Waiting in the hallway: Matthew’s journey to safety and trust

When four-year-old Matthew arrived at McAuley with his mother, he was suffering from acute stress and fear.

He was scared of loud noises, was fearful of knocking sounds or footsteps, could not be separated from his mother, struggled to regulate his emotions and was not able to engage in social interactions. He had also regressed to using nappies.

“Matthew had a strong need for protection,” said Emma, McAuley’s Maternal Child Health Nurse.

“His experiences before arriving at refuge had impacted his overall wellbeing and healthy development. His heightened stress made it challenging for him to engage with others or feel safe in a new environment.”

Matthew worked with Emma to improve his fine motor skills. Emma also supported Matthew with his toilet training by using a potty and rewards chart, helped him to take part in a Sing and Grow activity, and encouraged him to join in a fortnightly supported playgroup.

“Initially, Matthew only helped with the setup of our playgroup,” said Emma.

“But over time he fully engaged in all activities. As Matthew’s trust and comfort grew so did his confidence. Each morning, he would wait in the hallway for me to arrive to say good morning, a sign of his increasing sense of security.”

Matthew and his mother are no longer living in McAuley’s refuge, and he now attends kindergarten three days a week where he happily participates independently and interacts well with his peers and teachers.