A Kummara Limited and Infinity Community Solutions Ltd Kinship and Foster Care (KICS KFC) Support Worker has been able to champion for a kinship carer to access animal therapies to be included as part of a child’s NDIS plan. And following a proactive suggestion from the NDIS Support Coordinator during a stakeholders meeting, equine therapy was initiated in early 2024, marking a milestone in providing tailored care and support for the child and their kinship carers.
Not only has the therapy had profound positive impact on the child, who has complex trauma behaviours and autism but the whole household is able to benefit from the therapy sessions. The kinship carer commented in a recent interview for this article that attending the sessions is calming not only for the child but for anyone in the presence of the horses. According to the kinship carer “being able to have this type of therapy in place, not only supports my grandchild but it helps me too”.
Animals possess an extraordinary ability to touch our hearts and souls in ways we may never anticipate. Among them, horses stand out as has having an unexpected depth of sensitivity. Despite their size, horses have a knack for tuning into human emotions and responding in ways that foster tranquillity and connection. This profound bond was vividly evident when the child first visited the equine centre. The large, gentle animal named Chex approached, nuzzling his head into the child’s chest. “It was the sweetest gesture,” recalls the kinship carer. “You could see how calm both child and animal were in that moment, a true testament to the healing power of equine therapy.”
Even the KICS KFC support worker notes significant positive changes in the child’s demeanour and observes a ripple effect extending to the family dynamic. “The child appears noticeably calmer, and the family seems happy with the outcomes since starting equine therapy,” the support worker remarks. The transformative impact of this therapy extends beyond the individual, fostering a more harmonious and resilient family environment.
Over the weeks, the kinship carer has witnessed remarkable progress in the child’s behaviour with each session they attend. “Exploring the property, crossing watercourses, and immersing in nature has truly been transformative for my grandchild,” the kinship carer reflects. “You can see their confidence blossoming week by week.” The kinship carer beams with pride recalling a recent milestone: “The child even requested to trot the horse independently. It was a moment of pure joy to witness their newfound courage and determination.”
“Our family has so much gratitude for our KICS KFC Support Worker and the NDIS Support Coordinator for suggesting we do this. We 100% recommend equine therapy for anyone with autism. It has been life changing for us” says the kinship carer.
Through the collective collaboration of the dedicated team supporting this family, the implementation of alternative approaches like Equine therapy is proving to be transformative, positively impacting the child’s journey with complex trauma and autism and enriching the lives of the entire family.
KICS Kinship and Foster Care Service (KICS KFC) is a child and young person centred, whole of family focused out of home care service resting on the foundation practice framework of the Family Partnership Model (FPM). This model provides out of home care support while maintaining a whole of family lens focused on wellbeing, attachment and bonding through case management and the application of family led decision making principles. Our team will work collaboratively with the whole family including parents, grandparents, and extended family, to secure a stable and enduring kinship and foster care placement while it is required.