When we asked Jamie which Triple P programs he’s trained in, he told us: “It’s probably quicker to tell you what I’m not trained in! I think it’s only three of the current 19 interventions.

“I’ve obtained training in everything else – for parents with children from birth to 12 years old as well as the teen courses, across levels 2 to 5 of the Triple P interventions, including the Stepping Stones options for parenting children with disabilities, and Indigenous Triple P.

“All of these have been so useful in my support roles – I really love the diversity that allows me to journey with many parents and carers.

“I love the training, support and resources that came along with the programs as well,” he said.

Jamie undertook his first Triple P training seven years ago as a school chaplain with Scripture Union Australia. Now a valued partner operating under a collaborative partnership agreement with Triple P International, thanks to the Queensland Government-funded Triple P Universal Parenting Program, he has the resources and support to journey with families through school chaplaincy, as well as with families that access his private practice, A Sharp Mindset. Impressively, he has already reached more than 6000 parents through delivery of Triple P seminars and interventions.

“When you’ve worked supporting parents and families for a while, including in school settings, you want to be using a program that’s easy for parents and carers to apply – and changes families’ lives for the better,” he said.

“That’s exactly what I found with the Triple P programs. I love one of Triple P’s taglines: ‘small changes, big differences’.

“I also appreciate the Triple P approach of ‘take what you need in respect to your culture, your beliefs, your customs and your values that you want to impart into your kids. Take what works for you and implement that.’ Parents seem to respond extremely well to that approach.”

For Jamie, the Triple P programs offer a stand-out opportunity to share evidence-based skills and knowledge.

“I’m able to inform parents that Triple P is nearing the 30-year mark of evidence-based strategies and that the strategies work,” he said. “That it’s been studied and looked at from different angles from across the globe and absolutely assessed, which means results are timetested and proven.

“We now know that Triple P strategies well and truly work, which gives some leverage, because it seems everyone has an idea or opinion on how I should raise my children. It feels like opinions have escalated and people are verbalising them in person and on social media. The university-grade, evidence-based research and longevity adds so much credibility to the Triple P information I deliver.” Jamie says one of the first things parents realise with Triple P is how universal their experiences are. “The most common problem parents come to me with is their child doesn’t follow instructions or do as they’re told. I’m amazed how often parents believe they are the only ones struggling.

“I also find the community conversations from seminars and discussion groups so powerful. As parents, you can feel that the whole world is coming down on you. You try different strategies and when they don’t work, you can feel like you’re failing. It really depletes your confidence,” he said.

“As part of the Triple P delivery, I get to expose that, I encourage parents to talk about their experiences within the group. So often someone says, ‘I thought I was the only one struggling and doing it wrong, but it seems like we’re all in the same boat here.’ I find parents take a big breath of relief.

“These conversations also normalise that this parenting journey is often difficult. It’s powerful to see communities come together.”

Jamie says his Triple P training has changed his own responses to situations, such as children not listening to their parents.

“Before Triple P training I probably would have responded with, ‘Isn’t that just kids, they don’t listen, kids will be kids’ and so on, and I tried to validate the struggling parent.

“Triple P gave me a more helpful ‘next step’ to offer support – to help empower parents with some great ways they can encourage children to follow instructions, including the power of praise, as I believe people respond better to encouragement than to constant criticism.

“Triple P offers the tools to encourage parents to be able to do their best parenting.”

Jamie encourages other practitioners to undertake Triple P training.

“It’s an incredible program that’s got such a diverse reach,” he said. “It also narrows down to meet families’ individual needs, wherever they are on their parenting journey.

“It really does change families’ lives for the better, whether difficulties are large or small, several or few, whether it’s with children with disabilities or assisting adults with things like the Family Transitions program and learning to co-parent.

“I love that there’s such a broad range of Triple P interventions that are continuing to be developed and launched – they are touching this world in incredible ways.”

About Triple P

Last year the Australian Government committed $40.6 million investment into building children’s emotional wellbeing and helping them to thrive by funding access for parents and caregivers to Triple P’s evidencebased, world-leading online programs. The Triple P – Positive Parenting Program offers ways to help all parents and carers provide calm, consistent, warm and nurturing environments that help support children’s mental health and wellbeing.

Every parent and carer in Australia has free access to Triple P’s online programs, including Triple P Online (for children aged under 12 years), Fear-Less Triple P Online (for children aged 6+ years experiencing anxiety) and Triple P Online for Baby (for parents at the later stages of pregnancy and/or when baby is under 12 months).

In Victoria and Queensland, parents and carers of pre-teens and teens, (approximately 10-16 years) also have free access to the Teen Triple P Online program.

Triple P offers a range of programs from brief, light-touch support to more intensive interventions provided over multiple weeks. These programs are based on years of research, including targeted programs to help families with young children or teens, children with disability or anxiety, or those who are separating or experiencing stress and conflict.

Counsellors can find and enrol in upcoming professional development courses here: triplep. net/provider-training-find-a-course. In Queensland, the professional development, including training, implementation support and resources, is now completely free for counsellors who provide parenting and family support services at no cost to families in Queensland – thanks to the Queensland Government.

More information

► The Triple P – Positive Parenting Program: triplep.net Link for parents to sign-up to the programs: triplep-parenting.net.au

► Triple P Training Program: triplep.net/provider-training-find-a-course

About the author

Jamie Sharp has been offering supportive services for over 25 years. His qualifications include a Diploma of Counselling, a Diploma of Youth Work and a Certificate IV in Ministry. He is also an accredited facilitator with Triple P.