Centacare - Gold Coast Family Relationship Centre

Children and Young People

In addition to child and family counselling, we offer a range of programs for children and young people, some of which are held in our centres and some in school settings and other outreach locations.

These programs help children, young people and families deal with:

• family separation
• changing families
• grief and loss
• anxiety and shyness
• healthy relationships.

Children First

Children First is an educational peer support program for children aged 5 to 13 years who are adjusting to family life after the separation or divorce of their parents. We also provide a support group for parents. Children First works in small groups with a trained facilitator the program provides a variety of creative activities for children and young people to enable them to explore the following themes:

• changes to their family situation
• managing their feelings
• understand that others experience the same feelings 
• constructive expression of feelings
• communication and problem solving skills
• that change can be a positive experience too. 

Supporting Children after Separation

Our program helps children and young people under 18 in situations where their parents have separated. The program provides:

• one-to-one counselling
• support sessions for brothers and sisters
• group-based sessions
• assistance and support in sharing concerns, thoughts and feelings with parents
• provision of information on separation and other places to go for help or advice.

Eligibility

Any child or young person under the age of 18 whose parents have separated can use this program.

Other family members, i.e. parents, grandparents or carers, who might need support, are referred to services for adults in separated family situations.