A Comprehensive FREE Support Program for Expecting and New Parents

Ready Steady Family is an innovative and client-centred program launched by Drummond Street Services in 2019. This program is designed to meet the unique needs of expecting and new parents, including those welcoming subsequent babies who want to improve their parenting experience. Transitioning to parenthood can be challenging, with the first 12 months bringing ups and downs, changes in household roles, identity adjustments, and demands for cooperation that couples may not have faced before. Despite these challenges, new parenthood also brings immense joy as families adapt to a new way of life.

Drummond Street’s team of experienced professionals is here to support families welcoming a new baby, offering a wide range of services, including:

  • Perinatal Mental Health Practitioners: Providing counselling services for those experiencing depression or anxiety during major life changes.
  • Parenting Support: Offering guidance on everyday issues such as eating, sleeping, routines, and providing practical help and information on topics of your choice.
  • Dads and Partners Support: Access to a support worker, parenting groups, and one-on-one sessions tailored for dads and partners.
  • Peer Support Workers: Individuals who have faced their own challenges in early parenting and can offer home visits for support.
  • Group Facilitators: Assisting with significant parenting issues, including recognising baby cues, establishing sleep routines, managing stress, and improving mood over time.
  • Family Violence Support Workers: Specialists providing support and resources if your family faces challenges in this area.
  • Single Session Support: Focused assistance for specific issues or topics.
  • Bicultural Workers: Offering support from diverse backgrounds, including African, Indian, and Turkish communities.

Ready Steady Family Program Elements

The Ready Steady Family program focuses on four key elements to promote positive change in families and prevent mental health issues:

  1. Fun Groups and Seminars: Designed for parents, carers, and kids to boost happiness, competence, and self-esteem. Check out our group’s calendar on our website at www.ds.org.au or email us at rsfevents@ds.org.au to book a group or seminar. Easy booking and free of charge!
  • Are You Expecting a Baby?
  • Adjusting to Life with a New Baby?
  • Need Ideas on Working Together Better as Parents?

Join us for the Ready Steady Family program—an evidence-based 10-session course designed to help parents strengthen their relationship as a parenting team. This program provides a strong foundation for raising children in a happy home. Research shows that when parents cooperate and manage stress effectively, babies have better outcomes. Ready Steady Family supports couples and co-parents (including ex-partners, grandparents, or friends) to work together and develop coping skills for the challenges of raising children.

Why Choose Ready Steady Family?

  • Stay Home: We bring the program to you! Ready Steady Family is currently available in Melbourne’s North/West Region, funded by the Government.
  • Unique and Proven: Developed by Pennsylvania State University and customised for Australian families by the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute in Melbourne, Ready Steady Family is an evidence-based program that significantly improves outcomes for babies.
  • Engaging Parent Coaches: Our experienced parent coaches are parents themselves, offering flexibility, humour, and real-life insights.

Ready Steady Family Will Help You:

  • Build a Strong Team: Strengthen your partnership as co-parents.
  • Develop Conflict Management Skills: Navigate family relationship challenges.
  • Strengthen Communication and Support: Improve interactions with your co-parent.
  • Manage Stress: Discover practical coping strategies for everyday life.

We recommend completing 5 sessions before the baby arrives and 5 after your baby comes home. If your baby is already home, you can still join us!

Service Partners

  • Drummond Street Services: Support for survivors of family violence, including women and children from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse backgrounds.
  • Stepfamilies Australia (Drummond Street Services): Support and strengthening for one of Australia’s fastest-growing family types, stepfamilies.
  • Murdoch Children’s Research Institute: A leading paediatric medical research institute in Melbourne, affiliated with the Royal Children’s Hospital and the University of Melbourne.

How to Book

BOOK EARLY! Take advantage of this FREE program that helps you parent as a team and avoid future family issues. Choose from the following time slots for your weekly sessions:

  • 9:30 – 11:00 am
  • 12:30 – 2:00 pm
  • 6:00 – 7:30 pm

If these times don’t work for you, give us a call, and we’ll see what we can arrange.

For more information or to book a session, contact us on 03 9663 6733.

How do I make an appointment?

To access any of the services mentioned above, call us at 03 9663 6733 and ask for the Ready Steady Family Intake Worker or email us at rsfintake@ds.org.au.