The Swan Nest is Wellington’s first service dedicated to providing support, therapy and advocacy for children living with complex health conditions or terminal illness, and their families. We take a holistic approach and wrap our support around the whole whanau.

At the Swan Nest we will endeavour to provide the necessary tools to cope not only with difficult - and often overwhelming - situations, but to live a life full of magical memories and opportunities.

The Swan Nest is a place of compassion, care, support and respect. We are here to support you when you need it and walk alongside you for as long as you need. For families who have children living with terminal complex health conditions, the support continues for you after your precious child has grown their wings.

Our nest currently provides: Music Therapy. the following will be coming in 2022/2023 Counselling, play therapy, art therapy, physical therapy, individual therapy, bereavement support, advocacy and connectedness.

Our services will be free or subsidised to families who meet our criteria.

The Swan Nest is…

• FREE for music therapy & subsidised for our other therapies

• Available to children and young people from birth to 21 years and their families

• Accessible to families within the Greater Wellington Region

• Child centred

• A collaborative approach with other health professionals, families and the child living with a complex heath condition or terminal illness

• A place where you can access advocacy services

• A place of support for your child and their family

• A place where every family will have a dedicated key worker

nest
(noun)
a snug, comfortable or cosy residence or situation; a retreat or place of nurturing shelter

Music, art & play therapy (Art & Play Therapy Coming Soon)

At The Swan Nest we aim to provide activities that will promote fun, add memorable moments to a child’s life and allow the child to make sense of the world they are living in and the condition they are living with.

• Music therapy provides children with the opportunity to express themselves through a nonverbal environment. Music can make the heart sing; it can provide another way for children to express their feelings and help to make sense of the way they feel.

• Art therapy helps individuals communicate thoughts and feelings in a bright and creative way. There are no boundaries in what a child can create and through opening their creative door they have an avenue to express their feelings. Children and their families can communicate how they are feeling when their words cannot.

• Play therapy allows children to explore their emotions using role play and sand tray play to make sense of their world. It allows them to express their feelings in ways that does not always require words. Our skilled staff will be able to open the door to child led conversations that will allow the child to develop a sense that they are supported, listened to and matter. Children will be able to create a sense of comfort in their situation that will allow them to live a fulfilling life in the best way they can, given situation they may be facing.

Other therapies

At The Swan Nest, we work collaboratively with outside organisations and professionals to bring our families opportunities that will benefit the wellbeing of their child. Throughout the year we will have child specialists in different areas offer one on one or group therapies at an affordable cost. These therapies will at times have a cost to them, we do however strive to keep these cost low.

Counselling

The Swan Nest counselling service includes

• Counselling for children, adolescents, parents, siblings, grandparents and whanau

• Counselling support for the community involved with the child living with the illness, and their siblings. For example; working with teachers/schools/ECE services

• Male specific counselling with a dedicated male counsellor

• Bereavement support for family and whanau, including close friends

When children are affected by chronic - and often terminal - illnesses, they enter a world most of their peers will never truly understand or ever dream of entering themselves.

Living this journey is emotional, exhausting, traumatic and stressful.

Providing psychosocial counselling is a vital step in helping our children understand the challenges faced on their journey and making sense of what is happening in their world.

At The Swan Nest our skilled staff will help provide a safe and supportive environment for children and families to unpack their world and the impact it brings.

Children and their families will be able to develop tools to fight their fears and anxieties and importantly build resilience, allowing them to live and function to their potential and fullest, given the circumstance.

Social workers

Social workers at The Swan Nest provide parents and children with opportunities to discuss and explore the practical issues that are integral to caring for a child with a complex health condition or terminal illness.