Free School Holiday Groups in Shoalhaven: Supporting Families When Funding Is Limited

School holidays can be an exciting break from routine, but they can also be a challenging time for families — particularly when therapy funding is limited and children still need structured, meaningful activities to stay engaged. At South Coast Therapy & Support Group, we understand the pressures families face during school holidays and are committed to supporting our community in practical, accessible ways.

This January, we are offering a limited number of free school holiday groups for children in the Shoalhaven and Shellharbour regions. These groups are designed to provide fun, safe, and structured activities that support social participation, engagement, and wellbeing — without impacting therapy or NDIS funding.

Why We Are Offering Free School Holiday Groups

Many families we work with carefully manage their NDIS or private therapy funding across the year. During school holidays, additional therapy sessions or programs are not always financially possible, even though children may benefit from continued structure, routine, and social interaction.

Our free school holiday groups are designed to:

• Support families experiencing limited funding

• Provide children with positive, engaging holiday activities

• Maintain routine and social connection during the school break

• Reduce pressure on families during a busy time of year

Places are intentionally limited to ensure groups remain supportive, safe, and enjoyable for all participants.

What Free Groups Are Available?

We are offering two types of free groups during January: Craft Groups and Games Groups. Each group provides opportunities for participation, peer interaction, and skill development in a relaxed and supportive environment.

🎨 Craft Groups

Craft groups focus on creativity, fine motor skills, following instructions, problem-solving, and social engagement. Children are supported to participate at their own level while enjoying shared activities with peers.

• 14 January at 10:00am

• 22 January at 10:00am

• 29 January at 11:00am

🎲 Games Groups

Games groups encourage turn-taking, cooperation, emotional regulation, communication, and teamwork. These sessions are ideal for children who benefit from structured play and supported social interaction.

• 16 January at 9:00am

• 23 January at 12:30pm

• 30 January at 12:30pm

Are There Other School Holiday Options?

Yes. In addition to these free sessions, we also continue to run our regular school holiday therapy groups, which offer more targeted therapeutic input. Families are welcome to contact our office to discuss suitability, availability, and options for their child.

How to Book a Free Group

📞 To book a place in one of our free school holiday groups, or to enquire about regular holiday programs, please contact our office on (02) 4421 6013.

Places are limited and bookings are essential.

At South Coast Therapy & Support Group, we are proud to support families beyond scheduled therapy sessions and continue to find ways to make allied health services accessible to our community.