Sanders advocates evidence-based parenting support

Professor Matthew Sanders, founder of the Triple P’s Positive Parenting Program, presented the keynote address at the Western Australia Triple P Professional Development Forum yesterday, which I had the pleasure of attending.

Triple P, highlighted in the Commissioner for Children and Young People’s Building Block’s edition one, was developed nearly 30 years ago and has since been evaluated across 25 countries as one of the most widely-trusted and effective parenting programs in the world. 

Professor Sanders’ speech, ‘Parenting Support in a Changing World’, explored the fundamental question of how to best deliver evidence-based parenting support programs to communities. He also spoke about how sufficient preparation for parenthood as a social norm is essential to improving child and parent outcomes.  

Convened jointly by the Departments of Health, Education and Local Government and Communities, the forum also included research development updates from other local Western Australian speakers, including Winthrop Professor and Ambassador for Children and Young People, Stephen Zubrick.

Given the importance of early childhood and the role parents play in their child’s early health and wellbeing, I found Professor Sanders' address to be of particular interest to the work of my office, and was very pleased to see so many government and non-government guests in attendance.

Jenni Perkins
Acting Commissioner for Children and Young People