Ella Schwarz is 11 years old and already knows she's different from the other kids her age.
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Her little brother, nine-year-old Ryan, has the same awareness.
![Kristie and Clinton Schwarz with their children Ella, 11, and Ryan, 9, at the Kookaburra Kids Christmas party on Saturday, with presents donated from the Canberra community. Photo: Sitthixay Ditthavong Kristie and Clinton Schwarz with their children Ella, 11, and Ryan, 9, at the Kookaburra Kids Christmas party on Saturday, with presents donated from the Canberra community. Photo: Sitthixay Ditthavong](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/470d3536-8f86-4ffb-bfee-aaf31dfd1c4c/r0_0_2000_1331_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Standing with their mum, Kristie, and dad, Clinton, at the Kookaburra Kids Christmas party on Saturday, Ella said the day was about having fun, and not worrying about what's going on at home.
Ryan said the day was about playing with friends, and being included.
"There's lots of people like me, who have trouble fitting in and stuff, and I understand it a bit more," Ryan said.
Kookaburra Kids supports children who have a family member affected by mental illness. For the Schwarz family, that person is Clinton. Mr Schwarz is an Army veteran battling post-traumatic stress disorder.
It means December 25 will be a quiet, "low-key" day for the family, as loud noises can be overwhelming for Mr Schwarz.
"Sometimes, if your parent has a mental illness, sometimes you feel worried," Ella said.
"But today is about having fun and not worrying."
Mrs Schwarz said since Kookaburra Kids launched in Canberra earlier this year, she doesn't know how she ever did without them.
"It's really hard to manage life as an adult with mental illness, let alone having these two little people.
"I can't remember before Kookaburra Kids. It wasn't fun. The kids didn't have those relationships and friendships where they didn't have to explain how they were feeling because their friends just know."
Both Ella and Ryan had difficulty at school before finding friends they could relate to at Kookaburra Kids.
Mrs Schwarz said it was hard for a parent to watch a child struggle with things like that.
"We're trying to make sure they're still kids," she said.
"One of the big things about Kookaburra Kids is for them to know they're not alone. They're not the only ones going through the same thing."
At the Christmas party, not-for-profit GIVIT had put a call-out to the Canberra community for gifts, for children who might otherwise not have that experience at home.
Mrs Schwarz said it was a wonderful surprise.
"They wouldn't go without at Christmas, but it's just different.
"The excitement isn't going to be what it normally is this year."
Mr Schwarz said it was that element of surprise, of opening the presents and being able to get excited, that the kids wouldn't be getting at home.
Ella said it made her feel like other people knew what she was going through.
"I think that's really generous, and that's really nice of them because obviously they know how we might feel, and it's good for us to know that people know."
Kookaburra Kids ACT manager Nick Atkins said for families like those at Kookaburra Kids, they're often doing it tough at this time of year.
"They often see themselves in this little bubble when they've got to get by, and there's a lot of pride with that," Mr Atkins said.
"To know there are people that really care and are helping them out is really huge, and it lets them know there is help out there and there are people that want to help and that care. That can be a real lightbulb moment for people who have a mental illness."
Canberrans have generously donated 500 gifts to GIVIT that will go to children who might otherwise go without. There is still time to donate, visit givit.org.au