Parkerville Children and Youth Care has been supporting children, young people and their families who have experienced trauma from abuse, homelessness, and other adverse childhood experiences for many years. Their work is grounded in compassion, care, and a deep understanding that healing is essential before any young person can truly begin to learn and thrive.
The team at Parkerville have been working tirelessly on a very exciting project – Parkerville Grove School, a new specialised CARE (Curriculum and Re-engagement in Education) school, and the first of its kind in Western Australia for children and families facing the impacts of trauma.
EIW Architects has had the honour of working alongside McCorkell Constructions and on the refurbishment of nine heritage-listed cottages that go back over a century in Parkerville, Western Australia. From the outset, the team recognised that this project required more than just sympathetic design. This unique project required patience, empathy and a deep understanding of trauma itself. The EIW team engaged with specialists, spoke with practitioners, and reviewed research to ensure every design response was informed by the needs of young people who have experienced complex challenges.
[Above: refurbished cottage illustrative example)
For a child who has lived through neglect, abuse, or disrupted care, learning isn’t just difficult, it can feel impossible. Trauma can present in many ways, including anxiety, hypervigilance, difficulty concentrating, and physical or verbal outbursts. In a traditional classroom setting, these behaviours are often misunderstood and labelled as disruptive, rather than recognised as responses to past experiences.
At Parkerville Grove School, the approach is different. There, healing comes first. When young people feel safe, regulated, and supported, learning can follow and futures begin to feel possible again.
[Above: refurbished cottage illustrative example)
Set within the natural beauty of the Perth Hills, the school has been thoughtfully designed to support this journey.
The new school will offer:
- Small class sizes for young people aged 12 to 18 (Years 7–12)
- Predictable daily routines
- Individualised learning plans
- Integrated therapeutic care
- A campus designed to restore, calm, and reduce anxiety
- Purpose-built, flexible learning environments
- Outdoor spaces that encourage connection and emotional regulation
- Embedded therapeutic design features throughout
- Safety for staff
[Above: refurbished cottage illustrative example)
On Friday night, our EIW project team had the pleasure of joining Parkerville Children and Youth Care at their Gala event held at Fraser’s Kings Park. With the theme “There’s No Place Like Home,” inspired by The Wizard of Oz, the evening was both meaningful and memorable. The event brought together supporters and contributors to raise vital funds for the Parkerville Grove School project, reinforcing the importance of creating safe, nurturing spaces for young people in need.
[Above: Video introducing Parkerville Grove School at the Parkerville Gala)
Congratulations to the wonderful team at Parkerville Children and Youth Care for delivering such a special event, and for the incredible work you do in transforming the lives of young people.
It truly warms our hearts to be involved in a project that will make a lasting difference, helping to heal, restore, and break cycles of trauma within the community. We look forward to sharing more as the project progresses, with Parkerville Grove School set to open in Term 3 this year.
If you are in a position to support this wonderful initiative, we encourage you to get involved.
[Below: EIW team - Pete, Kate and Kat at the Parkerville Gala]
