It’s Quiet, It’s Calm, Supportive + Safe – Welcome To The Loading Zone

Life as a teen or tween in this world is challenging at the best of times. 

When there is disability, mental health challenges, low self- esteem, anxiety or confusion reigning in your life, it can be even more difficult to navigate. 

That’s where The Loading Zone comes in.

Designed to create a safe and supportive space where teenagers can connect and engage with other like-minded kids, it also helps build confidence and a network that extends beyond the walls of a bedroom and into the Southern Highlands community. 

We speak to one of the co-founders Margie Tully about what The Loading Zone is all about and how it provides an incredibly important connection at a confusing and challenging time for our local teens and tweens.

1 :: Tell us how the idea of The Loading Zone came about. 

I have two hats and have been working for Auscare Support which is a NDIS provider and disability support organisation based in the Southern Highlands. 

I’ve been working with Max King, the CEO of Auscare Support for five years. 

I have teenage kids and also have a lot of friends with teenagers and from being a parent myself, working with Auscare Support and also from chatting to other parents, we realised there was a gap in support for teenagers and tweens with a disability in the Southern Highlands. 

Max and I spoke to Emma Gill – she’s a local Speech Therapist with a lot of experience working with kids and teenagers around socialisation and communication and supporting them through a whole range of sensory issues. 

We put out an expression of interest to the community to see if the gap we identified was being felt too and received a great response from locals confirming that yes, this age group desperately needed additional services and support. 

So Max, Emma and myself set it all up. There’s been no funding. We’re really passionate about that age group and it can be such a difficult time for kids, so we just got on with it and did it ourselves.

2 :: Amazing! So, let’s talk more about the need for socialisation for many teenagers, especially those with mental health challenges. 

Many of the children in this age group that we support have limited engagement with other kids outside their home. 

They might be disengaged from school – it might not be the right fit for them, or they suffer from anxiety – so they go intermittently, if at all. 

Team sport environments may be overwhelming for them, so they avoid it and then miss out on connecting with others in their age group. 

All of this can impact on socialisation skills and perhaps cause them to feel isolated. 

And a number of parents have said to us that it is difficult to get their teenager out of the house to engage with others. And especially with everything that’s happened in the last couple of years, it’s harder than ever.

3 :: How does The Loading Zone provide a unique and safe space for them to connect and socialise then? 

It’s all about providing opportunities and an environment where they can connect with like minded kids their own age. 

On Friday afternoons, they can come and join in and play Dungeons & Dragons with others who enjoy this game. 

On Saturdays we are running a gaming program where kids can come along and do anything they want in the tech world – anything from filming and editing a YouTube video, building an app, coding and game development – supported by young tech mentors who look after the group [and a very tech savvy!]. 

The key is providing a structured event or program where the kids can come every week, knowing that they’ll hang out with the same like-minded kids, in the same space. 

That continuity of support, routine and familiarity is very important to helping kids manage their emotions and anxiety as well as providing opportunities to build on their socialisation skills which leads to an increase in confidence for them.

5 :: The space itself is quite minimalistic and uncluttered – why is that?

The Loading Zone is in the centre of Bowral but it’s upstairs and quiet.

There are a number of rooms where visitors can catch-up and take part in programs. 

There is minimal art on the walls, thoughtfully placed furniture and no loudly coloured walls or spaces.

That’s because it’s about creating a calm atmosphere that kids with sensory disorders and challenges can cope with.

6 :: And we love that everyone is welcome….

Absolutely. This is a space for all teenagers and tweens – regardless of disability.

You may have some anxiety or social anxiety, dealing with a high level of shyness or socialisation issues. 

Maybe you’re just going through a tough time and need a calm space and some new connections to help you through that.

Or maybe none of that applies to you. 

The door is open to all teens and tweens at The Loading Zone.

7 :: A mentoring program has started too, hasn’t it?

Yes, we’ve started the AMP Program which pairs young mentors – in their late teens or early twenties – with teenagers.

They connect through a common interest, whether that be D&D, gaming or whatever it may be and spend time together. 

We found this approach works so well around socialisation, connection and engagement. 

It’s about having a connection that isn’t an adult. Someone to chat to if they’re struggling at school, or at home, or with friendship groups. 

They have a young person they can communicate with on their level and ask questions about what to do in certain scenarios.

Something like how I respond to a text asking me to go to the movies.

Or how can I ask someone to have lunch with me….. things like that.

The mentor can coach and support them.

They’ve been there before [more recently than us!]. 

The results we see from the AMP Program around improvement in self-confidence for the teenager is amazing.

8 :: Tell The Fold readers about the learning sessions you’re running on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. 

School isn’t for everyone and there are plenty of children home schooling or distance learning that don’t have the opportunity or inclination to get out of the house or connect with others their age beyond the online world or their family. 

We run learning sessions with a Special Needs teacher two days a week where teens and tweens can come along to and be supported to complete homework, or set up a Zoom call, or do their school work in a calm and familiar place with a trained support teacher. 

This is great if a child is transitioning back to school – it’s a good interim step that can build confidence. 

It’s also great for those who are distance or home learning but are keen to connect with other kids in a face-to-face environment doing the same thing.

10 :: Love it. And we love that there are other support services available at The Loading Zone.

Yes, we already have some highly skilled allied health professionals like Emma [our co-founder and an amazing Speech Therapist] on site and we’re interested in hearing from other allied health professionals who are looking for a space where they can provide support to our clients, as well as their own.

We’re also taking on a therapy assistant with the aim to provide our Loading Zone kids with continuous help and support as and when they need it.

9 :: And all of these programs and initiatives align with The Loading Zone ethos. 

Yes, we’re trying to keep kids from isolating themselves and encourage them to step into the community or create their own network, in a safe and supported way. 

We see teenagers who wouldn’t leave their room transition to becoming involved with a fun group of likeminded kids and then suggesting they catch up with a friend at the movies or go bowling one weekend. 

Some teens and tweens need a bit of extra help connecting and engaging with others – that’s what we’re here for.

The Loading Zone is at Level 1, 58  Station Street in Bowral. Contact the team on 0448 771 684 to book an appointment or to register for one of the great programs. Everyone is more than welcome to come along beforehand and have a look to get familiar with the place too. 

Such a great initiative, guys! Amazing work.

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