Specialised therapy space making a difference for Bermagui children

Bermagui Preschool has opened a designated classroom with the goal of helping children and their families process trauma and improve their mental health.

 

The preschool began its vision for the space in the aftermath of the 2019-2020 Black Summer bushfires after noticing the impact the fires had had on the children’s wellbeing and resilience.

 

A variety of activities will be hosted in the space, including art and play therapy, cooking, gardening and storytelling. Children will also be able to work in small groups, or take part in one on one counselling to help them to learn through play and manage their emotions. 

 

Preschool Director, and early childhood teacher, Narelle Myers hopes the space will help the children to recover from the traumatic events, and place a priority on resilience. 

 

“This project will support each child and family to learn, within ourselves and our community, [that] we have the power and the resilience to be strong in our own mental health and wellbeing,” she said when speaking with a journalist from About Regional.

 

“When children develop these skills at a young age, it helps them with any future stress, anxiety and trauma that may present in their increasingly complex lives.”

 

As well as supporting the children, she hopes the projects will support the educators and families too, in turn impacting on the local community and helping it to become more vibrant and stronger. 

 

The space also includes cubby nooks and sensory areas.

 

Federal Member for Eden-Monaro Kristy McBain applauded the preschool for its initiative, saying “disasters can be traumatic for communities, and the recovery process can bring a lot of change. Initiatives like this one in Bermagui provide an opportunity for families to process trauma and create stronger connections within the community.”

 

The Therapy and Counselling Room project was funded with $892,284 from the Federal and NSW governments.

 

To read the original coverage of this story please see here.