Group support for parents of gifted children in the western region of Melbourne, Australia

Abstract

Raising gifted children presents unique stressors and challenges to parents and their families. This is especially apparent in the western region of Melbourne, Australia, where support services are largely lacking. For the 23 parents involved in this study, stressors included dealing with the exceptional needs of their gifted children, together with the challenges encountered with educational policies and schools. The parents' stress was often exacerbated by a lack of social and educational support, which was compounded by the stigmatisation of parents of gifted children. Fathers' experiences were often reported as distinctly different from mothers' experiences. The parents' unmet social and emotional needs often resulted in major frustrations and socially isolating experiences for them. To address these needs, an informal support group was established as part of this research. The support group was considered successful because of its consistency and longevity. Various subgroups were established subsequently and more are proposed. The findings of this study indicated that further support groups are needed to respond to the severe support shortcomings in the western region of Melbourne.