"I have heaps of fun with the other kids at Mirabel. It feels good to be happy and forget about your worries for a while."

"I have heaps of fun with the other kids at Mirabel. It feels good to be happy and forget about your worries for a while."

Sherad has been attending Mirabel’s therapeutic boys group for the past 8 months. At first he found it hard to mix with the other boys and he was shy and reserved. He had witnessed a lot of violence when his Mum was alive and was there the day his Dad shot his Mum in a drug induced fight. It was his job to call the ambulance and shield his three younger sisters from the trauma. He feels safe now that he lives with his grandparents and they take him to see his Dad in prison each month. His Dad talks about being together again but Sherad knows that he will be an adult before his Dad is out of prison. Sherad’s grandparents say that he has relaxed a lot since starting in the boys group. He talks of friends and fun times where he is able to be a child for a while. When he comes home the happiness continues as he resumes his role as big brother and third carer to his three sisters. He is responsible and old beyond his years but he now has a place to go where he feels comfortable enough to dream about a happy future.