Grant boost fuels play therapy on the Bellarine

BELLARINE Community Health’s (BCH) Child Health and Development (CHAD) team has been lucky enough to receive a welcome boost to its children’s play therapy equipment, thanks to a Community Funding grant from Variety Victoria in collaboration with Energy Australia.

The grant allows BCH to purchase play therapy toys, play materials and other resources to assist with its play therapy program.

BCH Mental Health Clinician Meg Hanlon said she was thrilled to see the play therapy room looked similar to a toy wonderland, which will allow children various ways to express and communicate their experiences.

“The toys in the playroom now include sensory materials, art and craft materials, dolls and shops, scary and aggressive toys – toys that become words in the child’s language of play,” Ms Hanlon said.

“Being able to create an environment that is warm and inviting makes a significant difference to a child’s experience.”

Ms Hanlon described therapy as an evidence-based, developmentally appropriate model of counselling that allows children to express their thoughts, feelings, and experiences through play.

The grant also supports children feel understood and empowered to integrate their experiences and build new ways of being in relationships with themselves, others, and the world.

“Play therapy meets kids where they’re at and its communicating with them in a way that makes sense to them,” Ms Hanlon said.

“It’s wonderful that Bellarine Community Health is able to offer this service to the local community and for this type of support to be more accessible.”

BCH offers mental health services including play therapy to children up to the aged of 12 years old.