The new Hub will enable us to increase the number of families we support and will reduce wait times for this vital service.
We were delighted to welcome The Hon. Natalie Hutchins MP, Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence, to officially open the Hub today.
GenWest has provided specialist children’s counselling services for nearly 15 years, supported thousands of children and young people to recover from family violence. Our new Hub will enable us to help more kids experiencing domestic and family violence.
GenWest’s Child and Youth Counselling Service has experienced unprecedented demand in recent times, and there can be a long waitlist of families in need of support.
The Hub has been specifically designed for children and young people experiencing violence. The space is bright, colourful and welcoming, and is focused on their healing.
GenWest's CEO, Dale Wakefield, shared, "the new Hub is a truly special place where kids can feel safe and a place focused on their needs and their healing. The service can continue to support kids and families break the cycle of violence."
“It has been so good to be a part of the session and watch my child open up and experience joy. The sessions have helped him feel supported. I can see the shift in [him] after having a safe space to come to each week. What a great service.”
A parent who accessed the service
GenWest’s Children’s Counselling team use child and youth-focused therapeutic approaches, such as creative arts therapy, music, play and sensory-based activities, to help children to heal and recover from their experience of violence.
Importantly, this service is focused on breaking intergenerational cycles of violence. The Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that people who have experienced childhood abuse are more likely to go on to experience violence and abuse by a partner as an adult, compared to those who have not experienced childhood abuse.
“Before I was a bit of a loner. Now I feel better talking to other people.”
A child who accessed the service
A recent rigorous evaluation showed that after counselling at GenWest, children became more optimistic about the future, gained belief in their own ability and felt more connected with their parents and peers. Parents were more connected with their child, more responsive to the child’s needs and were more confident to seek help when needed.
GenWest Child and Youth Counselling Service at a glance
- GenWest’s children’s counselling service supported 286 children, young people and their carers in the 2023-24 financial year.
- So far in 2025, we have offered 45 individuals single session counselling, and 17 children took part in a therapeutic group.
- We ran 35 parenting sessions, including our Talking with Children online workshop.
- There are currently around 80 families on the waitlist for support. Wait times vary between 4 and 6 months.
- We are currently fundraising to expand the service so we can reduce wait times and support more children and young people in Melbourne’s west.
An evaluation of the service found that after accessing the counselling service:
- 88% of children felt more optimistic about the future
- 79% of children gained confidence in their own ability
- 85% of carers felt more connected with their child
- 85% of carers were more likely to find support
“The things that I think and feel within myself are all ok.”
A child who accessed the service
