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Supervised Contact Visits

Supportive and Child-Focused Supervised Visits

Facilitating a space for authentic and positive interactions between parents and children.

TRUSTED PARTNERS AND ASSOCIATIONS

Logo for Family Konnect partner, Kari Foundation
Logo for Family Konnect partner, Legal Aid
Logo for NGO Settlement Services Australia
Logo for Family Konnect partner, Catholic Care
Logo for Department of communities and justice, partner with Family Konnect
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ACCSA Accreditation and membership badge for registered contact agencies

Why Families Choose Family Konnect

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Immediate start after intake
We streamline the intake process so you can start visits sooner.

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Safety & wellbeing first
Every decision is child-focused, prioritising their comfort and security always

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Convenient Venues
Venues in the community across NSW and a contact room based in Pyrmont, NSW

Building Connections in a Nurturing Environment

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​Professional & Impartial Observation​​

  • ​A Family Konnect Contact Visit Supervisor will observe the interaction between the child and the parent to ensure the visit is conducted under safe conditions.

  • Our staff act as a supportive, neutral third party; vigilant regarding safety, yet unobtrusive enough to allow natural bonding to occur.​

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Court-Ready Reporting

All conversations, physical interactions, behaviours and other key events are documented in an impartial contact report. The report consists of these sections :

  • Visit details

  • Orders (if applicable)

  • List of Participants

  • Presentation of child/ren prior to contact

  • Interactions during the visit with 5 minute time stamps

  • Final summary/comments on the visit

  • 8 photos of the interactions

Visits in your Community, at Home and in a Centre

The location of a contact visit is crucial for the child’s comfort. We consult with both parties to find the most appropriate venue based on the child's needs, and compliance with specific court orders or agreements. Whether it is a local park, library, or play centre, we ensure the environment allows for natural interaction while meeting all WHS and safety requirements.  

 

​Additionally we conduct supervised contact visits in a contact centre setting in the Pyrmont Community Centre, and in the supervised parent's home subject to the completion of a home safety check by Family Konnect. Please contact us via email or phone to enquire.

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Sydney Park, Alexandria

Playgrounds, open space and easy access.

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Speers Point Park 

Large play areas and lawns in a heritage setting.

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Centenial Parklands

Shaded areas, ponds, bikes and a long circuit walk.

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Parramatta Park

 Large outdoor playground, green areas and lakeside paths 

How do I explain supervised visits to my child?

Emotional Preparation & Consistency

Preparing your child is a vital step in ensuring a successful visit. Children often mirror their parents' emotions, so we encourage using calm, simple, and age-appropriate language. 

 

Tell your child what will happen, in order, and how it ends: who they are seeing, where, how long it will last, and what time they will be going home. Visits run to a set time, and a child who knows the goodbye is coming handles it far better than one it takes by surprise. "We will be at the park for two hours, then you are coming home with me, and your next visit is in two weeks."

 

Frame the visit as an opportunity to spend 'special time' with their parent's in a safe, fun environment. If possible, visiting the location prior to the scheduled session can help the child feel familiar and comfortable with the surroundings.​

Familiarising with the Supervisor

To reduce anxiety, we make sure your child knows a friendly face will be there to help. We provide a photo of the allocated Contact Supervisor to the residential parent in advance, so your child recognises their support person before they arrive, and where appropriate we can arrange a brief introductory meeting first.

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Children almost always ask who the supervisor is, and the answer that works is the true one, said simply for example "this is Sarah, she will be there to support you and ensure everything goes well" children accept this easily. What unsettles them is finding out later that they were told something else, so it is worth avoiding a cover story, even a kind one.

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Older children often notice the supervisor writing notes or taking a few photos, and ask why. For example "they will write down how the visit went, and the photos are pictures of your time together" is enough. It is honest, it is not frightening, and it saves your child from inventing a worse explanation on their own.

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Happy children kissing their mum on the cheek

If the visit is with you

Arrive early and settled. The first two minutes set the tone for everything after them, and a child who arrives to find you already there and relaxed relaxes too. Bring one simple thing to do together, a ball, a book, a drawing pad, rather than a pile of presents. Gifts are fine unless your orders say otherwise. However, a child who is handed a stack of them often starts expecting gifts at every visit, which shifts their motivation to attend from seeing their parent to receiving presents.​

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Follow your child's pace rather than trying to cover everything. Try not to ask questions about the other household, it puts your child in the middle of something that is not theirs to carry. And be careful with promises about the future. "You will be home with me soon" is one of the hardest sentences a child can be given, because when it does not happen they either blame themselves or stop believing you.

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When it is time to finish, keep the goodbye short, warm and certain. Tell them when you will see them next if you know. A brief goodbye is not a cold one, and it is much easier for a child to carry home.

Child Familiarisation Session

​Our Child Familiarisation Session is a supportive, one-on-one visit designed to help children feel comfortable and confident before beginning supervised contact. This session takes place in the child’s home to provide a familiar and reassuring environment, allowing the child to meet the allocated supervisor in a relaxed, low-pressure setting.

 

We use this session to answer the child's questions, explain the process in age appropriate terms, and establish a foundation of trust and rapport. A written report is provided following the session, documenting observations and the child’s level of engagement.​


This service is highly recommended for children not yet prepared to begin contact; if you would like this additional service please mention it during your intake.

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Our child-focused services are designed to help you have a smooth visit, minimise distress to the child and optimise the safety of all concerned, while helping you engage and interact in meaningful ways.

Ready to move forward? We’re here to help.

Call, email, or start your intake online. There is no waiting list, and we can begin as soon as both parents have completed intake.

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