Experts say using puppets in therapy can give children an alternative way to talk about their experiences.

Therapists working with WRISC's Van Go program, a mobile service that uses art, music and play therapy to work with children experiencing trauma and family violence, have turned to puppets as a way of helping children open up during online sessions.

Last week they launched an appeal for members of the public to make and donate sock puppets that can be sent to children exposed to family violence.

"Due to the nature of family violence, many children who are requiring our support were forced to flee and leave behind their art materials and toys," said Van Go coordinator Ash Milne.

The Van Go program moved to an online model during the first COVID-19 lockdown and was initially providing only parenting support.

But as lockdown continued they knew they had to reintroduce working directly with the children but online.

"It got to the point where we didn't know how long we were going to do this. We thought about the families we were working with - mums were getting more stressed about the situation and we were providing support to them but not reaching the kids so we made the decision to try online and see how we go."

Because the team use creative therapies like art, music and play to work with the children, they decided to send out packs of art materials to each family.

"When we work face to face we use the art materials and different things to engage them, to allow them to express in their own way," Ms Milne said.

"And that first session, we can ask them to show us what's in their art box and engage in that way as well as giving them materials to use to do the work we are doing."

Therapists also use toys and play in the one-on-one "child led" sessions and they came up with the idea of puppets to help give children a voice.

"Younger children communicate their emotional world through play - and puppets are a logical toy to use," Ms Milne said.

"It's a good way for kids to talk ... like it's not them it's the puppet telling a secret or whatever they need to do."

With limited funding available to buy puppets someone suggested sock puppets and it was decided to ask the community for help.

"We need a range of puppets from silly to friendly to frightening in different sizes," she said.

"People can make them as creative as possible if they want, or basic and just stick eyes on a sock."

And the work of Van Go with child victims of domestic violence and WRISC's other family violence support programs is more important than ever with crime statistics released last week revealing Ballarat's family violence rate have risen 10.9 per cent over the past 12 months.

IN OTHER NEWS

Until the past 12 months, Ballarat's family violence rate had been steadily falling.

The latest figures include the months of April, June and July this year, where COVID-19 forced more people to remain at home.

An earlier Monash University study found a big increase in the number of women reporting first-time family violence during the COVID-19 lockdown, and an increase in the frequency and severity of violence.

Anyone wanting to donate a sock puppet can send them to WRISC Family Violence Support, PO Box 92, Ballarat 3353 or call 5333 3666 to arrange a time to drop off.

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