Perspectives on ParentWorks: Learnings from the development and national roll-out of a self-directed online parenting intervention

Online parenting interventions are an increasingly viable alternative to face-to-face programs, as they can potentially overcome barriers to participation and increase program reach. The current paper describes learnings from the design, development and dissemination of ParentWorks, a self-directed online parenting intervention designed to be inclusive of both mothers and fathers. ParentWorks was promoted via a national media campaign and was accessible to all Australian parents through a dedicated website. Participants created a user account, engaged in a series of video modules, and completed assessment measures at pre-, post-program and 3-month follow-up. For two-caregiver families, parents were encouraged to participate together using a shared account. There was no direct practitioner support, although a range of innovative automated features were included to enhance participant motivation and encourage program completion. Several key lessons emerged from program development and implementation. These relate primarily to design and content of the program website, user account functionality, program structure and features, and data collection. Further research is needed particularly with regard to methods for increasing participant retention in self-directed online programs. The learnings described here will be relevant to those researching and developing online parenting interventions as well as other online mental health interventions aiming to reach a large population sample.