The inaugural South Sudanese Dads and Kids Relationship Enhancement Project at Camp Kangaroobie got off to a flying start in January 2008. The three day camp run by Kate McKernin from Centacare Catholic Family Services with Richard Dove from the Victorian Police, was aimed at deepening family relationships and helping refugee families adjust to their new lives in Australia. The program involved ten Sudanese men and their 11 children aged between 5 and 12 years of age.

The camp, a first of its kind, provided an opportunity for both the fathers and children to get to know each other more, strengthen their family bonds and learn more about the Australian community, as well as themselves.

The key objectives of the camp were:

1. To respect traditional culture whilst adapting to a new way of life
2. To discover and develop a new relationship with their children
3. To understand and be tolerant of each other’s strengths and weaknesses
4. To build on strengths through encouragement and positive communication
5. To workshop the issue of child discipline, family violence, family breakdown, relationships and the law that relates to all these issues.

These objectives of the camp were reached through a series of challenges and activities utilizing relationship strengthening frameworks adapted and re-created to suit men and their children. 

South Sudanese leader David Lukudu said, “In the history of Sudanese settlement in Australia, I have never heard of a program where Sudanese men have taken their children away on a camp. This is a first!”

Leading Senior Constable Richard Dove enjoyed the camp with his daughter Eden. He explains the importance of the camp, “It’s a common mistake to believe that once a family arrives in Australia and the risk of murder, rape, death and disease is now behind them, that all will be well. But many find when they arrive that the greatest battle now facing them is keeping their family together and adjusting to a foreign culture. Creating stronger bonds in the family unit is imperative to the successful future of refugee families settling here.”

Camp activities included a visit to a local farm to feed the cows and a day at the beach. This was a true adventure, considering this was the first time many of them had ever seen the ocean.

Kate’s husband Peter took family photo’s which were printed and framed and presented to the Dads and Kids at the end of the program. Kate McKernin, officer for the program said that the camp exceeded all expectations and was delighted when the fathers suggested that  the concepts and discussions gave them new insights and have requested that another session be organized where their wives could attend! This has been scheduled fir August 17th.

Congratulations and thank you to Kate, Richard, David, Peter and their families for all their generosity and hard work.