Based on Queensland’s beautiful Sunshine Coast, SPROUT Support Centre Ltd was founded in response to a growing need for more targeted support for reactive children who display challenging behaviours and who are also NDIS participants.
Just like seeds need the right conditions and care to grow and thrive, we believe all children can flourish when they are given the right support.
SPROUT exists to provide clients with support workers trained to be sensitive to the needs of a reactive child who has experienced significant life challenges or trauma, with the ultimate aim of contributing to a more peaceful, harmonious home environment.
As a Christian organisation, SPROUT incorporates Christian values into the way all services are delivered. We love that Jesus said he was all about giving “life to the full” to people, and we aim for all of our interactions to be life-giving.
We commit to building trust, choice and collaboration, and to:
Encourage a supportive and safe environment
Help overcome a sense of fear and isolation
Build a foundation of compassion, empathy and understanding
Reduce family stress, increase confidence and success
Our People
The SPROUT team comes from a variety of backgrounds – behaviour support, education, nursing and occupational therapy – and each SPROUT worker brings a range of skills to the support process.
But we have one thing in common – we are devoted to changing little lives, one sprout at a time.
Wendy Paroz – SPROUT Consultant
After originally training as a primary school teacher Wendy soon realised her passion lay in meeting the needs of children who present with challenging and reactive behaviours. For the last 25 years she has enjoyed working with children of varying abilities, needs and behavioural expressions. Wendy delights in using positive, well-researched trauma informed strategies to help the true nature of every little person shine. In her spare time, Wendy enjoys training her head-strong but oh so cuddly rescue Bull Arab, Luke, who will soon be joining her as a therapy dog. She looks for any creative opportunity to enjoy beautiful colours, soothing textures, scrumptious food and smooth coffee.
Dean Thomas – Pastor
Dean is a man of many vocations. He has managed a furniture making workshop for a large charity serving the disability sector, driven a taxi, been a cabinet maker, sold mobile phones, worked in an RTO as a trainer and now works part-time in primary schools providing IT support. At the same time, he studied to become a registered Pastor and is currently a Pastor for LIVE church in Caloundra. His experiences are many and varied and the tragedies and triumphs he’s experienced have helped shape his approach to life. In his spare time you’ll find him riding motorbikes, watching MotoGP, hanging out with his family and thinking about the next “hilarious” dad joke to post on social media.
Our approach: Trauma informed practice
Life can be messy and sometimes families experience bumps in the road. Some of these bumps are small and some, quite large. Traumatic events can leave a little person struggling significantly and often the onset of very challenging behaviours can be the fall out.
At SPROUT we recognise these behaviours are not an expression of a child’s identity, but are rather a coping mechanism which communicates a lot to those who are willing to listen and understand.
“KIDS WILL DO WELL IF THEY CAN.”
Dr. Stuart Ablon, Head of Psychiatric Dept, Harvard University and founder of THINK:KIDS
From a foundation of compassion, empathy and understanding SPROUT will provide support workers who are trained to use positive evidence-informed strategies that promote recovery, while limiting the risk of contributing to further traumatic experiences. We understand that complex life challenges can impact on a child’s brain, their thoughts and behaviours making relationships and interactions with the broader community particularly challenging. We’re dedicated to gently building trust, providing choices and supporting positive coping strategies which will contribute to healing.
Play is a big part of the SPROUT approach. It can provide a powerful, intentionally positive experience and an opportunity to express emotion in a safe, gentle and organic manner. We believe repeated positive experiences contribute to trauma recovery and improved self-image and identity. Together we can make a difference, one sprout at a time.
Services
SPROUT provides support for NDIS participants who are plan managed or self-managed.
SPROUT takes a collaborative approach to support based on each child’s NDIS goals and the Support Worker’s specialty skills. Support services may include:
Social Interaction and Community Participation [helping to achieve goals of increased social skill, confidence and independence]
Therapy Support [working alongside professionals to implement at home therapy programs]
SPROUT primarily supports children between the ages of 6 and 12 using a trauma informed approach. If your child is outside this age bracket and you would like to access our services please contact us to discuss your child’s specific needs.
Get In Touch
For more information about SPROUT’s services and fees, please contact us.
This Collaborative Community Project is proudly supported by Carinity, an outreach of Queensland Baptists.
SPROUT Support Centre Ltd ABN 60 664 343 800 info@sproutsupport.com.au Sunshine Coast, QLD, Australia
Visit the Queensland Baptists to read more about the Statement of Faith that guides our beliefs and conduct.
We acknowledge the Kabi Kabi and Jinibara people, Traditional Custodians of the land on which we operate, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present..
Sprout Support Centre 