For many children, success at school depends on strong support at home. But that support can be difficult for families to access when facing complex challenges.
For many children, success at school depends on strong support at home. But that support can be difficult for families to access when facing complex challenges.
Thanks to the generosity of Perpetual Trustees (The Percy Baxter Charitable Trust) and the Geelong Community Foundation, MacKillop Education’s Geelong school now has a dedicated Therapeutic Hub offering families a safe, trusted place to get the help they need.
Located in Whittington, where many families experience socio-economic disadvantage, the hub is transforming how support is delivered. The simple but powerful choice to locate the hub at MacKillop’s Geelong school removes one of the biggest barriers to support: fear and disengagement. Because families already know and trust school staff, they are far more willing to seek help and to keep coming back.
The hub brings together a Family Therapist, a Senior Social Worker, and a Speech Pathologist. Together, they provide practical, real-time assistance, whether helping a parent understand legal paperwork, guiding them through complex systems, or supporting a child’s developmental needs. The focus is preventative, addressing issues early to avoid involvement with police or the courts.
The impact of the hub is already clear. Since opening in late January, the hub has reached capacity, with its part-time staff serving 29 families, with most returning for ongoing support. Each week, staff work intensively with 8-12 families, often supporting multiple members within a household.
Equally powerful is the impact on carers. While children attend counselling, parents receive guidance and support of their own; reducing burnout, strengthening relationships, and building confidence. A fortnightly parent group is also helping to reduce isolation, creating new connections and a stronger sense of community.
The hub’s success is perhaps best seen in what families have built themselves: 12 parents have taken the initiative to create their own support group, meeting regularly to connect, share, and support one another, strengthening the community from within.
With additional funding, MacKillop hopes to expand the hub, bringing in a provisional psychologist and increasing staff hours to reach even more families in need.
This is what your support makes possible: earlier intervention, stronger families, and better outcomes for children.