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NOW AVAILABLE IN VERMONT

NEW IN TERM 4

We will be offering a second program on location in Vermont for Term 4 2024 and are hopeful that this may provide an opportunity for young people to participate who may have been previously unable, based on location.

The 10-week program will operate on a Thursday between 10 am and 1 pm, commencing on 10 October and concluding on 12 December.

Contact us for more information

The Good Life Farm provides essential animal-assisted learning opportunities for at risk or troubled children and young people. Based at Chum Creek near Healesville Victoria we provide unique, intensive and tailored farm-based programs to assist with social skills and development.

Targeted to the middle years age group, places are limited to 6 young people who may face challenges inclusive of:

anxiety

extreme oppositional behaviour

school refusal

over sexualisation

bullying and aggressive behaviour

The program also assists young people who may have a diagnosis or face challenges such as social isolation, interaction, and communication.

This program focuses on relationship building and ultimately forming the skills required to participate positively within the community.

Our team of youth workers are from diverse backgrounds, holding various qualifications inclusive of psychology, counseling, mental health nursing, community services, and residential care youth work – the program is therapeutic and intensive.

The staff ratio is a minimum of 1:2 and individual or 1:1 support can be provided if required.

It has been reported that the Life & Social Skills outcomes are significant in promoting positive change for young people across multiple domains that include:

improved mental and emotional health

improved sense of self

improved peer functioning

improved engagement with education

improved sensory functions

reductions in negative and damaging behaviors.

Places are limited, please contact our office via this website, by phone on 5962 5609 or via email at goodlifefarm@iinet.net.au to register your interest or discuss further.

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Principal, Chum Creek Primary School

Lesley and the staff at Good Life Farm build a wonderful rapport with participating students and this facilitates open discussion about appropriate behaviours and the effects of inappropriate behaviours on others.

Participant Parent

W's involvement in the Farm this term has certainly been beneficial.

He is finding ways to deal with his anger and anxiety that has impacted his ability to go to school the past few years.

He is in a much happier space and the consistent approach farm has provided him has improved his self-esteem and wellbeing.

I wish to thank all the Good Life Farm staff for their hard efforts.

Participant Parent

The impact of the program has meant that S has been able to build an identity of self and to connect with people from a strengths based perspective - solid ground.

S found the environment at the Farm a very safe place which I am sad to say he has not had at school or in some family environments.

This term I have seen S grow into a young person who is taking some first steps into the world such as his first job.

Prior to his attendance at the Farm, his experience was too overwhelming for him to make sense of it.

S has a direction forward and concrete experiences of kindness, respect, excellence and commitment that he gained through his time at the Farm.

It takes a village to raise a child - and the Farm has been part of that village for S.

Participant Parent

I want to thank you for all that you have done to help J become the amazing person that he is. He shared with me your reflections on him and his journey at The Good Life Farm and it brought me to tears to think how much pain he was in before he found you.

I am so grateful for the loving kindness, support and space you and the animals have shown him. I am so proud of my young man and know that moments he shared with you are going to help him for the rest of his life.

In a super stressful time where we often didn't know what to do next, he found a place at Good Life Farm where he could recover his sense of self and heal from the traumas and misunderstanding and school. I am excited for him to face the world with all that you have helped him know about himself.

Thank you for all that you do.

Assistance Principle, Healesville Primary School

“In our experience, students attending the program have become more engaged with school, developed greater resilience and strategies to assist with conflict resolution and recognition of the impact their behaviour has on other people.”

We acknowledge and respect the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation, the traditional custodians of this land since time immemorial. We are learning that the land is not ours to own, but to look after and that if we listen, we may hear in it the calling of the eternal Spirit. Responding to this call, we commit ourselves to work for justice, reconciliation and care of the earth.