Helping children better manage their wellbeing
If you’re noticing that your child is anxious, angry, often upset or sad – or has had a change in their usual behaviour and wellbeing – Family Life is here to support. Our SHINE program supports vulnerable children aged 0-18 and their families, who live in the Casey and Greater Dandenong (Victoria) regions.
SHINE, an early intervention program, assists children and their families who are feeling the effects of traumatic situations or experiences. It aims to reduce the risk of a child experiencing a mental health problem by helping them to strengthen their resilience and coping skills. Specialist support is available for children who have a parent with a mental illness, for children showing early signs of mental illness, and for children who need support regaining confidence or requires support to improve their wellbeing. SHINE is also also here for you if you need assistance managing your child.
How do I know if my child needs a helping hand?
If your child has experienced trauma, is acting out or you’re struggling to manage them, SHINE can help them get back on track.
Here are a few ways you can tell if your child is at-risk of developing mental health issues:
- They’re regularly anxious or distressed
- They’re struggling to overcome recurring problems
- They’re unable to sleep, eat or concentrate
- They’re avoiding regular social or family activities.
If you’re concerned and believe your child needs some outside support, we can help.
What is the SHINE Program?
SHINE aims to help children, and their families, who need support in leading the way towards happy and healthy lives.
Our specialist case managers work with young people (with the support of their families or careers too) to address key issues and strengthen their resilience and wellbeing.
Depending on your child’s situation, we’ll work with you and your child either on a short-term or longer term basis. Both pathways will involve your child:
- Working closely with a case worker
- Talking about issues in their lives
- Identifying areas they would like to improve
- Learning about mental health and wellbeing
- Taking part in small group work.
Additionally, we’ll also work closely with you and the rest of the family to support you better manage your child’s wellbeing . We can assist you to gain a better understanding of mental health and connect you with other supports services where necessary.
How can my child benefit?
SHINE helps young people develop strategies to better manage stressful situations, while improving self-confidence and self-awareness. Participants and their parents have told us they:
- Have a better understanding of mental health and wellbeing
- Have experienced improvements in their emotional wellbeing
- Are able to communicate more effectively with their family members
- Have developed coping strategies to manage anxiety and behaviour.
Early intervention is crucial to successful wellbeing outcomes. SHINE is an effective wellbeing service for all children.
How can I get in contact?
If you have concerns about your child’s wellbeing , and need some support, we’re here to support. Contact us by calling Family Life on (03) 8599 5433 or email shinecdintake@familylife.com.au
If you struggle to communicate in English, we have bilingual case managers and have access to interpreters to communicate with you in your native language. We’ll do a quick assessment to see if SHINE fits your situation. If it does, we’ll assign a case manager who’ll work with you to identify areas where SHINE can make a difference.
