Parents and Kids Together (PaKT) is a fun and engaging seven-week program for young people in primary school, and their parents and carers.
The program helps to build this engagement through a creative arts group program.
Parents join their children to work on a shared project, perhaps a family castle, a rocket ship or their own island paradise. Families are provided with mostly recycled materials that are inexpensive, easy to find and easy to use to create their projects.
The group is facilitated to emphasise individual and family strengths and to promote strong relationships. Participants are invited to set goals, plan, make and reflect upon their projects in ways that emphasise their connections with each other.
The program:
• Strengthens family relationships;
• Builds connections within the group and the school community;
• Develops communication and social skills;
• Provides education about protective behaviours;
• Builds self esteem; and
• Develops problem solving skills.
There is no need to have art experience to join this group. You just need a willingness to have a go and maybe get a little bit messy!
The PaKT team work to support participants to create positive, supportive relationships and culture within the school community.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, PaKT also worked alongside schools to provide services from home when needed.
The PaKT service has been running for 20 years and is funded by the Australian Government through the Department of Social Services.
Download our PaKT brochure
”PaKT was all about fun, friends, and craft! I did PaKT with my nan and we made a copy of my bedroom. We learned about our safety - and we got to spend some time together doing fun stuff.
PaKT Participant
During the 2022 – 2023 financial year:
22 programs were delivered in 6 schools.
Involved a total of 339 participants.
98.5% of respondents were satisfied with their experience of PaKT.
