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This Easter the ‘Bunnies for Bravehearts’ project will once again raise funds for children in trauma counselling.
Now in its third year, the project has raised almost $84,000 since 2023 and helped to support 1,369 children and families affected by child sexual abuse.
The annual Bunnies for Bravehearts project helps fund Bravehearts’ specialist child sexual abuse counselling service, and aids the children engaged in the service in their healing journey.
How the project works is simple; For each donation of $50 or more to the project, Bravehearts gifts a plush toy bunny to a child in counselling. The bunnies help to provide comfort and security in both the therapeutic and home setting, at what is often a highly stressful and challenging time for the child.
Giving a child in counselling a soft toy to care for can help to dispel fears and worries and enable the expression of thoughts and feelings through play (1,2). The tactile and soothing nature of soft toys can help the children feel safe, identify good and bad touch, and explore different conflicts and problems without limitations (3).
Testimonials from Bravehearts clinicians and parents of the children engaged in Bravehearts’ counselling services confirm the benefits of the bunnies:
“I have been working with an 8 year-old girl who has named her bunny ‘Bonnie’. We have incorporated the bunny into her self-regulation strategies during our sessions and (she reports that) she also sleeps with Bonnie. She says that if she has a nightmare she whispers to Bonnie, “That was a bad dream, I am safe,” and strokes the bunny until she falls back to sleep. She reports that she has been having far less nightmares since she was given Bonnie.” ~ Bravehearts Clinician, March 2024
“Thank you for the comfort bunny! It caught all (my daughter’s) bad dreams. It’s a very useful buddy. It gives her cuddles, goes with her everywhere and gives her comfort in bed. What a wonderful friend you gave (to my daughter). Thank you.” ~ Parent of a child engaged in counselling with Bravehearts, August 2024
This year the Bunnies for Bravehearts project is proudly supported by Austworld, whose sponsorship means donations go to what matters most – supporting children recovering from trauma.
“At Austworld, we are proud to support Bunnies for Bravehearts, an initiative that aligns with our commitment to making a positive impact in our community,” said Austworld representative, Caroline Mae S. Gorospe.
“We chose to support Bunnies for Bravehearts because we believe in the power of kindness and the importance of providing a sense of security and emotional support to children in need. By donating bunny plushies, we hope to offer a tangible source of comfort and courage to these brave young ones as they navigate their therapeutic journey,” she said.
“We extend our heartfelt thanks to the therapists and clinicians at Bravehearts for their incredible work and to everyone who supports this meaningful cause. Together, we are making a world of difference, one bunny at a time,” said Ms Gorospe.
Bravehearts hopes to raise $80,000 this Easter to provide comfort bunnies to every child who come through their doors for counselling in 2025, as well as help fund the service delivery to more children in need.
The Bunnies for Bravehearts 2025 project will run throughout March and April. Follow Bravehearts on Facebook or Instagram for the latest updates.
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References
Maksimov, D. (2022). The transformation of mental trauma in children using the Hibuki-therapy method. Psychological Journal, 8 (59).
Rashid, A. et.al., (2021). Healthcare Professionals’ views for the content of the Teddy Bear Hospital for a Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Module. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 30 (4).
Malchiodi, C. (2019) Trauma informed art therapy and sexual abuse in children. In Goodyear-Brown, P. Handbook of Child Sexual Abuse (pp.341-354).