Free Christmas Day lunch at Lyons - All welcome - spread the word!

Woden Community Service will be hosting its third annual Community Christmas
Day Lunch on Tuesday 25 December 12-2pm at Lyons Early Childhood School ,
Cnr Launceston St and Tarraleah Cres Lyons.

It is a free event and transport is available on request.

To RSVP, to request transport and/or let us know any dietary requirements,
please call 6282 2644.

Please distribute to any one you know or working with who may like to spend
Christmas with people in their community. A flyer/invitation can be found
at:
http://www.wcs.org.au/wcs-latest-news-and-events/wcs-hosts-free-community-ch
ristmas-day-lunch

This is a wonderful community event that brings people together for a great
feed and company! Thanks for your support in making this a success.

Managing eating issues in children with Asperger Syndrome:

Researchers at UQ have developed a set of food and nutrition resources that aim to provide strategies for managing selective eating in children with Asperger’s Syndrome. You’ll find hypothetical case studies developed from discussions with parents of children with Asperger’s, activity sheets, and a comprehensive selection of supporting materials.

http://www.autismqld.com.au/userfiles/Appendix%206_4%20Booklet.pdf

Carers ACT Walking Group

Carers ACT Walking Group

Time: 10am– 11am
Date: 5 Ocotber
Place: Carers ACT, 80 Beaurepaire Cresent Holt ACT 2615
(For current carers who reside in the ACT)
The Heart Foundation’s Bill Caddy will speak briefly then lead a 30 minute walk. On return to the Carers ACT Hub (Holt), Bill will sign up the new group over morning tea.
On Fridays 12 and 19 October, the group will be led by Carers ACT staff or an elected group leader.
FREE but bookings essential, to RSVP please call Eleanor on 6269 9908 or email rsvp@carersact.org.au

Know Before You Go

Know Before You Go is a new resource developed by Nican packed with information - presented in an easy to read, step-by-step way - which helps providers and people with disability alike to increase skills, confidence and discover their passions. 

The project includes tools for people with disabilities and providers.  For people with disabilities it includes support to: 

·         Become inspired

·         Build confidence

·         Stay fit & healthy

·         Make friends

·         Overcome fear

·         Overcome the inner critic

·         Develop assertiveness

·         Using mind mapping as a tool

·         Plan for the future or simply ask – what will I do today?   

For providers the kit provides support to:

·         Undertake a self-audit, with tips, tools, checklists and examples  

·         Develop an action plan including a shell action plan with project owners, timeframes, deliverables and commitments 

·         Develop a checklist for inclusive events covering issues ranging from accessible parking to inclusive communications
http://www.nican.com.au/node/15103

DPLN seminar reminder AND change of date

Please note, the first session has been pushed back one week due to an unavoidable clash and afternoon sessions will now run from 1-3 pm, rather than 2-4 pm.

ACT Disability Professionals Learning Network (DPLN)

Seminar Series 2012

“Supporting people with intellectual disability to better manage their health”

The DPLN seminar series is designed to provide accessible training and education for direct support staff in the ACT Disability Sector. This year’s theme is “health and intellectual disability”, and aims to build upon the 2011 seminar series on Positive Behaviour Support.

Research indicates that people with intellectual disability have poorer health than the general community, and are at particular risk with regards to certain conditions. Research also indicates that disability support staff have an important role to play in helping individuals with intellectual disability to better manage their health. This series and these topics have been chosen in response to this research.

Each seminar is a stand-alone module, so you can attend the entire series or only those sessions of particular interest to you. Seminars will include a presentation, interactive exercises and an opportunity to ask questions of the presenter. Slides and handouts will be available to those people who cannot make a session but have an interest in the topic. Further details regarding each seminar will be forwarded closer to the day.

The seminars will be held on the first Thursday of each month (except for the first seminar!) at Nature Conservation House - on the corner of Emu Bank and Benjamin Way Belconnen. You can choose from one of two sessions – either 10 am to 12 noon OR 1.00 pm to 3.00 pm. The seminars are free of charge.

To register your interest please e-mail david.addison@act.gov.au

Date	Topic
5 July Tues 10 July	Meeting the health needs of people with intellectual disability (Agnes Sarlay and David Addison – Disability ACT)
Thursday 2 August	Mental health (David Addison – Disability ACT)
Thursday 6 September	Diabetes (Terri Berenguer – Diabetes ACT)
Thursday 4 October	Epilepsy (Janelle Walker – ACT Health Directorate)
Thursday 1 November	Footsure (Sarah Marshall – ACT Health Directorate)
Thursday 6 December	Dementia and intellectual disability (To be advised)

On Course for Carers – Wellness Day

On Course for Carers – Wellness Day
Thursday 21 June 2012
Full day event including laughter yoga,
information session on healthy sleep, Tai
Chi class, “Mind Your Mind” session and a
relaxation to end the day.
Lunch will be provided - please advise of
any special dietary requirements
When: 9:30am - 2:30pm (Longer Session)
Where: Carers Hub, Carers ACT, 80
Beaurepaire Cres, Holt
Please RSVP by Friday 15 June

All events are free for family carers but bookings are essential.
To RSVP please call Eleanor on 6296 9908 or email rsvp@carersact.org.au

Young Carers Festofall

Festofall - Young Carers. Together.
24th June 2012

Festofall is a series of events held on the 24th June 2012 to bring
Australia's Young Carers together. Free and open to all young carers and
their support networks. The events will feature music, comedy and other
entertainment in all states and territories. There are two events for
Young Carers in the ACT:

Questacon, King Edward Terrace, Canberra, ACT 10:30am - 3:30pm (lunch is
provided 11:30 to 12:30) Recommended for ages 5-13 years of age, with a
parent in attendance.

Luna Park Sydney, 1 Olympic Drive, Milsons Point, NSW Buses will depart
Canberra at 11am to take Young Carers to Luna Park in Sydney, and will
return at 10:30pm.
Recommended for ages 14-25 years of age.

Registrations are open now. For registration or more information please
logon to www.festofall.com.au<http://www.festofall.com.au>

If you are a carer and would like support, information or advice please
call 1800 242 636.

If you need to arrange respite or find out more about the services
available please call the Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre on
1800 052 222.

Cybersecurity awareness session

How do you protect yourself online?

CYBER SECURITY AWARENESS WORKSHOP

Tuesday 29 May 10 am - 12 pm Belconnen Library Friday 1 June 10 am - 12
pm Kippax Library Tuesday 5 June 10 am - 12 pm Tuggeranong Library
Wednesday 20 June 10 am - 12 pm Gungahlin Library Wednesday 20 June 2 pm
- 4 pm Dickson Library Thursday 21 June 10 am - 12 pm Woden Library

The Australian Government is working towards helping Australians
understand that no matter where they are or what they are doing, they
need to protect themselves online - whether they are on their home
computer or laptop, iPad/tablet, smartphone, or even their gaming
console. They need to use safe and secure online practices.

This is a free interactive workshop on the simple steps Australians (and
older Australians) can take to protect themselves online, run by the
Australian Government in partnership with Libraries ACT.

Bookings are recommended

For more information contact:
Libraries ACT
www.library.act.gov.au
Phone 6205 9000

CAPOEIRA

The Disability Team and Bridges Program are offering, CAPOEIRA classes for people with disability -
Is an Afro-Brazilian art form that combines elements of martial arts, music, gymnastics and dance.
Our instructor Rodrigo came all the way from Brazil and has been teaching capoeira in Canberra for several years, sharing his culture, rhythm and energy.
Come and improve you fitness, flexibility and strength
Please make sure you wear loose and confortable clothing (no jeans), Suitable shoes (sneakers), and bring a bottle of water and a towel.

Where: Belconnen Community Centre/ Sports Hall                 
When: 5 weeks /Friday 18th May to Friday 15th June                                                
Time: 2:00pm to 3:00pm                                         
Cost: free trial                                                     
Any question? Call the disability team on (02) 62640232

Free SoSafe Training for primary unpaid care givers of people with a disability

Sexual Health and Family Planning ACT, (SHFPACT), is offering no cost So Safe training for

non paid primary carers of young people with intellectual disabilities

Visual & Conceptual Tools to promote Social Safety

SoSAFE! is a set of visual and conceptual tools designed to promote social safety to clients with an Intellectual Disability (moderate to severe range) and Autism Spectrum Disorder. SoSAFE! tools promote social safety through the provision of a simplified and rule-governed model of social reality that teaches the type and degree of verbal and physical intimacy appropriate with different categories of people.

Saturdays 23^rd June & 30^th June 9am – 12.30pm (inclusive)

Sexual Health & Family Planning ACT, Level One, 28 University Avenue, Canberra

Cost is free – this training has been made possible through an ACE Grant, an ACT Government initiative

For further information or to enrol visit our website at www.shfpact.org.au

Autism Links

Redefinition: Autism, Asperger’s, and the DSM-5
http://www.iancommunity.org/cs/simons_simplex_community/dsm5_and_asd

Positive Partnerships are coming back to Canberra!!!! this project was refunded so now it's happening again!. it's not on the site yet but happening in Canberra on June 28 & 29. you can register from the 17/5. I highly recommend going and am hoping to attend myself (i went to one 2 years ago, shortly before we got my son's diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome)
http://www.positivepartnerships.com.au/public/index.cfm

Drawtism - play pictionary for Autism
http://www.autismspectrum.org.au/a2i3i2i3l487l565/love-pictionary.htm?phpMyAdmin=IThGLaF84iDM149Z3P1tkBSf-t8

Officer urges autism training for first responders
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2012/05/11/officer-urges-autism-training.html

Free ipads for children with disabilities

http://www.everydayhero.com.au/event/varietyipads

iPads with specialised software applications are amazingly useful as communication tools for children with special needs. They are compact and "cool" multipurpose pieces of equipment, that are allowing these children to communicate, express themselves, aid learning and much more.
Variety – the Children’s Charity have been granting iPads with specialised software for the last two years, among other equipment we grant for children with special needs. The biggest increase in requests for assistance is coming from families reaching out for help for this equipment to assist with their child’s development.

2012 Football-Connect Registration

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2012 Football-Connect Registration Where: ACT Hawker Football Centre Walhallow St Hawker 2614 Australia Driving Directions When: Saturday May 5, 2012 at 9:00 AM   Dear Karen, In 2011 Capital Football in partnership with Weston Creek Soccer Club (South Canberra) and Belconnen United/Belnorth Football Club (North Canberra) launched a Football league specifically catering for athletes of All Abilities. Participants were allocated a club close to where they live, received their own club shirt, attended weekly training sessions and participated in football matches weekly throughout the season with their own team at the Hawker Football Centre. 2011 season in review   2012 Season Information and Dates   Season 2012 promises to be even bigger and better with the Pre-Season Come and Try period set for May and the season launch scheduled for June. The Kanga Cup (Australia's Biggest Football Tournament) has also introduced a disability division in 2012 giving Football-Connect teams an opportunity to test themselves against teams from around Australia in the July school holidays. Football Connect individual player registrations are accepted online on an ongoing basis throughout the season. Just click on the link below to register for free. If you are interested in entering a whole team please let us know and we will register your team all at once. Register Now! I can't make it Please do not hesitate to contact us if have any questions about Football-Connect or how to register. Sincerely, The Football Connect Team Capital Football coaching@capitalfootball.com.au 6175 7116 Developed with assistance from the ACT Government under Disability ACT

Playgroups for children with disabilities / developmental delays

Playing Together ACT Playgroups are currently running three Playgroups for
families whose child/ren have a disability, chronic illness or developmental
delay in conjunction with the Child and Family Centres. This is made
possible through funding from the ACT and Federal Governments. Please
contact us for further information. For more information or to find a
PlayConnect Playgroup near you please call ACT Playgroups on 1800 171 882 or
email at playgroupsact@ixa.net.au

PlayConnect Playgroups - FREE - for children with autism

PlayConnect Playgroups for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. At
PlayConnect Playgroups children, from birth to six years of age with Autism
Spectrum Disorder, delays in communication/ social development or play
and/or who may have rigid behaviours, have the opportunity to play in a
secure, supportive environment with their parents, carers and other family
members.
Parents and carers can meet other families in their area with children who
have similar characteristics and access information about how to link with
early intervention programs and support services.
This is a FREE program as part of the HCWA funding and no diagnosis of ASD
is required.
For more information or to find a PlayConnect Playgroup near you please call
ACT Playgroups on 1800 171 882 or email at playgroupsact@ixa.net.au or
website http://www.playgroupaustralia.com.au

Links to learning- Adult Literacy Program

'Links to Learning- Adult Literacy Program'
Links to Learning is a volunteer tutoring program available to all
adults living in the Canberra region who would like to develop their
literacy skills.
Students can enroll anytime; the literacy tutoring is designed for each
individual's needs.
Students and tutors meet weekly for a one hour session at either one of
the ACT Public libraries, Southside Community Services and only under
exceptional circumstances, a student's home.
The tutoring days and times are arranged between the student and tutor
to whatever times best suit both parties.
The cost of the literacy tuition is free.
The 'Links to Learning: adult literacy program' is funded by an ACT
Government Adult Community Education grant.
If you have any questions please contact me either via phone or email,
my office hours are Tuesdays to Thursdays 9:30- 4:30.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Lisa Navarro- Bustos / Coordinator
'Links to Learning - Adult Literacy Program'
63 Boolimba Crescent, Narrabundah, ACT 2604
Tel: 02 6126 4717 Fax: 02 6295 7944
Web: www.sscs.org.au
Email: lisa.navarro-bustos@sscs.org.au

Countering Harassment & Bullying Workshop coming up next week

Training Opportunity offered by the ACT Human Rights Commission
Countering Harassment & Bullying Workshop coming up next week on Thursday 8
March
Are you confident that you could deal with harassment and bullying if you
heard about it, saw it happening, or were experiencing it in the workplace?
Our workshop provides comprehensive and lively coverage of these critical
questions, and will:
* Increase your insight into how harassment and bullying can happen;
* Enable you to recognise behaviour that could be harassment and
bullying;
* Enhance your understanding of the impact of harassment and
bullying;
* Build your knowledge of how harassment and bullying is covered by
both the
Discrimination Act 1991, and ACT work safety law; and
* Provide strategies for dealing with, and preventing harassment and
bullying.
This workshop is interactive, and draws on real-life cases. It is open to
anyone interested in changing their workplace culture for the better,
whatever your role within your organisation.
Held from 9:30am - 1pm in civic, $200 or free for the community sector or
private individuals.
To register, go to http://www.hrc.act.gov.au/content.php/content.view/id/184
or ring Jennifer Bauer on 6205 2222 for more information.

Positive Partnerships to continue!!!!

fabulous news!!!!  positive partnerships to continue!!! I highly recommend this FREE course to all parents of children on the autism spectrum.

A new consortium will train more than 450 teachers and 1,450 parents every year in how best to help students with autism, Minister Assisting for School Education Brendan O’Connor announced today.
The Gillard Government is continuing its commitment to give all children the best opportunity to learn and lead productive lives by commencing the second phase of its successful $40.5 million Positive Partnerships initiative.
“I’m pleased that the Gillard Government is continuing this program as part of our $220 million Helping Children with Autism package,” Mr O’Connor said.

http://ministers.deewr.gov.au/oconnor/more-teachers-parents-be-trained-autism-support

MOBILITY ASSISTANCE - A WORKSHOP FOR FAMILY CARERS

MOBILITY ASSISTANCE - A WORKSHOP FOR FAMILY CARERS

This workshop will focus on back care and mobility assistance for carers to use around the home, teaching a no-lift procedure to assist people in and out of beds, chairs, cars and the bathroom.

Facilitator:  Barb Lawson has worked for many years in direct care and care co-ordination with older people and people with disabilities, and now teaches in aged care studies at CIT.

Evening session:
Date:     Monday 5 March
Time:      6-8pm
Venue:    Nursing Lab, CIT Southside Campus, Ainsworth St Phillip
OR
Day session:
Date:     Friday 15 June
Time:      10.00am - 12.00noon
Venue:    Nursing Lab, CIT Southside Campus, Ainsworth St Phillip

Cost:    Free
To Register: 6207 3628 or CarerSkills@cit.edu.au<mailto:CarerSkills@cit.edu.au>

Note:  Skills for Carers provides training for family and unpaid workers in the ACT. Paid support/care workers are not eligible to attend. For more information call 6207 3628 or email CarerSkills@cit.edu.aumailto:CarerSkills@cit.edu.au

CIT is the ACT Large Training Provider of the Year.
Subscribe to CIT Industry Connection - CIT's free, bi monthly publication:
http://cit.edu.au/industry_business/industry_connection/

Attention Year 12 students and families

Attention Year 12 students and families
Students and their families know that leaving school is a major life transition for them as they consider options for their future lives as adults.

For young people with disability and their families access to information to plan ahead so that this transition is as smooth as possible can be difficult and complex.

Disability ACT recognises this and is working with House With No Steps to assist school leavers who need support beyond graduation. We have already started to met with Year 12 students who have submitted a school leaver referral, to start the planning process.

If you have a family member in Year 12 who has a disability and is likely to need additional support upon graduating in 2012 and would like to explore options beyond school, we encourage you to complete a referral form – as soon as possible.

School Leavers Information Pack and Referral form are available at www.dhcs.act.gov.au/disability_act

For further information please contact Disability ACT’s Information Service at The DISH on Phone: (02) 6207 1086