Family and Child Consultants

  By Niki Gent – Mum of Four, Grandma of Two, Survivor of Bedtimes Everywhere There are moments in parenting where you look around and think: Surely… this can’t be normal. The toddler lying face down in Woolworths because you bought the wrong yoghurt. The preschooler who sobs because their toast was “cut the wrong way.” The eight-year-old who forgets everything except Minecraft. The teenager who communicates exclusively in grunts and fridge visits. And somewhere in the chaos, you whisper: “Am I completely messing this up?” Let me tell you something I wish someone had told me when I was deep in the trenches of raising four children: Oh thank goodness… it’s normal. The Great Toast Crisis of 1995 I once made toast “incorrectly.” Not burnt. Not raw. Just… diagonally sliced instead of straight. You would have thought I’d committed a crime against humanity. Tears. Screaming. “I CAN’T EAT THIS.” Existential despair. I remember standing in the kitchen thinking,   How will this child s...

  Few moments in family life are as heartbreaking as telling your children that you are separating. The words themselves are hard, but it’s what comes next—how you treat and respect each other—that shapes your children’s sense of safety and love. The Conversation: Gentle Honesty Start with simple, age-appropriate honesty. You might say: “Mum and Dad have decided not to live together anymore, but we both love you very much.” “We’re going to live in different houses, but you will always have both of us.” “This isn’t your fault. Grown-ups sometimes make big decisions, but we are both here for you.” Let children ask questions, and answer gently. It’s okay not to have all the answers—what matters most is that they feel heard and supported. Actions Speak Louder Than Words Telling your children is just the beginning. The real message comes from what they see and feel in the weeks and months that follow. Too often, we see parents say, “I respect your mum/dad,” but their behaviour tells a d...

Talking to children about disability can feel daunting, but it’s one of the most important conversations you can have to nurture empathy, respect, and inclusion. Children are naturally observant and curious—they notice differences and often have questions. As parents and caregivers, we have a wonderful opportunity to shape how they see and treat others. Why It Matters When we talk openly about disability, we help our children: Understand and embrace diversity Develop compassion and kindness Become advocates for inclusion Reduce fear, stigma, and misconceptions Tips for Explaining Disability to Kids 1. Start with Simple Honesty Use age-appropriate language and answer questions directly. For example: “Some people’s bodies or brains work differently, so they might use a wheelchair or need extra help.” 2. Emphasize Uniqueness Remind your child that everyone is different—whether it’s hair color, favorite hobbies, or how we move and communicate. Disability is just one part of what makes some...

For nearly 30 years, I’ve done just about every family Christmas. The shopping, the wrapping, the menu planning—and, let’s be honest, the last-minute dashes for forgotten cream. I thought I was prepared for the shift—after all, I’ve survived school concerts, teenage moods, and the broken arms, sibling rivalry and more. But nothing quite prepares you for Christmas when your child is suddenly the host. New Traditions (and a Few Shocks) First up: the rules. My son announced, with the authority of a man who now owns his own cutlery, that there would be no presents for adults. Just like that, decades of frantic Christmas Eve wrapping were over. I wasn’t sure whether to cry tears of relief or heartbreak. (So I did both, quietly). Then came the menu. Mashed potatoes made the cut, but the family pavlova? Banished! I tried to protest, but he was resolute. Apparently, mashed potato is now a Christmas staple, but pavlova is “so last year.” The Comfort of the Old But as the day unfolded, I started...

  The Shift No One Can Ignore Whether we like it or not, community services has changed. It’s no longer just about goodwill and helping hands—these days, it’s also about running a business. That means budgets, leadership, project management, and, yes, the art of writing a winning tender.  The Reality Check I remember when I started in this sector. My days were filled with home visits, client meetings, and a lot of heart. But then came the funding cuts, new compliance rules, and the ever-growing pile of paperwork. Suddenly, I realised: caring wasn’t enough. If our service was going to survive—and keep making a difference—we needed business skills. A Story from the Field Take our team’s experience last year. We saw a grant opportunity that could help us launch a much-needed youth mentoring program. The catch? The application process was tough. We needed to show not just passion, but a clear plan, a budget, and evidence that we could deliver results. That’s where business skills ...

  I s This the Year to Resolve My Trauma? The Answer Is Yes—And Here's Why The Question You're Asking You've carried it for so long. The weight of what happened. The patterns it created. The way it shapes your relationships, your choices, your sense of safety in the world. Maybe it's been years. Maybe it's been decades. And now, as a new year begins, you're asking yourself:   Is this finally the year I deal with this? The answer is yes. But not because you should. Because you deserve to. Why Now Matters There's never a "perfect" time to address trauma. Life will always be busy. There will always be reasons to wait. But waiting costs something—every day you carry unresolved trauma, it costs you peace, connection, and the freedom to be fully yourself. A new year isn't magic. But it is a threshold. It's a moment when many of us pause and ask:   What do I want to change? It's a time when intention feels possible. If you're asking this q...