Jason Falinski (Mackellar, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I recently had the pleasure of visiting a unique play therapy centre in my electorate. The Be Centre is the only registered charity in Australia offering programs for children aged three to 13 years and their families dedicated to earlier trauma intervention to restore trust, build self-confidence and life skills. Highly experienced and dedicated mental health professionals help children make sense of situations and events, assisting them to cope with issues of trauma, bullying, grief, anger, anxiety, addiction and autism disorders in a safe, confidential and caring environment.

Play therapy is unique in its self-guided, child-focussed, gentle and effective nature. The children choose how they spend their time with a therapist, be it in sand play, puppetry, art dance, clay or creative visualisation. I witnessed firsthand how the eight highly trained counsellors, psychologists and social workers work side-by-side with 20 volunteers who give their time so generously to change children's lives. Through play therapy, the Be Centre provides hope, healing and empowerment for children with emotional, social or behavioural issues, or to children who have experienced trauma, to be the best that they can be.