Groundbreaking art therapy program empowering young people with disability

Perth, Friday 23 January 2026 – SHQ launches My Voice Matters, a trauma-informed art therapy program for children and youth with disability who have experienced abuse and sexual violence.

Delivered over 6 weeks in Perth CBD, Joondalup and Mandurah, the program builds emotional-literacy, confidence, and help-seeking skills in a safe, affirming group environment, allowing participants to explore wellbeing, body safety, relationships and grief through creative methods.

The Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability reported that 55 in every 100 disabled people have experienced sexual and/or physical violence since the age of 15 (Final Report- Volume 3, 2023, pg. 87).

Francis Townsend, Disability Counselling Manager at SHQ, said: “Sexuality and relationship services delivered in safe and supportive settings can promote healing after sexual violence and trauma and can lead to people with disabilities having improved confidence in negotiating healthy relationships, understanding consent and knowing their rights.

“My Voice Matters integrates therapeutic art with structured, age-appropriate abuse-prevention content. It directly teaches protective behaviours, body autonomy, emotional regulation, and help-seeking skills through creative methods, ensuring safety education is accessible to neurodivergent and non-verbal children who are often excluded from mainstream prevention initiatives.”

Participants will be grouped by age to ensure developmental safety and peer appropriateness, and attend weekly two-hour sessions facilitated by qualified counsellors with art therapy training and experience in disability-inclusive, trauma-informed practice.

The program will be co-designed with SHQ’s Disability Reference Group and families with lived experience ensures cultural relevance, accessibility and real-world application.

“By embedding targeted abuse-prevention education into a safe, inclusive, community-based format, the program improves access to critical services, strengthens protective behaviour education for children with disability, and directly reduces risk factors for family and domestic violence, sexual violence, and child sexual abuse.” Francis said.

My Voice Matters is funded by Telethon with the goal of embedding the program into SHQ’s ongoing Disability Services Strategy.

Debra Barnes, Chief Executive Officer at SHQ adds: “SHQ has provided disability counselling, education, and advocacy services for over 30 years. Our organisation champions the rights of people with disabilities to access effective sexuality education programs, resources, information, and clinical services that meet their sexual and reproductive health needs. We are committed to improving the lives of people with a disability by promoting healthy and safe relationships and decreasing vulnerability to sexual abuse and exploitation.”

Expressions of Interest for My Voice Matters are now open

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Gemma Black (She/Her) | Coordinator – Marketing and Communications

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