The Groups Program at WRISC offers a variety of safe, supportive and therapeutic spaces for women and children to come together and heal from the effects of family violence. Groups in this program are developed in response to the needs of the community and aim to enhance the safety, agency and wellbeing of all participants.
All groups are facilitated by Masters qualified arts therapists utilising trauma informed approaches that are strength based. Spaces are safe and non-judgemental respecting the individual participant and their needs. All groups operate against the school year terms and run according to demand.
Women’s Support Groups
WRISC’s Women’s Support Groups offer women the opportunity to engage and identify the impacts of Family Violence together and to participate in arts making activities in a supportive environment with others who share similar experiences.
Family Violence can cause disempowerment and disconnection, WRISC’s Women’s Support Groups aim to promote safety, build on strengths, foster hope and create connections, empowering women to navigate their next steps.
Referrals from outside agencies and self-referrals assessed for group readiness.
Women’s Support Group (Ballarat)
The Women’s Support Group is a safe and confidential space for women to meet other women who have experienced family violence and to help participants through their experience of family violence. This group is informal allowing for flexible attendance.
- Operating in Ballarat on a weekly basis for 8-week terms.
- Up to 8 participating women
- Flexible attendance – understanding that women have many competing demands on their time and strengths.
- Utilises therapeutic arts-making in response to themes and prompts.
Women’s Support Group (Bacchus Marsh)
This group utilises arts based therapeutic approaches to provide space for mothers and carers to connect, learn about and reflect on the impacts of family violence on their own and their children’s lives in creative ways.
- Participants accepted from all WRISC programs & external services where appropriate.
- Operating in Bacchus Marsh during each school term.
Women’s Support Group – Intercultural
- In collaboration with Ballarat Regional Multicultural Centre (BRMC)
- Culturally safe, non-judgemental space for women to connect and use arts making to understand the complexities of their lived experience.
Finding Voices
- Women 18 -25 years of age with the lived experience of Family Violence and or that of Intimate Personal Dating Violence.
- Psychoeducation – Coercive Control, Power and Control dynamics
Women’s Support Group – (Online)
- Currently being developed
Steppin’ Out Walking Group
This is a therapeutic outdoor walking group aiming to restore emotional well-being and physical health. Steppin’ Out walks are a positive and healthy way for participants to reflect on their experiences while connecting with nature and building valuable social and community connections as well as learning coping strategies such as how to be in the present.
- Clients from WRISC programs only accepted.
- Operating in Ballarat on a monthly basis.
Children’s Therapeutic Groups
Therapeutic groups are developed in response to the needs of infants, children and youth living within the Central Highlands region. Facilitated by Van Go Therapists, these groups operate on a term-by-term basis and offer a range of developmentally appropriate, trauma informed, creative and dynamic spaces for children to interact with peers who have had similar experiences in a safe environment that supports emotional and social development.
Parents and carers of children are also supported with opportunity to participate in groups focusing on areas such as psycho-educational, therapeutic and child/caregiver relationship development.
Children’s Therapeutic Groups running this term
These groups are updated on a term basis, please check regularly for updates.
Aboriginal Program – Yarning Kids
A facilitated Yarning Kids group for primary school girls that operates each term. This group provides a culturally safe space for kids to build connections, gain new experiences and participate in therapeutic activities at a safe venue.
Feeling Visible Schools Group Program
Feeling Visible is a small groups program held in schools with identified students that hold the lived experience of Family Violence (this may include their own intimate personal dating relationship violence) and their caregiving adults have been unable to navigate the service system to access a therapeutic service response. Feeling Visible is run by ANZACATA Registered Arts Therapists using an Arts-based trauma informed approach to develop the voices of its participants. Active consent, safety, boundaries, awareness of self, emotional regulation and needs are all approached with a strength based, attitude of curiosity and trauma informed awareness of family violence. This is a six-week program run in schools across the Central Highlands area.
Little Children Big Outcomes Group
Very young children recover from relational violence through their safe care-giving relationships. The Little Children, Big Outcomes group supports both mums and children under five in their recovery from their experiences of violence. This creative therapy group was developed from the Little Children, Big Outcomes research project which explored evidence-based responses for children under five who have experienced family violence. The groups are proudly supported by UFS dispensaries and Moorabool Shire and are available to families who live within Moorabool.
- Operating in Moorabool Shire Terms 2 and 4.
For referrals and more information about any of WRISC’s Therapeutic & Support Groups please contact WRISC reception on (03) 5333 3666 and talk to our Groups Team Leader – groupsprogram@wrisc.org.au
WRISC takes participants’ safety seriously. Due to ongoing demand, please understand there may be wait-lists associated with each group.