By CASEY NEILL
CHILDREN who’ve lost someone close to them often need special help.
Rainbows for the Children of Australia is offering a program in Keysborough to provide it.
It started a 13-week after-school program at Keysborough Learning centre last Thursday 15 May, but Rainbows Victorian development officer Nathan Jones said children could join at any stage.
Trained facilitators work with small groups of similarly aged children, from four to 15 years, with a focus on harm prevention.
“Self-harm is actually quite rife in teenage children at the moment,” Mr Jones said.
The aim is to give participants an understanding of their new family unit, build their self-esteem and direct them toward a healthy resolution of the changes in their lives.
“Every week they’ll deal with another factor of grief or loss and they speak to the facilitators and try to get over it using books and activities,” Mr Jones said.
“It helps the children move on from what they’ve lost.
“The parents have to consent for the children to come but it’s on a personal basis.”
The cost for each 40-minute plus session is a gold coin donation.
“We’re a not for profit charity for children,” Mr Jones said.
“What we do is we support children who have lost friends or family.”
Rainbows originated in Chicago, USA, 30 years ago.
“In Victoria we’ve got about 15 sites at different schools that do it via their welfare officers at school,” he said.
“We’re trying to spread it along, into new sites.”
Enrolment forms and more information are available from Gemma or Nathan on 9587 4535, Keysborough Learning Centre at 402 Corrigan Road, Keysborough, or rainbowsvic@iprimus.com.au
