The following comments on the program are from these participants:

"It should be compulsory from every parent in Australia."

"I feel it will benefit my children as they get older too."

"I found it beneficial for myself as it has made me stop and think how I handle different situations now I try to be more positive and take a different approach. Thank you."

"This is an excellent course for all parents, even those with children without problem behaviour. This positive issue is so important and will help me manage my children and hopefully achieve better behaved children and become a better parent - thus a happier family. Thank you very much."

"This course has given me some very good ideas of different and much better ways to handle my children. I recommend it to all parents."

"I have to say thanks for bringing such a great program for us. I found it very inspirational and useful and it gives my kids and I more freedom and fun to our every day issues. I learned there about other mums and dads' worries and all that together was fun, very interesting and reassuring."

There are a few people I would like to thank, firstly, the six fabulous participants for their time, effort and committing to the eight week program. Well done.

From your comments I feel that it was well worthwhile.

Thank you to various other contributors to the program - Lightning Ridge Rotary - who supplied the work books for the participants, The Lightning Ridge Central School for providing the venue and Little Diggers Preschool and Child Care Centre for being my base, The Ridge News and The Black Opal Advocate for community announcements.

Thanks also to Leigh Black and Lynne Jarman for their contributions in being there and helping out.

Last but not least, thanks to Sarah Petersen who is the parenting project co-ordinator for the Macquarie Area Health Service, who without, this program would not have been possible.

Together we did it. I am proud and feel privileged to have been a part of this group, and connected with everyone who was involved in the first Group Positive Parenting Program run in Lightning Ridge. Thank you.

I am planning to facilitate another group in August/ September, so if you are interested, please contact me on 6829 2929 or keep an eye out for details as the time gets closer.

Sarah Chamberlain