BUSHkids Annual Report 2022-23

11

Annual Report 2022–23

Inglewood and Texas Case Study Supporting generations of BUSHkids in one family BUSHkids has been supporting the Inglewood and Texas community since 1990 and many families in these small communities can remember the services and support BUSHkids provides from when they were children. Emma, a mother of 10, has received support from BUSHkids far back as she can remember. We provided support to her mother, to herself as a child and then as a mother, and now to her children and grandchild! Growing up, Emma’s family lived in Inglewood, a tiny rural community on the Darling Downs with fewer than 1,000 people. Back then the support was more informal: “There are not a lot of services out this way, so you have to make do. BUSHkids facilitator, Suzie Clarke was a legend out this way. Everyone knew her. She was a wonderful person who would do anything she could to help you. She did a lot for my mother who had her hands full with three young children. You could ask her anything and she would know, or she would find out.” “Being a mother was something I always wanted to do. From when I could first walk and talk and play with baby dolls, I wanted a baby of my own. I just loved being a mum from day one”. Emma received regular support from BUSHkids including completing the 1-2-3 Magic® and Emotion Coaching and the Circle of Security parenting programs. Sue (Suzie) retired in 2019 and Emma started attending the BUSHkids playgroup. She has developed a strong relationship with our current facilitator and feels very supported. “Playgroup is really important out here. Especially when you live out of town and don’t get out much. It’s a chance to see people, have some adult interaction that I don’t get to have much when I’m home by myself with seven kids”. “I’ve always really liked living out here. We moved to Texas about four years ago. I like

how it’s quiet and peaceful. It’s a good place to raise your kids. But it can be hard if you need services. Having BUSHkids here every week makes it feel not so remote. Having a regular visiting service means you get to speak to someone outside your immediate family circle. Someone who won’t judge you.” “BUSHkids has been a part of my family for nearly my whole life. Every Wednesday I come to town and the BUSHkids car pulls up loaded with activities for the kids. My four-year-old Jack can be a bit of a handful but it’s nev er a problem getting him out of the house on a Wednesday because he knows it’s his BUSHkids day at Kindy. Miss Julie works with all my kids, and they just love her. “ Emma regularly attends the BUSHkids Playgroup in Texas with her three younger children and it’s a good support for new parents; she reassures them with her extensive experience with parenting and shares practical skills. Triple P tip sheets are often used during the Playgroup to share ideas and knowledge with the group. As a mother of a large family, Emma recognises that she needs resources to assist her to care for all her children. “In my worst times, hav ing the support of BUSHkids has meant that I never went under because as a mother you can’t afford to go under. I have done parenting programs through BUSHkids. I did Circle of Security training and had the chance to take my kids to the BUSHkids Playgroup every week. This has really helped with working through problems a couple of my kids were having with separation anxiety. They didn’t want to leave my side and would really get distressed if I tried to leave them at school or daycare. That can be really hard to deal with, it really adds stress to already busy days. “At Playgroup Miss Julie could see me having trouble with this and was there to help distract and engage whoever was needing help to learn to trust other adults and children, and play independently. It takes time to build that trust.

Birdie’s Tree Early Learning Program talks about vegetation regeneration and how sometimes hard times give the opportunity to pull together and care for animals and each other. Many children in these programs can pop up their hand and say they have seen water bombing or had planes take water from their dams to help put out fires on neighbours’ land. They speak about camping out in their cars when the whole town was woken and asked to evacuate, as if it is an everyday event. Many parents make their living from the land and they know how hard it can get, and the Birdie’s Tree program has been a beneficial addition to the BUSHkids suite of programs.

In March, BUSHkids hosted Andrea Baldwin from t he Queensland Centre for Perinatal and Infant Mental Health to deliver the Program to Early Childhood educators and BUSHkids teams in the Southern Downs. Since the training, BUSHkids staff have been able to implement the program in several childcare centres and schools in Stanthorpe, Inglewood and Texas. Resilience is very important for both parents and for children. The program supports children and families to build their own resilience and reduce anxiety, especially associated with natural disasters. As part of the program, the facilitator talks about the Australian bush as a beautiful but harsh place to live at times, with a landscape designed to flood and go through fires and droughts.

L: Our Children and Parenting Team member

Julianne sits with a group of children, playing with the frog character from the Birdie’s Tree book, on a blue felt pond mat with green lily pad leaves.