For children who have suffered abuse and trauma, Carinity Wahroonga is a haven of hope.
The Rockhampton service provides free, ongoing counselling sessions to young people who have been referred from the Queensland Government Department of Families, Seniors, Disability Services and Child Safety.
There are now more therapy options available at Carinity Wahroonga thanks to the installation of a new playground, which was funded in part by donations received in the 2025 Carinity Christmas Appeal.
Carinity Wahroonga Program Coordinator, Sharyn Tengbom, said the playground has many therapeutic benefits, allowing staff to be more flexible in responding to individual needs.
"When children are active, they tend to let their guard down and talk. It's much less intimidating than a more traditional counselling setting," Sharyn said.
"There's one girl I support who loves the swing. It helps with emotional regulation as she gets on there and swings and talks and opens up more than any other time.
"These young people are all dealing with serious trauma related issues. They're in the child safety system and have often been removed from their families due to abuse, neglect, abandonment or family violence.
"They may be living in foster homes, kinship care or residential care and can be particularly untrusting of adults. Wahroonga might be the first place where a child has felt truly safe, physically and emotionally."
There are plans for more equipment to be installed in the playground, but Sharyn said the next step is getting the children involved with the gardens.
"It seems simple, but when you plant seeds with your own hands and then watch them grow into flowers or herbs, there's a realisation of value and self-worth in knowing you created something," Sharyn said.
"Many of the children we work with have never felt valued or included so we must find ways to encourage them so they can be proud of their achievements.
"The great thing about our program is that once a child is referred here, they can continue to receive regular therapy sessions for as long as needed."
Sharyn said she's proud to work with a small team of dedicated professionals, but one of the challenges is that Government funding doesn't fully meet the cost of services.
"Thankfully we have a generous community of supporters behind us. It's because of these donations that we now have this wonderful playground that will benefit children recovering from complex trauma for many years to come."
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