Connected Kiddos

25/03/2026

90 minutes. Free. And genuinely worth your time.

This is the recording from the Mental Health First Aid webinar I attended last night with Dr Billy Garvey, and it’s too good not to share.

It’s a really practical session on how to recognise early signs that a child might be struggling, and what to do in those moments in a way that actually helps.

It speaks to understanding behaviour as communication and supporting kids through connection, safety and regulation — not just managing behaviour.

If you’ve ever found yourself thinking “is this normal?” or “what do I actually do when things escalate?” this is a great watch.

Great for parents, foster carers, adoptive parents, and professionals — everyone will take something away.

Thanks to Camp Australia for hosting.

Microsoft Virtual Events Powered by Teams

19/03/2026

✨ Bringing ENVISAGE Families to Townsville ✨

I’m really excited to be bringing the ENVISAGE Families program to Townsville for the first time in Term 2!

Hand on heart, this is the kind of program I wish more families had access to earlier in their journey.

ENVISAGE (Enabling Visions and Growing Expectations) is a free, evidence-based program co-designed with parents who have lived experience and grounded in research from Australian Catholic University, McMaster University (CanChild), Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and the University of Melbourne.

I’ll be co-facilitating alongside an awesome parent with lived experience, Jessica - and that perspective is a big part of what makes this program so powerful.

💛 Who it’s for
Parents and caregivers of children (up to 8 years) with developmental concerns, disability, or who are neurodivergent

No diagnosis or NDIS plan needed

📍 Townsville groups (in person)
All Access Events, Currajong

Group 1 – starting 20 April
Monday mornings 9:00am – 11:30am or
Monday evenings: 7:00pm – 8:30pm

Group 2 – starting 26 May
Monday mornings 9:00am – 11:30am or
Monday evenings: 7:00pm – 8:30pm

🌿 Across 5 sessions, parents are supported to:
• explore their family values and what matters most in their parenting
• better understand their child’s development, health and wellbeing
• make sense of what their child is communicating through their cues and signals
• reflect on their own wellbeing and how to support themselves
• build confidence in communicating and advocating for their child

💬 Parents who have completed the program share:
“I feel more confident to advocate for my child.”
“It was the first time I felt heard as a parent.”
“It helped me focus on my child’s strengths.”

If attending in person isn’t possible, there are also online Envisage programs running at different times:
https://envisage.community/workshop/

📄 Flyers with full details and registration information are attached
⚠️ Spaces are limited
If this feels like it could support your family — or a family you know — please feel free to share

17/03/2026

Many of the children we support have brothers and sisters quietly navigating their own big feelings, questions and experiences.
This is a beautiful opportunity just for them 💛

SibWorks Online is a small, supportive group program for children aged 8–12 who have a sibling with disability or chronic illness. Across 7 weeks, children connect with others who truly “get it”, helping them feel less alone while building confidence, coping skills and emotional understanding.

What it supports:
• Understanding their sibling’s needs in a child-friendly way
• Making sense of tricky feelings
• Building confidence and resilience
• Connecting with other siblings who share similar experiences
📍 Online (easy to access from home)
📅 Term 2 | Starts 28 April
⏱ Weekly sessions (7 weeks)
👥 Small group (4–6 children for quality support)

This is such a valuable space for siblings who often sit in the background, holding a lot more than we realise.
If you have a child who might benefit, you can find more information here:

A weekly online SibWorks program for children aged 7–12 who have a sibling with disability. Build confidence, connection and coping skills over 7 weeks.

16/03/2026

🌏 Happy World Social Work Day 🌏
Co-Building Hope and Harmony

This year’s theme reminds us that stronger communities are built together across cultures, experiences, differences and shared humanity.

Harmony does not mean everyone is the same.
It means recognising that each person brings their own story, culture, strengths and way of seeing the world.

And at the same time, there is so much that connects us.

Families want their children to be understood.
Children need to feel safe and accepted.
Parents hope their children will grow up knowing they belong.

In my work with children and families, hope often shows up in small everyday moments:
• a child realising someone understands them
• a parent finding a new way to respond to big feelings
• adults coming together around a child
• a child experiencing success in something that once felt really hard

These moments might look small from the outside, but they matter.

For me, the work always comes back to one simple idea.
It starts with connection.

16/03/2026

Families check out NQ Family Therapy new Social Detective group running in April!

Does your child struggle with friendships or social situations?

They might:
• Misread social cues
• Interrupt or talk over others
• Find group situations confusing
• Struggle to make or keep friends

You are not alone, and support can help.

Our psychologist, Courtney, is excited to run the “You Are a Social Detective!” Social Thinking Program at NQ Family Therapy Centre.

This engaging program helps children aged 7-10 learn to understand what others might be thinking or feeling, recognise social cues, and develop the skills needed to build positive friendships.

Through games, discussions, and guided activities, children learn how to:
🧠 Make smart social guesses
👀 Notice social cues
💡 Use flexible thinking
🤝 Strengthen friendships

📅 Starting April | Every second Saturday
Limited places available

To express interest or refer a child:
admin@nqftc.com.au

Teachers, GPs and allied health professionals are welcome to refer.

12/03/2026

Living regionally can sometimes make it harder for families to access the right supports, but telehealth can be a great option for many children. Being in the comfort of their own home often helps kids feel more relaxed and open.

Today this awesome 11-year-old and I checked in via telehealth while working together on our matching 3D kangaroo models. The box says ages 3+… which we both quickly agreed was wildly optimistic 😂

There were a few moments where we weren’t quite sure how it was going to come together, but we didn’t give up. We slowed down, figured it out piece by piece, and worked through it together.

Turns out persistence, teamwork and a few laughs go a long way. 🦘💻

05/03/2026

A mum drawing her daughter as she sees her.

Connected Kiddos has been a supportive place for their connection to grow.

Yesterday this young legend quietly shared she feels ready to stop coming to therapy — the confidence to step out into the world begins in safe relationships. What a milestone! 🙌

03/03/2026

How long does it take Kristy to blow up the giant balloon for a session….
3 minutes and 48 seconds!
Absolutely worth nearly passing out for the giggles it creates in the play room! 😜

26/02/2026

This sounds like a great opportunity 👏🏻

🌟 Parents of kids aged 7–12

We are testing new ways to improve Courage Quest, a digital mental health program designed by psychologists at Black Dog Institute to help children with anxiety.

✅ Free to access
✅ Reimbursed for your time spent on surveys
✅ A chance to help shape better treatments for kids everywhere

Give your child skills for a happier, healthier life while contributing to important research.

👉 Learn more and get involved here:

23/02/2026

It’s not about doing more.
It’s about being more available for a few intentional minutes.

Quality beats quantity — especially when nervous systems are tired.

A family recently shared with me that since coming to Connected Kiddos, they’ve started carving out just 10 minutes of simple play before their evening routine.

Not structured.
Not educational.
No correcting.
No teaching.
Phones away.
Just being together.

They told me it has made a world of difference — not just for their child, but for the arousal levels of everyone in the house.

Evenings feel calmer.
Transitions feel less loaded.
Siblings are less reactive.
Mum and Dad feel less on edge.

It’s not magic. It’s regulation.

When a child receives a small, predictable pocket of undivided attention, their nervous system settles. And when one nervous system settles, it often steadies the rest of the family too.

There’s a pesky inner voice many parents carry that says, “I’m not doing enough.”

This is your reminder:
You don’t need more hours.
You need protected minutes.

This week’s episode of the Thriving Kids Podcast features Dr Dave Anderson answering questions about self-care — and it’s a helpful reminder that filling your cup doesn’t have to mean big, dramatic changes. Sometimes it’s these small, intentional moments that shift the whole household.

🎧 Watch or listen here:

n this Questions & Answers episode of Thriving Kids, Dr. Dave Anderson follows up on last week’s conversation with Joanna Kim, PhD about parental self-care and the invisible labor of raising kids. ...

21/02/2026

Look at these legends!

Two crowns.
Two big smiles.
One shared moment.

Play that mirrors — wearing the same thing, moving the same way — activates a powerful sense of belonging for children.

“I am like you.”
“I am with you.”
“We belong together.”

That’s how identity and safety are quietly built.

It starts with connection