’s wellbeing are not severe, and the risk of harm is low, we may recommend less intensive services that can still provide valuable support to your family.
How we help
The IFS service supports families with complex needs in a number of ways:
- Addressing challenges like domestic violence, physical and mental health concerns, and substance abuse.
- Developing essential life skills such as setting routines, budgeting, and managing your household.
- Providing support and strategies for parenting to strengthen family relationships.
- Managing stress and coping with daily pressures.
- Offering resources for child health and well-being.
- Connecting you with services that support your child's development.
- Linking you with local services, playgroups, and social networks.
- Supporting your family's cultural needs.
- Addressing any other concerns that may be worrying you.
Please note that our service does not provide counselling for children, emergency relief or accommodation.
Our impact 2023-2024
How to contact us
You can contact us on 3308 4577 during our opening hours, 8:30am – 5:00pm, Monday to Friday (excl public holidays). If we are unavailable to answer your call, please leave a message and one of our Family Support Practitioners will return your call as quickly as possible.
You can also contact Act For Kids on 3084 6600 with enquiries about the IFS service.
Families can self-refer online.
Currently there is a waitlist for the IFS service. We understand that waiting can be difficult, so while your referral is on our waitlist, which typically lasts 4 to 6 weeks, we provide a callback service. During this time, one of our family support practitioners will reach out to you to explain that you’re still on the waitlist, and depending on your needs, they may offer information about and referrals to alternative specialist support services.
Where to find us
The Communify IFS team is located at 10 Love St, Spring Hill. The Act for Kids office is located at 100 Sixth Avenue, Kedron.
