The Cottage service for highly disadvantaged children in Fitzroy: a review

An evaluation of BSL's Cottage Centre for Families and Children which served inner-Melbourne families with young children from the 1980s to 2005 shows that it was effective in assisting families with complex needs.

Defining principles included early intervention, considering the child in the context of family and community; and treating parents as expert partners in the nurture of their children.

Children benefited in all areas of development, while parents showed improved self-esteem, trust and skills in accessing services. This in turn improved relationships between parents and children and decreased families’ social isolation – both essential for wellbeing and eventual independence.