10/05/2026

At St James College, HEAL’s school-based expressive therapies program supports children and young people from refugee backgrounds as they navigate settlement, learning and wellbeing in Australia.

In 2024–25, HEAL at St James supported 139 students through creative therapies, wellbeing groups and community connection activities designed to strengthen confidence, emotional regulation and belonging.

From arts-based wellbeing groups to holiday programs combining creativity, English support and excursions, the program helps students build connection with school, peers and community while supporting engagement in learning.

This is the impact of trauma-informed wellbeing support embedded directly within schools.

04/05/2026

What can a safe creative space at school make possible?

At Yeronga State High School, HEAL’s Open Studio has become a valued drop-in space where students can pause, create, connect and feel supported - with more than 880 informal student engagements across the year in 2025.

One student described the space as “quiet, relaxing, comfortable and safe.”

Sometimes support begins with something as simple as having a place where you feel you belong.

28/04/2026

HEAL at Milpera State High School now has a digital piano for students to play at lunchtime. Here’s Bethany, HEAL’s Milpera Coordinator, warming it up!
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For more than two decades, HEAL has been part of the fabric of Milpera State High School, walking alongside newly arrived young people as they settle, learn and rebuild confidence in a new country. 💛

Through art, movement, music and play, students are supported by the skilled HEAL Milpera team to regulate emotions, express themselves and experience school as a place of safety and belonging.

In 2024–25, HEAL provided individual support to 217 students and group support to 108 students at Milpera alone.

Twenty years on, this work continues to show what sustained, school-based support can make possible.

02/04/2026

As the term comes to a close, we’re wishing all students, teachers and school staff a well-earned break over the Easter and school holiday period!

For many young people, this term has held big moments - new beginnings, challenges, growth and connection - and we’re grateful to be part of that journey through HEAL.

We hope the holidays bring time to rest, reset and feel supported.

HEAL's head office will close tomorrow, through the easter long weekend, reopening on Tuesday, 7 April.

We look forward to seeing all our participants next term 💜

07/03/2026

In the HEAL program, we spend a lot of time with girls and young women who are navigating new beginnings.

Many have found safety with us here in Australia after experiences of displacement, loss or significant change. They are growing up between cultures, learning a new language, finding their place among peers and carrying responsibilities within their families.

Through safe spaces, expressive therapies and supportive relationships, young women are finding their voices, building confidence and imagining new and thriving futures. It is our privilege to walk beside them and witness their courage, determination and leadership.

International Women’s Day is also a reminder that equality is not yet a given. Around the world and here in Australia, many women and girls still face barriers to justice, safety and opportunity.

This year’s call to “Balance the Scales” reminds us that every girl deserves protection from harm, access to opportunities and the freedom to shape her own future.

26/02/2026

In 2024–25, HEAL supported more than 430 young people across five Queensland schools.

Students were referred for support for many reasons - feeling sad or worried, withdrawing from others, struggling with concentration, navigating transitions, or managing conflict with peers. Behind every referral is a young person carrying more than they should have to at school.

Thanks to the generosity of our donors and funders, HEAL expanded our therapeutic approaches to include dance movement therapy and dramatherapy, alongside our existing art and expressive therapies.

Your support allows us to keep innovating, responding and reaching young people where they need us, in the places they learn and grow.

If you would like to help us extend this work to even more schools and students, we invite you to support HEAL today. Donate at givenow.com.au/friendsofheal

06/02/2026

This year, with support from Health and Wellbeing Queensland, HEAL is expanding our dance movement therapy program in schools to support more young survivors of refugee trauma.

Movement helps young people to regulate their bodies, express emotions without words, and reconnect with a sense of safety and confidence. In school settings, this support can be vital to help a young person feel safe enough to participate in learning and feel a sense of belonging in the classroom.

We look forward to sharing more over the coming year about how this expressive therapy is helping students heal, learn and thrive.

This initiative is proudly funded by the Queensland Government through a Health and Wellbeing Queensland GenQ Health and Wellbeing Community Accelerator Grant.

12/12/2025

As we wrap up 2025, we want to thank every school community, teacher, partner and donor who has walked alongside HEAL this year.

Your support has ensured children and young people from refugee backgrounds had access to trauma-informed, expressive arts therapy and support when they needed it most. Because of you, thousands of moments of connection, confidence and healing were possible.

Thank you for believing in this work, and in the potential of every young person we support.

HEAL's head office will be closed from 12pm on 24 December, 2025, reopening on 5 January, 2026.

Wishing you a safe and restful break.
💛 The HEAL Team

19/09/2025

Support our friend Clare as she runs 50km for HEAL this November!
Donate at givenow.com.au/cr/cc-kosci50

🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

"Hey! I’m clare (she/her), 25 year old living in Geelong on Wadawurrang country. Bred and born in Brisbane but moved interstate to finish my degree of paramedicine and nursing in 2023 & liked the change of scenery a bit too much so I stayed! I work as a registered nurse in the hustle and bustle chaotic environment of the emergency department.

Here’s a few things about me:

I don’t have an inside voice & according to the personality quiz, i'm a turbulent campaigner. I like highlighting powerful and interesting sentences in my kindle & Scar by missy higgins is my favourite song in the whole wide world!!

Ironically, this entire fundraising journey started when I first learnt about HEAL at QPAC where missy herself was singing and raising money for the organisation. I felt a nudge that this organisation's incredible work needed to be spread.

Running has always been my head clearer, and I especially love trail runs – there’s more to see, more to focus on, and always the unknown waiting around the next corner. This year I’ve decided to take it one step further (or maybe a lot of steps further!) by tackling the 50km ultra at Mt Kosciuszko on November 27th.

I’m even more excited that I get to run for a cause close to my heart – HEAL, who do incredible work supporting refugee and asylum-seeking students through the power of expressive arts and learning."

🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

We are so lucky to have incredible supporters like Clare doing incredible things. We can't wait to follow and share her progress along the trail in November.

💚 To support Clare, head to givenow.com.au/cr/cc-kosci50
🌄 To find out more about the Ultra Trail Kosciuszko head to kosciuszko.utmb.world/

18/08/2025

💙 HEAL gives refugee students a safe space to heal and grow through creative arts therapy in schools. Your donation helps make this possible. 🌱

👉 Donate today:
givenow.com.au/FriendsofHeal

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