COMMUNITY PROGRAMS

Building stronger families, stronger communities and brighter futures.

Our 2026/27 programs are:

The Life Skills to Leadership (L2L) Program delivered by ABC Foundation

Tom Price

The Life Skills to Leadership (L2L) program by ABC Foundation revolutionizes education for Indigenous Australians, breaking down intergenerational barriers. This program complements our Ranger for Life Program (6-12 years) supporting children into high school (12 to 16 years).

Through immersive learning on country, it empowers youth with a deep understanding of their spiritual connection to the environment. L2L instils cultural identity early, fostering emotional stability, improving school attendance, and offering career development.

Rooted in RESPECT principles, it transforms classrooms into dynamic hubs for exploring the environment, promoting waste awareness with the impactful theme "Don't Rubbish Country." From bush classrooms to after-school sessions, L2L delivers inclusive, culturally rich education. Its outcomes include strengthened community bonds, increased school enrolment, and empowered children with higher education, diverse employment options, and enhanced well-being. The ABC Foundation's L2L program is a transformative journey towards a successful future, embracing diversity and nurturing resilient, confident leaders.

Contact: https://abcau.com.au/

Ranger for Life Program delivered by ABC Foundation

Roebourne and Tom Price

This program has been delivered in Tom Price since 2016, working predominately with the Tom Price and North Tom Price Primary Schools, Wakathuni Aboriginal Community, broader Tom Price Aboriginal community, and traditional owners.

The critical missing link in Aboriginal communities, especially communities accessing western services, is the link between culture and the environment and its importance in childhood education. Most parents/guardians of Aboriginal children in remote/isolated communities lack basic education with as high as 80% illiterate. This results in an endemic intergenerational gap, where education is devalued and, in some circumstances, completely disregarded.
Since the inception of this program our evidence suggests, the importance culture and the environment play in an Aboriginal community has forever been a significant factor in cultural identity and a way of life. Through community consultation and focus group feedback Aboriginal Elders believe this aspect may have been overlooked in early childhood development of Aboriginal children within a western education system and therefore is seen as a deficit in their foundational learning.

This information and feedback is the baseline of the R4L program. We have learnt that by reintroducing traditional cultural and environmental activities into early childhood education, using unconventional methods that incorporate Aboriginal ways of learning and being, actually support disengaged children and their parents and those at risk of becoming disengaged to engage or re-engage in education.

Bringing Up Great Kids delivered by Karratha Central Healthcare

Karratha, Onslow, Tom Price

The parent-child relationship serves as the cornerstone of emotional and psychological development, exerting a profound impact on an individual's journey into adulthood. Beyond the fundamental role of providing physical care, parents play a pivotal role in shaping their children's socio-emotional well-being and cognitive development. The quality of early interactions, attachment patterns, and the emotional support received during formative years significantly influence a person's self-esteem, interpersonal relationships, and overall mental health later in life. Parenting is widely regarded as one of the most challenging and profound life experiences. While for many it is an enjoyable experience, a significant proportion of parents will experience a lack of confidence in their caregiving ability at any given time.

BUGK is an integrated suite of strengths-based activities and tools, that are designed to achieve six program outcomes. Participants are supported to reflect upon and improve patterns of communication with their children, address sources of unhelpful or hurtful attitudes, and are provided with tools to foster opportunities for positive parent/child interactions (Hunter & Meredith, 2014). An independent analysis of BUGK found parents were mindful, calm, and attentive when interacting with their children and experienced greater family cohesion (Hunter & Meredith, 2014). BUGK is flexible and can be easily adapted to meet the needs of families from multicultural backgrounds and different lived experiences. Building Up Great Kids: For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Families has been developed to meet the specific cultural and safety needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents and carers.

Tuning into Kids delivered by Karratha Central Healthcare

Karratha

Positive parent-child connection and communication is critical for the healthy development and wellbeing of both adults and children. Children who have poor relationships with their parents may be more likely to exhibit behavioural problems, self-esteem issues, and communication breakdown.

Tuning into Kids is an evidence based, emotion focused group parenting program that was first developed in 1999 by Professor Sophie Havighurst and Ann Harley. Tuning into Kids is based on the work of American psychologist John Gottman and aims to teach parents and children to express emotions in a healthy way by fostering positive communication and emotional connection.

Tuning into Kids is a strength based, and inclusive program that recognises each family unit is unique and parents know their children best. Children may display challenging behaviours when they are emotionally dysregulated. Tuning into Kids teaches 'emotional coaching', whereby parents are equipped with the skill and knowledge to respond to their child with empathy, emotional acceptance and understanding. Research has shown that behavioural problems in children are reduced or stop when their parents respond with emotional acceptance and understanding.

Tuning into Kids is a suite or programs, and has been further adapted into several specialised programs, including Dads Tuning into Kids. The Dads adaption focuses on the father-child emotional connection, and the program content includes resources and activities relevant to fathers and/or male caregivers. Dads Tuning into Kids has been shown to improve fathers' emotional wellbeing, parent-child connection and parenting skills. Dads Tuning into Kids is unique in that it addresses emotional dysregulation in fathers, in addition to emotional regulation skills in children.

West Pilbara Wellbeing Program delivered by Karratha Central Healthcare

Karratha schools

The West Pilbara Wellbeing Program actively targets the promotion of good mental health and the reduction of risk for adverse mental health conditions. The program centres on a skill-building approach with a focal point of developing student’s resilience and social emotional skills to reduce their risk of anxiety, depression, suicidality and substance abuse behaviours. These mental health problems are of prevalence and concern in regional and rural Western Australia. To reduce the level of disease burden of mental health conditions and the rate of deaths caused by suicide, further investment is needed to implement greater prevention and mental health promotion programs.

The program is delivered from a trauma-informed care perspective and includes information and training on trauma response and care for teachers. Year Four children will be the focus of this program initially as research identifies that there is strong social and emotional growth and development at this age.

WPWP was originally developed in response to education provider and caregiver feedback, citing limited, accessible positive mental health programs for children in our communities. WPWP continues to contribute to the development of strong child-friendly communities that understand the importance of children through direct capacity building to help empower their own influence over their general and mental health, wellbeing and early development at the local level.

In addition to direct delivery to the target cohort, professional development is also provided to the teaching and chaplaincy team before and after each program, to strengthen and reinforce consistency of language and approach and ensure positive alignment with school values and curricula.

Contact: info@karrathahealthcare.org.au

Holyoake DRUMBEAT delivered by Karratha Community House

Karratha and Dampier schools

Holyoake DRUMBEAT (Discovering Relationships Using Music Beliefs Emotions Attitudes & Thoughts) incorporates hand drumming, behavioural therapeutic principles and cognitive and dialectical elements to achieve positive outcomes.

Holyoake DRUMBEAT is an AIFS-approved evidence-based program. It is based on documented research that identifies key issues
related to health and social outcomes. It also incorporates recent development in neurological research which notes the beneficial impact of rhythmic interventions on primal brain systems associated with anxiety and emotional control.

The program is proved to lead to a range of improvements for participants, including increased mental wellbeing, knowledge and understanding of relationship issues, reduction in antisocial behaviour and school absenteeism, and increased empathy.

Karratha Community House delivers Holyoake DRUMBEAT to several schools across the Karratha region each term, to both primary and high school students. Karratha Community House also pioneered the development of a bespoke 'You and Me' Holyoake DRUMBEAT program for toddlers and their caregivers. This program is facilitated at Karratha Community House, at the Pam Buchanan Family Centre in Baynton.

Information and enquiries:

https://karrathacommunityhouse.org.au/programs/holyoake-drumbeat/

Parent-Child Mother Goose delivered by Karratha Community House

Karratha

Parent-Child Mother Goose (PCMG) is an AIFS-approved evidence-based program that strengthens attachment and interaction between parents or caregivers and their young children by introducing them to the pleasure and power of using rhymes, songs and stories together.

Through the program, parents and caregivers gain skills and confidence that help them create positive family patterns during their children's crucial early years. At the same time, children benefit from enjoyable, healthy early experiences with language and communication.

Parent-Child Mother Goose is particularly suitable for parents and caregivers who need extra support because of their own personal or social circumstances, or because their children have special needs or are otherwise at risk.

An extensive body of research shows that PCMG programs:

Promote attachment between parents or caregivers and their young children
Aid the language development of young children
Help to reduce stress associated with being a parent or caregiver of a young child
Put parents in touch with other parents (thus helping them to form new friendships)
Connect parents and caregiver with useful resources in their own community

Information and registration:

https://karrathacommunityhouse.org.au/programs/parent-child-mother-goose-family-time/

Circle of Security Parenting delivered by Karratha Women's Place and Connect Paediatric Therapy Services

Karratha

The Circle of Security Parenting Program (COSP) is an AIFS-approved evidence-based parenting program aimed at assisting and supporting young and/or vulnerable families to reflect, learn and apply healthier attachment patterns.

Each COSP program is delivered by 2 trained COSP facilitators plus clinical supervision for the facilitators. Attendees must attend the 6 sessions. Each week participants are led through videos, reflective questioning, facilitated conversations and given program resources to allow for all learning styles and cultural backgrounds.

With over 60 years of research behind it, the Circle of Security model is used internationally both within community and clinical settings. KWP and Connect aim to deliver a program that will bring "at risk" and vulnerable parents/caregivers together creating opportunities to open family systems. Just as the adults provide the 'Safe Haven', safety, love and care to their children, there are times when parents/caregivers require support and self-care themselves. The development of connections to others, community and broader services are vital for these individuals and participation in the program will facilitate opportunities for parents to meet and develop
networks.

Information and registration:

https://connectpts.com.au/programs/

Supported to Thrive in Early Parenthood (STEP) Program delivered by Milk & Kindness

Dampier

The STEP program is a stand-alone Pilbara-based parent group designed and facilitated by Natalie Gray from Milk & Kindness. STEP is a 6-week program offered to expectant and new parents with infants aged from birth to 6 months. This FPM is founded upon a respect for and encouragement of the expertise and self-determination of parents. Participants are encouraged to commence the program by 'starting together' on week one and attend as many sessions as possible, to foster social connection and a secure and intimate space for sharing and reflecting on pregnancy, birth and parenting experiences.

The weekly 2-hour sessions include a parent-led/surveyed topic researched and facilitated by Natalie Gray and other local health care professionals as guest speakers. There is then an opportunity for an informal Q & A followed by a morning tea.

The STEP program provides evidence-based education and resources for parents that focus on infant behaviour and development; attachment theory; infant feeding cues; age-appropriate infant sleep requirements and capabilities; safety and injury prevention; sensitive positive parenting strategies and neuroprotective developmental care of the infant. There is a
strong focus on Matrescence and mental health with parent well being strategies that recognise the importance of parental self-care whilst promoting maternal and paternal self-efficacy and wellbeing with evidence-based resources and support that build capacity during this significant period of family transition.

Information and registration: nat@milkandkindness.com.au

Healing Hearts = Strong Kids delivered by
One Tree Community Services

Across the West Pilbara

HH=SK is a series of six interactive development sessions, tailored to the unique needs of each community. Content of the program is strengths based and promotes healthy families and communities. It is delivered face to face, non-judgmentally and underpinned by the evidence- based theory of Positive Behaviour Support.

Each of the six modules support participants to sensitively and appropriately upskill in identifying and understanding trauma, building a greater understanding of the effect of trauma on children’ s brains, development and behaviour.

HH=SK also highlights how adults and children can promote wellbeing, with a focus on fostering strong relationships, emotional regulation, and nurturing child development.

Extensively researched and designed, content of the modules combines philosophical and educational theory with a variety of knowledge, key skills and lived experience. Training design, delivery and evaluation processes align with the ASQA approved TAE training and assessment qualification. The HH=SK series of modules is also influenced by the ACECQA approved principles and practices detailed in the Remote Indigenous Professional Development Package for the Early Years Learning Framework.

Enquiries: fish@onetree.org.au

3A Family Fridays delivered by Swans Onslow

Onslow

The Abecedarian Approach Australia (3A) is a set of practical, evidence-based teaching and learning strategies that enhance the quality of interactions with young children and support child
development and learning. It is proven to have a positive impact on child, educator and family outcomes, with lasting change in children’s lives both before and after they start school. Since 1972, the Abecedarian Approach has been used successfully in centre-based care, home visiting programs, family day care homes, and public school pre-K settings. Today, the Abecedarian Approach is recognised as an evidence-based, proven program that integrates basic principles of human learning and development into a fun, affordable, and effective approach to early childhood education.

Swans Onslow 3A Family Friday in corporates the Abecedarian Approach into structured weekly sessions for aprents/carers and children led by Swans Onslow 3A Practioners.

Swans Onslow has incorporated the Abecedarian Approach into its other programs, and it also forms the basis of the Early Learning Program at Onslow School, meaning the community is benefitting from a coordinated approach and use of pedagogical language.

Timetable: https://www.facebook.com/swansonslow/

Contact: onslow@swandistrictsfc.com

Pilbara Social Spouts delivered by Pilbara Therapy Services

This group will provide a safe therapeutic environment for children of all backgrounds to come together in a social context where they feel supported to engage in fun activities with age matched peers. Providing this social environment for children who find socialising in the school environment difficult is an important factor in mitigating mental health issues due to risks associated with social isolation and being misunderstood by those around them in some contexts.Activity DescriptionPilbara sprouts: new program commenced in 2025/2026 it is a small social group for children with speech and language delays.• Intensive holiday block of consecutive days• Facilitated by a speech pathologist who will facilitate activities and games which build skills required for enriched social interactions such as teamwork, inferencing, conversation, self-awareness, self-advocacy and awareness of the needs of others within a social context.

Priority Area One: Improved early childhood developmental outcomes and support through a focus on educational transitions. Social language group for upper primary school students to support with peer engagement through functional tasks which require a level of planning and executive function in order to assist with facilitating a transition to high school.
Priority Area Two: Using a strengths approach to engage with children and families ensuring their voices guide support delivery and their need for self-determination is recognised.
This group will assist clients to identify and celebrate their strengths as well as develop self-monitoring and inferencing skills in order to better equip them for more enriched social interactions with age matched peers as well as support self-advocacy skills and the communication required to self-advocate.
Priority Area Three: Acknowledge and deliver safe and appropriate services to children and families recognising cultural, social isolation, mental health, or other needs.

Contact: admin@pilbaratherapy.com

Kids in the Kitchen delivered by The Salvation Army

Karratha

Kids in the Kitchen is a 10 week program designed to introduce up to 12 primary school children at a time, aged 8-12 years, to cooking through demonstration and hands on participation helping them to develop valuable life skills and to be comfortable in the kitchen.
This program helps to create healthy child-friendly communities and stronger families by intentionally building connections; increasing participation; creating safe spaces; as well as fostering numeracy and literacy skills, creativity, confidence and self-esteem.

Children will learn about food safety, basic cooking skills, budgeting, healthy meal planning, kitchen cleanliness and teamwork. They will also be encouraged to make healthy food choices and to experiment with new foods whilst fostering creativity, confidence and self-esteem.
The program is structured into small groups of 3-4 participants with one adult leader per group. Each session is approx. 2 hours and includes demonstration; cooking in small groups; a short and simple devotion during the cooking demonstration linking an ingredient, a technique or piece of cooking equipment to the Christian faith; followed by sitting to eat the meal together.

Each week the participants are awarded a participation badge along with a sturdy printout of the recipe. The end of the program is celebrated by inviting parents and siblings along to share a meal together (prepared by the participants) and certificates are presented to the participants.

Contact: jodie.jones@salvationarmy.org.au

Karratha Women’s Place - Strong Bubs

delivered by Pilbara Therapy

The program consists of 3 age groups in Karratha:
Mini Movers (3-8 months)
Tiny trekkers (8-18 months)
Little leapsters (18 months to 3 years)
Combined age group in Wickham
Strong Bubs (3-18 months)

Priority Area One: Improving physical literacy in children aged 0-3
The Royal Children's Hospital highlights the first 1,000 days (conception to 2 years of age) as a critical period for
shaping a child's lifelong health and development with early movement experiences playing a key role. Children
who have good physical literacy will have the skills to being to participate in non-structured, play based physical
activities as well as structured sports and school PE. This will help them to meet the 24-hour movement
guidelines to have fun, move and play every day!

Priority Area Two: Supporting rural families.

We know that living rurally can be isolating for women and families due to partners typically working long shifts
and being socially isolated from typical support networks. By providing a group for children in this age group,
we supply families with education of child development, promote healthy and active lifestyles from a young age
and build a socially inclusive space for children and their caregivers.

Contact: admin@pilbaratherapy.com

Karratha Women’s Place - Picnic Group
Feeding Active play and Nutrition by Connect Paediatric Therapy Services

The Picnic Group is an early-years, community-based group program for children aged 2–5 years and their parents/caregivers who experience picky eating and/or mealtime challenges. The program provides a structured but relaxed “picnic” setting to support positive food interactions, reduce pressure around eating, and build parent confidence through education and coaching.
Program model (evidence-informed):
The group draws on the “Play Picnics” approach described in the literature, which emphasises:
· No pressure to eat; children are encouraged to explore food in their own way
· Offering a variety of foods and textures
· Supporting parents with briefing/coaching so strategies can be replicated at home
· Food presented in small portions; exploration includes looking, touching, smelling, licking, tasting
· Parent participation alongside the child (join in, model, copy)
Aims in practice:
1. Create positive, social mealtime experiences for families.
2. Equip parents with practical strategies and education to reduce stress and support healthier feeding
interactions.
3. Use group-based peer modelling to encourage exploration and willingness to try foods.
4. Identify children/families needing additional intervention/referral.

Priority Area One:
• Early Years Intervention
• Developing a positive relationship with food and mealtimes
• Supporting Dyads and Family relationships
• Parent Education regarding feeding

Information and registration:

https://connectpts.com.au/programs/

SibWorks, delivered buy Karratha Central Healthcare

Purpose, Goals & Key Skills:
While many siblings have positive experiences growing up and develop a strong bond with their brother or sister with disability (hereby referred to as person with disability, PWD), they often face lifelong challenges which can negatively impact physical and mental health (Roberts, Ejova, Giallo, Strohm, Lillie & Fuss., 2015). Additionally, the relationship between siblings is unique; it can be one of the longest in a lifetime and is ever-changing as individuals grow and mature. Siblings of PWD may miss out on time with their parents, be exposed of high levels of family stress, experience feelings of anger, envy, resentment, or guilt, and feel embarrassment about the behaviour of their brother or sister (Siblings Australia, 2017). Siblings of PWD are at a significantly higher risk of developing emotional and behavioural problems, anxiety, depression, social isolation, reduced self-esteem and acting out behaviours. While research suggests that siblings of PWD are particularly vulnerable and may benefit from early intervention, there is a significant gap in support services and early intervention programs for siblings (Roberts et al., 2015, Siblings Australia 2017).

SibWorks is an evidence based, peer support program for children aged 8 – 12 whose siblings live with disabilities. The program aims to build the emotional intelligence, resilience, and wellbeing of participants, while creating opportunities to connect with those with shared experiences. SibWorks is a 6-week cognitive behavioural group therapy program, that was created by Kate Strohm, Founder of Siblings Australia, and Psychologist Monique Nessa.

SibWorks is the most popular and well-known intervention for siblings of PWD in Australia (Robers et al., 2015). While some risk-factors are non-modifiable, including diagnosis of disability, severity of disability symptoms and sibling birth order, SibWorks focuses on preventable risk-factors. Targeted risk-factors include perceived lack of social support, lack of warm and harmonious sibling relationships and the use of maladaptive coping strategies. Research has shown that SibWorks has a robust intervention effect, with participants showing prolonged improved emotional and behavioural functioning after program delivery has concluded (Robets et al., 2015).

Program Structure: A 15-hour group program delivered as three 5-hour sessions, either weekly over three consecutive weeks during the school term, or across three days during the school holidays.

Cycles: 2x 15 hour program cycles in Karratha community settings.

Priority 3 - Acknowledge and deliver of safe and appropriate services to children and families recognising cultural, social isolation, mental health, or other needs

PILBARA

COMMUNITY PROGRAMS