Queensland
The TOUGHLOVE Program was introduced to
Australia by Mike Denzel, Community Development
Officer with the Pine Rivers Shire Council in the
early 1990s. Mike facilitated groups in Strathpine
and Ferny Hills.
The first Australian TOUGHLOVE Group,
totally run by parents, was formed in July 1993 by
four parents at "Bunya House" which was then
situated at Everton Hills, Brisbane. This small
group of parents, operating with few resources and
limited access to trained Representatives, sought
funding to receive training for its members.
Brisbane City Council provided funds for TOUGHLOVE
to invite Margaret Gardner, a TOUGHLOVE
Trainer resident in Adelaide to conduct two full
day workshops in "Basics" and "Support and
Confrontation" in Brisbane in 1995.
She fundraised to support two of the parents,
Robyn Caldwell and Lesley Victorsen to attend the
International Representative and Conference
Training in Chicago, United States of America in
July 1995.
In the years that followed TOUGHLOVE continued
supporting parents and groups. The ten year
anniversary was celebrated in 2003.
In March 2003 the organisation accepted an offer
by Community Networks section of Brisbane City
Council to help develop a website. In February
2006, this was expanded into a website for the
newly forming TOUGHLOVE Australia.
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South Australia
In October 1993 the first two TOUGHLOVE support
groups were established in South Australia. The
demand for the TOUGHLOVE program grew beyond
expectations and in the following 3 years over 15
support groups were started in the State’s country
and metropolitan areas.
Relationships Australia (SA) initially supported the
TOUGHLOVE program by allocating time, resources and
minimal financial support for their Family Skills
Co-ordinator, Margaret Gardner, to train as a
TOUGHLOVE INTERNATIONAL Representative and to
establish new groups. On 30th June 1996,
Relationships Australia (SA) withdrew this support
due to other financial obligations.
On 28th July 1996 delegates from South Australia
support groups attended the Inaugural Annual General
Meeting and elected the first Management Committee
for TOUGHLOVE in South Australia.
On 27th September 1998 TOUGHOVE officially became an
incorporated organisation in South Australia and is
continuing to apply for ongoing funds to operate our
State Service Centre to meet the ever-increasing
demands for new groups and information on the
TOUGHLOVE Program.
In February 1998 the Management Committee, with the
help of the grants and donations from groups, sent
three members to train in New Zealand as
Representatives. Since then another seven
Representatives have trained in New Zealand in 2000
and 2002, and in Sydney 2004 and two Rep Supporters
also gained much by attending RepCat 2004.
In October 2003 Adelaide hosted their 10th Birthday
Celebrations and invited many of the original
members to attend and meet members they hadn’t seen
for a long time. It was quite a night and many
friendships were rekindled – everyone keen to catch
up on where their children were today.
Whilst it was our Toughlove kids that initially
brought us together, the bonding and friendships
formed by coming to Toughlove has certainly kept us
together as a close-knit and supportive community.
Well done South Australia - we hope Toughlove will
continue to grow and gain strength and momentum as
you help the parents of tomorrow.
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