Healthy Relationships

• Children learn how to behave from watching the way their parents, carers and families interact with each other.

• Stress related to financial worries, work pressures, illness, death in the family, moving, adjusting to life in a new country and being new parents, with or without extended family support and community, can affect your relationship.

• Traditional roles of men and women and families may represent a structure where the father was the head of the family, the primary provider and decision maker.

• The mother played a more traditional role of carer. However, a healthy relationship will be one where both parties are on an equal level, communicating their interests, values and vision for the family and making decisions together.

• Discuss the role you each want to have, common parenting goals and how you plan to achieve them. This may include planning how you will pass on traditions, morals, language and values from your background. Clarify what these are for both of you as a couple.

In general, good relationships are built on: ¹

• Trust, respect and equality (equal rights, opportunities and responsibilities)
• Mutual decision making and shared responsibility
• Resolving conflict through communication
• Good communication
• Intimacy

Watch the “Healthy Relationships” video