Mackay Youth Support Service Inc

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Mackay Youth Support Service Inc Counselling & mediation for parents and teens. Parenting group 'Who's in Charge?' for parents/carers/grandparents of teens. Family Support

22/10/2026

Looking for accessible online safety advice for children and young people with disability? 💡💻

Every child engages with technology differently. Our easy read resources provide practical online safety information and advice using clear language and supportive visuals.

Designed for people with low literacy, intellectual disability, cognitive disability, and others who benefit from simplified information, these resources make online safety information more accessible.

They can help young people understand online risks, make informed decisions, and feel more confident navigating technology and online spaces.

As a parent, carer or support person, you can also use the resources to talk through the information together, explore the advice and support decision making.

📖 Explore our easy read online safety resources: https://news.esafety.gov.au/3W0tOlP

22/10/2026

A child who appears calm, confident and settled is not necessarily a child who feels that way inside.

For some neurodivergent children, masking becomes a way of navigating a world where they feel pressure to fit in, meet expectations or hide their difficulties.

But maintaining that appearance can come at a considerable emotional cost.

A child may appear to cope beautifully throughout the school day, only for the exhaustion and overwhelm to become visible once they return home.

We cannot always judge a child’s emotional wellbeing by what we see on the outside.

Understanding masking means looking beyond appearances and creating environments where children feel safe enough to be themselves.

Not every child masks, and masking does not look the same for everyone.

22/10/2026

“When I got my report back... that was like literally 15 pages of deficits.”

✨️ How do we ensure autism assessments and reports for girls and women are therapeutic, respectful and not deficit-focused?

A diagnostic assessment can shape how an autistic girl or woman understands herself.

When reports focus primarily on deficits, the assessment process can feel stigmatising rather than validating. Best practice involves not only recognising autism accurately, but also communicating findings in a way that reflects strengths, experiences, support needs and the value of understanding an autistic identity.

📚️ In Masterclass Day 1: Diagnosis for Autistic and/or AuDHD Girls and Women, Tony Attwood and Michelle Garnett explore how diagnostic assessments and reports can be both clinically informed and therapeutic.

📅 12 November 2026

🎥 60-day recording access + 💬 Live Q&A

Learn more. Link in comments.

Quote from Harmens M, Sedgewick F, Hobson H. Autistic women’s diagnostic experiences: Interactions with identity and impacts on well-being. Women’s Health. 2022;18.

22/10/2026

Children don’t learn boundaries because we explain them 100 times. They learn them when we consistently follow through. ❤️
You can validate your child’s feelings, allow them to be upset, AND still hold the boundary. Gentle parenting doesn’t mean saying yes to everything.

It means being loving, firm, and consistent.. even when your child doesn’t like the answer. Save this as your reminder that you can be a safe parent without being a permissive one.

14/10/2026

ADHD Explained ❤️

14/10/2026

Online gaming can be a great way for children and young people to connect, learn and have fun 🧒🎮

But like any online space, gaming also comes with risks including unwanted contact, scams, harmful behaviour, in game purchases and privacy concerns.

eSafety recently published a report that examines the measures Roblox, Fortnite, Minecraft and Steam have in place to protect users from serious online harms. Our findings show that while some platforms have introduced positive safety updates, approaches to preventing exposure to serious harm remain inconsistent.

Because safety protections vary across platforms, parents and carers play a critical role in helping children navigate online gaming safely and positively.

Regular, age-appropriate chats about what’s happening online, rather than one or two big talks, gradually build trust and help your child speak up early if they have questions or worries 💬🤝

Our gaming guidance for parents and carers includes practical advice and conversation starters to help you understand your child's gaming experiences and keep the dialogue going: https://news.esafety.gov.au/4cbH9KT

13/10/2026

After-school break downs are so real!

From NeuroChild Community

13/10/2026

Co-regulation isn’t about stopping the meltdown.. it’s about helping your child feel safe while they move through it. 💛
The goal isn’t perfect parenting; it’s showing our kids what calm, connection, and emotional safety look like.

13/10/2026

Tonight, ABC launches a brand-new documentary, The State of Man.

In this three-part series, journalist Marc Fennell investigates what it means to be a man in Australia today. He explores the online world of the manosphere, the machinery cashing in, and its influence over how some boys and young men think about masculinity, relationships and power.

For parents and carers, these topics may raise real concerns. If they do, we want you to know this 👇
1️⃣ Rest assured, most boys and young men are resilient (and resistant) to these messages.
2️⃣ That doesn’t mean they’re immune. Parents and carers need to have important conversations with the boys and young men in their lives – and we’re here to help you navigate them.

See the links in the comments with our free, expert resources to support you. You don’t need to know every acronym, emoji or meme. What matters is connection, conversations and ongoing support.

📺 The State of Man airs on ABC TV tonight at 8pm, with all episodes available to watch now on ABC iview.

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Mackay, QLD
4740

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+61748651255

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