Bonnie and ParentsNext transcript

Bonnie: My name is Bonnie. I started doing a Certificate III Community Services course due to my previous life experience. I was a heavy drug user. It got to a point where there was negligence from me to my son, and that resulted in DCP becoming involved. And then I just thought, what am I doing? I've got my son or I’ve got the drugs. Obviously I'm going to choose my son, so I chose my son. That's what inspired me to do this course, because I want to help Aboriginal families keep their children. So because I was a client with Aboriginal family support services, I just thought, I can do this. Why not.

Tash: When Bonnie first came into the program, she needed some supports and so we assisted her with counselling and supported her in the ways that she needed supporting. She has changed not just physically, but mentally and emotionally as well, so she is more emotionally mature. She can identify her emotions better. She's coming to appointments, she's interacting.

Bonnie: These girls have done an amazing job for supporting me and they've seen me do my transition too. So they've been with me for my journey. They’ve supported me like a mum would, or a stern talking like a father would. Or just even a shoulder to cry on. Like when I was going through my issues with DCP and whatnot.

Tash: We got her engaging in her appointments we’ve helped her succeed with her sobriety, we've helped her enrol in her community services course, and recently she has also been offered employment. She's done absolutely amazing. It's rewarding for us as workers as well to actually to be here, to be involved in these these people's lives and to watch the change.

Rebecca: The employment consultants that I’ve met so far, they’re very knowledgeable and they actually want to help and support. And majority of the parents that I’ve met actually want that help and support to break the cycle of sitting at home being just a parent. I definitely would recommend the program to any parent would there because it’s just awesome of what they will help you with as long as you’re showing commitment, they will help you.

Bonnie: I’ll definitely recommend APM ParentsNext to any parent that I know. If they’re just wanting support or just wanting someone to talk to. I can't wait for my Mondays, because that's my course days, and I get to come here and see the girls as well. It's like another little family kind of thing. I get excited when it's a weekend because I know Monday is coming.