The MacKillop Institute draws on the collective knowledge, expertise and experience of MacKillop in promoting wellbeing and resilience, and supporting children, young people and families to heal from trauma, loss and grief.
The Institute collaborates internally and externally to innovate, advocate and share knowledge. The Institute's discussion papers seek to inform policy and, by sharing expertise, to support different sectors – education, the child, youth and family, health etc. - to better respond to children, young people and families in need.
The following programs sit under the Institute banner:
Developed after the 2009 Victorian bushfires, MacKillop Seasons' Stormbirds is an evidence informed program that helps children learn to share their experiences in safe and creative ways, and learn skills for adapting and recovering. Donna Constable helped deliver the Stormbirds program to children at a school on the NSW South Coast.
Every morning at St Benedict’s Catholic Primary School starts with a ReLATE Circle session. It became a valuable routine for Jane Michael, Learning and Teaching Leader at the school, during remote learning and it was telling that in nine weeks, not one student missed a day.