Illawarra Shoalhaven Young Carer Network Newsletter

Transcription

1 Illawarra Shoalhaven Young Carer Network Newsletter December 2014 Illawarra Shoalhaven Young Carer Network Meeting Next Meeting 10/2/ Atchison Street, Wollongong 1.00pm Contact: Johanne Sneddon As the end of the year and Christmas approaches, so does a number of long weeks of holidays for young people! As well as the useful information about YCs, included in this newsletter are some of the activities that are being run, either specifically for YCs or in the community that YCs might be able to get involved in. The network wishes you all a very Merry Christmas and a safe and happy festive season! 1

2 New Young Carer Website The Carers NSW Young Carer Program is delighted to announce the unveiling of a new YOUNG CARER WEBSITE! The website contains helpful information for young carers, contact details for state-wide support services, an online young carer community, a designated section for parents and professionals and much more! Visit the website at NSW Kids and Families have released a Youth Health Resource Kit for health workers that could be equally as useful for all those who work with children and young people. You can download the online version at: 2

3 Illawarra Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre YC Program Update: Tree Tops Adventure: Last holidays a number of Young Carers went down to the Tree Tops Adventure Park amongst the Trees that surround the Shoalhaven Zoo! There was lots of great feedback from YCs who loved the day and the time spent together. SAVE THE DATE FOR THESE HOLIDAYS For YCs in the Shoalhaven Monday 19 th January For YCs in the Illawarra Friday 23 rd January 2015 ***When we ve confirmed the activities, the information will be sent directly to clients. Both events require YCs to be 8 yrs and over and registered with the Young Carer Program at the Illawarra Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre on Some action shots from the day at the Tree Tops 3

4 SibsCamp News! This year s camp was the first time that SibsClub took just the kids away for the weekend. And what a weekend it was! Packed full of fun, our time was spent whip cracking, boomerang throwing, horse riding, canoeing, learning archery, making Billy tea and damper, exploring the farmland nursery. Milking a cow, watching a sheep shearing demonstration and having a hay ride. Of course we also had a great time like swimming, sky larking on a tree swing, hanging with new and old mates, playing night games and roasting marshmallows too. Some of us didn t know anyone at the start of the weekend, but by the end we all went home with many firm friendships to treasure. SIBS have the following events coming up: 6 Dec Sat 9am 1pm Roller Skating (5-12 years) 13 Dec Sat 6pm 9pm Movie & Pizza night (12-16 years) 20 Dec Sat 10am -1.30pm Xmas party (5-12years) Children must be part of Family & Sibling Support program and bookings essential. Contact Kath

5 Summer at SYFS Youth Health Services Young people Years All Activities at are FREE Limited Spaces Transport/Food Provided Call CHAIN to book in Date Time Activity Tues 16 th December 1-6pm Jamberoo Action Park Tues 6 th January 1-6pm Jamberoo Action Park Tues 20 th January 1-4pm BBQ + Games at Stewart Park Tues 10 th February 1-6pm Jamberoo Action Park Tues 17 th February 1-4pm BBQ + Games at Stewart Park 5

6 Free Workshops for Carers Do you provide care for a friend or family member who has a chronic illness, disability, is frail aged or has a mental illness? You are invited to come along to one of our free three day workshops and learn how to manage stress, services available to you, support groups in your area and meet other carers Our free workshops are conducted throughout the year in Milton and Nowra Nowra - February 10 th, 17 th, 24 th 2015 Nowra Showground Committee Room Milton May 12 th, 19 th 26 th 2015 Milton Ulladulla Hospital Cancer Care Cottage Nowra - June 9 th, 16 th, 23 rd 2015 Nowra Showground Committee Room Nowra August 11 th, 18 th, 24 th 2015 Nowra Showground Committee Room Milton October 13 th, 20 th, 27 th 2015 Milton Ulladulla Hospital Cancer Care Cottage 10am to 3pm each day Morning tea and lunch are provided Phone Kerrie Deville on Or Jenny Wightman on

7 1. Personality Disorder Support group for carers and family members - which is held on the 1 st and 3 rd Tuesdays of the month at 5.30pm at South Coast Private Hospital. (Registration is essential) 2. Womens Support Group for women Which is 1 st and 3 rd Tuesdays of the month at 11am at the Illawarra Womens Health Centre Warilla. (Registration is essential) 3. General Carer Support Group Held on Thursday evenings at 6.30pm at the South Coast Private Hospital (Registration is essential) Although registration is essential for groups, it is not compulsory to require an initial registration of interest only. attend each week. We 4. Me and My Relationships - Building stronger and healthier relationships Staff from the University of Wollongong, in partnership with Mental Health Carers ARAFMI Illawarra, are running a free program in Wollongong called Me and My Relationships. This program aims to assist people who are providing care to a family member who is living with a mental illness, to overcome interpersonal problems and build stronger and healthier relationships with others in particular the person they provide support too. Me and My Relationships aims to increase our awareness of strongly held beliefs that contribute to our interpersonal problems and unpleasant emotions, and the current ways in which we try to cope with these (e.g. avoidance, drinking alcohol, arguing, and depending excessively on others). We will support group members to explore their values and consider how their current ways of coping complement or stand in the way of what they want for their relationships. Participants in this program will learn a range of skills that can increase their capacity and willingness to experience rather than avoid unpleasant thoughts and emotions, in order to experience healthier relationships and live life in the way that they value. Me and My Relationships consists of 12 modules that are provided in two formats. The program facilitators can help you decide which format might best suit your needs: Please contact ARAFMI to refer carers to this program or arafmi_i@bigpond.net.au 7

8 Still looking for something for young people to do in the school holidays? Contact your local Youth, Community or neighbourhood centre for details of programs they re running during this time. 8

9 Who are Young Carers? Young Carers are children and young people who are under 25 years of age and providing a significant level of care ( that is, more than what would be expected of a child their age) for a parent or sibling with a disability, who is frail aged, has a mental health issue, chronic illness or substance dependence. What do Young Carers Do? Young Carers are usually providing practical and/or emotional support for the person that they care for. It differs for each child, but tasks could include; cooking, cleaning, personal care, paying bills, making appointments, and being emotionally supportive. What do they need? As the tasks required of each Young Carer is different, so often are the needs of Young Carers. Most young carers firstly appreciate recognition of what they are doing by someone who can then point them in the direction of support. This could be a teacher at school, youth worker, sports coach, family or friend. Other needs include respite, practical support, help with schoolwork, someone to talk too and time spent with other young carers. No Wrong Door Philosophy This is essentially one of the reasons why the network meetings began. As a group of different services able to offer support to Young Carers in different ways, we wanted make the complex needs of YCs be met in a way that would enhance the benefit for our YCs. The vision is client centred, accessible and coordinated services taking a holistic approach. Practically it means that when a young person is referred to a service provider who may not fit their guidelines, the commitment is to work with that client until they are linked up with the correct support service. This however doesn t mean that a client will receive whatever service they want, but a higher level and more coordinated response by service providers, making access to support easier for the client. Want to know more about how to make your service or school a Young Carer Friendly one? Some of the network members have been trained to run an interactive workshop to help you and your service to answer that question and better support YCs. If you re interested in having a workshop at your workplace, please contact Johanne at Johanne.Sneddon@sesiahs.health.nsw.gov.au 9

10 Type the Title here Page 10 of 6 10

11 THE BEST HOLIDAYS HAPPEN AT CAMP Relaxing Great value Fun Safe Bonus! Residential Kids Camps include supervised transport from: Tick every box this school holidays with a Sport and Recreation Camp. Our popular Kids and Family Camps offer a range of exciting activities to keep even the biggest kid entertained. Try your hand at over 40 different activities, including fishing, mountain biking, surfing, abseiling, crafts, kayaking, cooking and more, and relax knowing you re in good hands. Kids Day Camps start from $47; Family Camp weekends start from $168 for kids and $238 for adults. Kids under five years attend free of charge. Cost includes accommodation, meals and activities. Central Station, Sydney Penrith Lithgow Bathurst Orange Wellington Brooklyn Mooney Mooney. dsr.nsw.gov.au/kidscamps dsr.nsw.gov.au/familycamps facebook.com/nswsportandrecreation