For years, Melanie* was doing everything she could to give her son a safe and stable life.
For years, Melanie* was doing everything she could to give her son a safe and stable life. She had left a violent relationship, raised Ethan* on her own, and tried to protect him from a past she hoped would never define his future.
But as Ethan entered adolescence, things began to unravel. Long-standing challenges with emotional regulation intensified after he learned difficult truths about his father. Searching for answers, he eventually connected with his father, through social media. Conflicting stories left him overwhelmed, angry, and confused.
At 14, Ethan’s behaviour escalated rapidly. He withdrew from school and rejected support. Violence became part of daily life. For Melanie, it was a period of fear, exhaustion, and isolation.
“I didn’t recognise him,” she says. “And I didn’t recognise my life anymore.”
Melanie reached out to multiple services, but she struggled to find practical help. Police were frequently involved, and she feared losing her son to a path she couldn’t change.
Everything shifted when she connected with MacKillop Family Services’ Multisystemic Therapy (MST) program. “For the first time, someone didn’t just listen, they acted,” Melanie says.
The MST team worked intensively to provide flexible, hands-on support to both Ethan and Melanie. They met Ethan where he felt comfortable while helping Melanie build strategies to manage behaviour, reduce conflict, and restore stability at home. They also eased immediate pressures, assisting with home repairs, food vouchers, and access to positive activities.
Together, they focused on small but meaningful goals, such as simply getting Ethan out of the house each day. Gradually, progress followed. Ethan began reconnecting with school, physical activity, and the world around him.
Crucially, the program’s after-hours support meant Melanie no longer faced crises alone. “That changed everything,” she says. “I didn’t always have to call the police. I had another way.”
Today, the transformation is clear. Challenges remain, but Ethan has returned to school in stages, joined sporting activities, and started rebuilding his confidence. The violence that once defined their home has largely subsided.
Melanie’s message to other parents is simple: “Hold on to who your child really is. Sometimes they just need the right support to find their way back.”
*Names changed to protect privacy
Right now, support like this is at risk. Together, we can keep this vital assistance within reach for families who need it most.
