Chaplain's Corner
HI EVERYONE,
1800 55 1800
I WOULD REALLY ENCOURAGE YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN TO EXPLORE THE KIDS HELP LINE WEBSITE, ESPECIALLY DURING LOCKDOWN, but for all times help is needed – IT IS ABOUT MORE THAN HELPFUL CHATS. It caters for 5 – 25 years of age and there are videos, puzzles, quizzes, real stories around issues, helpful ideas around issues eg bullying, grief, friendship, scary feelings, changes in families, your body, managing anxiety, etc….
For the 13 – 25-year age group there is also a FREE, SAFE, SECURE & ANONYMOUS SOCIAL PLATFORM ‘MY CIRCLE’, which allows young people to chat to each other - this is overseen by Kids Helpline counsellors. See https://kidshelpline.com.au/my-circle
Parents – there are also numerous helps for you too!
For 30 years Kids Helpline has been there for any young person at any hour of the day or night.
“Thanks to the support of our community, Kids Helpline has helped hundreds and thousands of young people since 1991. The ways children and young people choose to interact with us has evolved over the past 30 years particularly with increased use of technology.
What hasn’t changed is that Kids Helpline continues to support and listen to the needs of children and young people across Australia 24 hours a day 7 days a week, 365 days a year.”
1991
Officially opened in March and 3,200 young people called on the first day
1993
Became a national service and had registered over 1 million calls from young people
1999
Introduction of email counselling
2000
Launched Web Chat live counselling
2018
Kids Helpline answered 8 millionth call for help
2021
Kids Helpline celebrates 30 years
One thing that has stuck in my mind from a counselling course I completed was this comment by the lecturer: “CHILDREN ARE THE BAROMETER OF THEIR PARENTS’ EMOTIONS”.
So, look after yourselves and endeavour to remain positive and hopeful. Enjoy fun activities together, whether in the backyard, bike riding or walking. Some family activities: make-shift wooden ramps in the backyard to ‘ride over’ with bikes/skateboards; blow bubbles (washing up liquid and bent wire or pipe cleaners works well), teach your dog a new trick, a shooting hoop competition, totem tennis (if you have one), trampolining. You’ll be surprised how much your kids will enjoy ‘old time’ games such as skipping, coits, hopscotch… Enjoy the laughter as they watch you join in!
If you are really struggling, I encourage you to contact one of these services:
13 14 11 - 24/7
You can also text and chat online. Resources available online also.
PARENT HELPLINE https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/serviceprofiles/parentline-service
TAKE CARE AND STAY SAFE!
Robyn Mulholland (School Chaplain) robyn.mulholland@education.vic.gov.au