Wombat's Wish

1 in every 20 children aged between 5 and 18 in Australia have a parent die before the age of 18 – this is 1 child in every classroom in Victoria. (ABS 2019 census data). Wombat's Wish is a grass roots charity based in Drysdale , supporting children and young people who have experienced the death of a parent. Currently, Wombat’s Wish is the only specialist service that offers professional support to children and young people in Victoria. This is an extremely difficult time for them and their family, and without intervention can potentially result in long-term emotional health difficulties. We assist bereaved children to find a way to live with loss and grief, to move forward and take the next steps on their bereavement journey. Wombat’s Wish provides the following services to children and young people after the death of a parent. o Weekend Camp Program – Camps are held at different times throughout the year within different regions throughout Victoria. Our supportive team work through a mixture of grief, memories and coping activities whilst maintain a fun, safe and inclusive environment that aim to support a child through their grief journey. o Group Counselling – Groups are offered during school terms at various locations. They are facilitated by a qualified psychologist for 6 x 1.5 hour sessions. o One to One Counselling – is available for those in urgent need with one of our psychologists. o Family Days – A great day to catch up with friends made on camp and to reconnect with our team. Wombat’s Wish holds up to 4 family days per year. The services offered are therapeutic, provided by a team of professional facilitators (psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers and youth workers) in conjunction with trained and qualified volunteers. All services are provided at no cost to the families.