Caleb wins at Boccia - Novita Children's Services

Term 2, June 2012
Caleb wins
at Boccia
C
ongratulations Caleb Crowden who
has won a Bronze Medal in the Boccia
National Championships in Sydney.
Caleb is a Novita client from Child &
Adolescent Services (South).
Caleb is only 12 and was selected to compete in
the Open Class against athletes much older than
himself. The Gold Medal winner was aged 60.
Caleb played against a 28-year-old for the Bronze.
Boccia is a skilful, exciting and strategic sport
that has been adapted to cater for people with
varying levels of physical impairment (especially
those in a wheelchair most of the time). Providing
pathways through to Paralympic competition,
Boccia is an inclusive sport for everyone.
Caleb was also invited to attend the ‘Road to Rio’
Camp, following the Nationals, where he learned
from the Australian coaching team what is needed
to reach an elite level. Caleb displayed great
composure and concentration during high pressure
games, well beyond his age. Congratulations Caleb!
If you would like to learn more about Boccia or
any other sport or recreation activities, contact
Emily Ayles, Recreation Officer ConnectABILITY
South, on 8172 9232 or emily.ayles@novita.org.au
or Joy Marshall, Recreation Officer ConnectABILITY
(North), on 8182 1011.
Emily and Joy can tailor a supported recreation
plan for registered Novita clients aged 5-18, on Tuesdays
and Fridays, through the ConnectABILITY Program.
Novita’s
Paradise
Office
staff
have
moved
I
n keeping with Novita’s infrastructure planning,
the Paradise Office has closed and staff have
relocated to Regency Park Centre and the
St Marys Office. Services previously provided
at Paradise are now available from these offices.
In addition, community-based venues in the
eastern suburbs, such as children’s centres and
kindergyms, will be used to host groups.
Rehabilitation clinics formerly held at Paradise
Office have been rescheduled to St Marys,
Regency Park and Parafield Gardens Offices.

2
3
L
ife in the Republic of Liberia,
West Africa, was harsh for a
young girl – and dangerous.
Gladys Koffa, a Novita volunteer,
knows better than most what it is like to
want to go to school. Living in Liberia
as a young pupil, Gladys enjoyed
school, but she was forced to stop.
Education was not a priority for young
girls in her strife-torn country.
She left in mid-2009 in search of a
better life. She thinks she may have
found it here in Adelaide, a long way
from her childhood past on the
African continent.
Keen to resume her schooling,
Gladys enrolled in a local educational
institution and progressed to the stage
where she is now studying four Year 11
subjects at Thebarton Senior College.
“I then hope to do Year 12. After that,
I really don’t know at this stage,” she
told Nexus.
Highly creative, Gladys enjoys
drawing cartoons.
“I create my own, drawn from my own
ideas. At Thebarton I use a computer on
which I am learning to make my own
story in video form using a ‘Flash’
computer program,” she said proudly.
Life has been kinder to Gladys in
Australia and, in an ironic twist, her own
children, aged 8 and 9, are happily
enrolled at Blair Athol Primary.
A love of
people and a
strong dislike for
doing nothing led
Gladys to volunteer
for Novita.
“I first came into contact with the
organisation last year when I took part in
Walk With Me,” she said.
“I was looking for an organisation
to help, and so I applied through a
volunteer agency.
Each time it’s like I am coming to
work here at Novita Regency Park.
I meet new people and the staff are
friendly and helpful. Last year I filled
showbags for the Christmas party, and
I have done magazine compilation too.”
Gladys is one of hundreds of Novita
volunteers whose dedicated service
Novita honoured during National
Volunteers Week in May.
Without people like Gladys, Novita
would find it much more difficult to
provide the support it does to the young
people and families who depend on
the organisation for its services.
Get a fair go at events
G
etting into an event with your
carer without paying for an
additional ticket is now easier.
All you need do is to get yourself a
free Companion Card which is issued
to people with a permanent disability
who require attendant care support.
There are more than 6.1 million
Australians who volunteer. Australian
volunteers are essential to society,
and many charities would struggle to
survive without their support. Australian
volunteers contribute more than 700
million hours of community service to
so many areas of society, including
community health care, heritage and
arts, environment conservation,
emergency services, education,
social justice and sports.
Novita’s hundreds of dedicated
volunteers together contribute
thousands of hours in support of our
young children and teenagers living
with disability. Great job everyone!
Thanks from all of us at Novita.
It allows a companion to enter free of
charge at participating venues and
activities. There are no income or
assets tests applied to applications
for a Companion Card.
For more information go to
www.sa.companioncard.asn.au
CITY-BAY
FUN RUN
L
ace up your running shoes on
Sunday, 16 September and run
or walk the streets of Adelaide
in support of young people living
with disabilities.
Improve your health and fitness by
participating in the 12k, 6k or 3k
events. Go that extra step and create
an online fundraising page with
Everyday Hero. You could ask family
and friends to sponsor your efforts by
donating to Novita Children’s Services.
Join in the fun with thousands
of other South Australians and
know that you are helping children
with disabilities and special needs.
For more information on
how to run for Novita and
to order your T-shirts go to
www.novita.org.au/city-bay
H
undreds of doors were
knocked and doorbells
rung in Pt Augusta, in
May, as part of the annual
Down Every Street Appeal.
Local members of the
Pt Augusta Auxiliary for Novita
Children’s Services were out
and about collecting for children
living with disabilities. The Appeal
ran from 28 April to 21 May.
Auxiliary Patron, Mitch
Hancock, from Gulf and Ranges
Optometrists, donated $1000 to
launch the Appeal for the fifth
year in a row.
Novita’s Down Every Street
Appeal began in 1953 and has
grown into one of the largest
appeals of its type in South Australia.
For many Novita children, it can
take years of therapy, support and
hard work before they are able to
www.novita.org.au
Proudly supporting
children living with disabilities
in the 2012 City-Bay
Order
your
T-Shirts
now!
Down Every Street Appeal in Pt Augusta
take their very first steps.
So to help these little stars
on their amazing journeys,
will go a long way to putting
smiles on their faces.
Port Augusta’s Novita group
and generous community
volunteers went ‘down every
street’ to raise money and
awareness for South Aussie kids
living with some form of physical
disability and special needs. This
year’s appeal covered Port
Augusta, Stirling North, Quorn
and Wilmington.
It’s easy for people to support
the 2013 Appeal. You can
volunteer to be a Novita collector
next year, or even become a
committee member,
by contacting the Port Augusta’s
Auxiliary President, Emily Holden,
on 8642 6813.
NDIS BUDGET
NEWS WELCOMED
A
$1.03 billion package in
the 2012-13 federal budget
to support measures to
launch a National Disability
Insurance Scheme (NDIS) has
been welcomed by Novita
Children’s Services.
Novita Chief Executive, Glenn
Rappensberg, says it is a significant
step in ensuring people living with
disability are adequately cared for.
“The Treasurer’s announcement
of funding over four years to support
the introduction of an NDIS is great
news for people living with disability,
their families and carers,” Mr
Rappensberg said.
“The need to establish an NDIS
has been advocated for by many
thousands of people with disabilities,
their families, carers and disability
service providers around the nation
for some time. Novita Children’s
Services made several submissions
to the Productivity Commission
during its consultation process on
this important matter.
“It remains our view that all
children and young people with
disabilities should be eligible for
inclusion within the NDIS and that
services must be driven and
empowered by people with
disabilities,” Mr Rappensberg said.
The Prime Minister, Julia Gillard,
has stated that a National Disability
Insurance Scheme would start in
Australia from July 2013 in up to
four locations across the country.
Mr Rappensberg said that
disability services (support and
care) for children must be
personalised, caring and specialised.
“Funding must be equitable
across the nation, balanced by the
desirability of having local
assessments, community support
and flexible responses, which are
critical for children and adolescents
with disability as they deal with
changing life needs,” he said.

4
5
A
new study will help to fill
gaps in our understanding
of the ways in which
caring for a child with a disability
affects participation in paid work
and the well-being of parents.
Novita, the University of South
Australia, and Disability Services are
embarking on an exciting collaborative
research project called
‘Juggling Work & Care’.
South Australian
carers caring for
people with disabilities
are the least likely in the
nation to take part in paid employment.
A recent Productivity Commission
report on government services has
estimated that only 50.8 per cent
of South Australian primary carers
are in paid work, compared with
53.6 per cent nationwide.
Parents have previously told Novita
Client Services staff that caring has
significant impacts on work
participation and career plans.
We know that mothers for example,
take longer to return to paid work after
having a child with a disability and work
fewer hours than mothers of typically
developing children.
For some parents, returning
to work is important for their
well-being as well as their
financial situation.
The Productivity Commission
Disability Care and Support
report found strong evidence
that carers of people with
disabilities have high levels of
psychological distress. The
report suggests that if more
support were provided to carers
to help them return to work, then it
could improve carer well-being.
This has been echoed recently by
Dignity for the Disabled MLC, Kelly
Vincent, who has called for more funding
for disability workers to relieve carers.
“These are intellectual people who
are mostly well qualified and could be
making a valuable contribution to our
society if they didn’t undertake these
caring tasks” she said recently (The
Advertiser, 23/02/2012).
JUGGLING
WORK&
CARE
National Disability Services Australia
estimates that if 20% of Australian
carers returned to work the economic
impact would be around $32 billion.
The Juggling Work & Care
study’s research team includes Dr
Angela Crettenden and Dr Annemarie
Wright from Novita Research &
Innovation, and Prof Barbara Pocock
and Dr Natalie Skinner from the
Centre for Work + Life. It is being
funded by the Channel 7 Children’s
Research Foundation.
The study will provide an
opportunity for parents to
describe their experiences of
looking for, or taking on, paid work, and
things that help them when balancing
work and care.
It will give a snapshot of how many
Novita parents
are in paid or
unpaid
work, types
of alternative
care
arrangements and other supports that
parents find helpful, and parent
well-being and mental health.
An important part of the
Juggling Work & Care study is the
information it will provide about
how caring affects parents
participation in paid work as children
get older.
Parents of young adults who are
clients of Disability Services will also be
invited to fill out the survey to help
complete the picture.
Look out for the Juggling Work &
Care survey pack which will be posted
to all eligible families. The research
team is hoping to hear from all
parents regardless of whether
they are in paid work or not.
The team is especially keen for
fathers and carers who are sole
parents to have a voice as we
know very little about the impacts
of care on their work experiences.
This is your chance to have
someone listen to what you want
to say and for people to
understand your daily work
and care commitments.
The research team hopes that
knowing the things that help or hinder
parents taking on paid work will lead to
better ways for employers and service
organisations to support parents in
their caring role.
If you would like to know more about
the Juggling Work & Care study,
contact Dr Angela Crettenden, on
8243 8292 or Dr Annemarie Wright,
on 8243 8281. The research team looks
forward to sharing the results of the study.
MAGIC MURRAY
CALLING ALL BOATIES
S
A’s biggest charity flotilla down the
River Murray, the West End Mighty
River Run, has been launched for 2012.
Registrations are now open and boaties
throughout the State are digging deep to
take part in this five-day adventure,
cruising for a cause and raising funds
for Novita Children’s Services.
Brainchild of Novita Ambassadors John
Riddell (Channel 7) and Jason ‘Snowy’
Carter (Mix 102.3), South Australia’s
longest and largest floating fundraiser
has raised more than $560,000 over
the past five years.
Up to 40 boats are expected to cast
off from Blanchetown, on 19 November,
passing through Kingston-on-Murray,
Berri, Renmark and Chowilla Station
before docking for the last time at the
end of a packed week in Renmark, on
23 November. Days and nights will be
filled with activities and entertainment.
Funds raised from this year’s
event will go toward building a new
hydrotherapy pool and intensive
rehabilitation complex planned
for Novita’s Regency Park Centre
in Adelaide.
Novita Chief Executive, Glenn
Rappensberg, said Novita’s existing pools
were constructed in 1976 and now need to
be upgraded to enable vital hydrotherapy
to continue into the future.
“The proposed new complex will be a
place for children with disabilities to receive
important hydrotherapy and give them
access to a purpose-built gym and other
equipment designed to
help them receive the best
possible support as part of their
individual therapy programs,” he said.
If you would like to be a part of the
West End Mighty River Run by supporting
the teams with their fundraising or by
entering a boat yourself, go to
www.novita.org.au/riverrun or
contact Novita on 8243 8229.
Celebrate the potential that goes with Cerebral Palsy (CP).
Come to an uplifting seminar on CP where you will hear inspiring
speakers with personal experience of CP. Meet people who know
what it’s like. Hear what they have done to celebrate, embrace
and make a difference for children with CP.
WH0
Parents and carers of children with CP
WHEN
5.30pm for 6.00pm start, Wednesday 1 August 2012
(Estimated finish time 8.30pm)
WHERE
Novita Children’s Services Theatre,
171 Days Road, Regency Park SA 5010
BOOK
$15pp (to cover event costs). Register at www.novita.org.au/cp
by Friday 27 July 2012. Places are strictly limited to 150 people.

6
Our hands are very
important because they tell us so
much about the world around us. By feeling
an object we can tell if it is hot or cold, rough or
smooth, hard or squishy.
But what if our sense of touch doesn’t work as it
should? What would this ‘feel’ like?
Research from around the world suggests that children with
cerebral palsy (CP) feel touch differently to children without CP,
and this may affect how they use their hands.
Researchers from the Women and Children’s Hospital, Flinders
University and the University of South Australia are leading an
important study looking at how children with CP feel touch. The
team, led by Dr Ray Russo from the Women and Children’s
Hospital, is aiming to assess the hands of as many children
with CP aged between 5 and 15 years old as possible. If
you would like to know more about this study,
contact David Hobbs on 8201 3167 or
david.hobbs@flinders.edu.au
UP, UP AND AWAY!
B
uzz Lightyear is helping a
young boy born with a very
rare disease to ride his bike
for the first time.
4-year-old Novita Children’s Services
client, Liam Booby, has been fitted with
a specially created body spinal brace
created by Novita’s orthotists that Liam
and his family have nicknamed a ‘Buzz
Lightyear’ suit because of its similarity
to the outfit worn by the famous Toy
Story character.
It’s now “Up, up and away!”
for young Liam who, for the first
time in his life, is able to ride a
modified bicycle.
He suffers from a very rare form
of muscular dystrophy: limb girdle
muscular dystrophy, that results in
a progressive loss of muscle
strength, especially the shoulder
and hip joints.
Twelve months ago Liam was
able to hold himself upright in a
seated position and then shuffle
on the floor for mobility.
He has lost the muscle
strength to be able to sit
independently and his head and
trunk have become floppy. He
spends most of his time in a
highly modified wheelchair.
How do children with cerebral palsy feel touch?
The creativity of Novita’s
orthotists has changed
Liam’s life for the better. He can
now use a walking frame and sit in
a chair independently with the other
children at his kindergarten.
Liam is a chatty and enthusiastic
young fellow who has much to look
forward to thanks to the support of
Novita and Variety, the Children’s Charity.
Butterflies
are Free
A
n Oscar-winning play (made
into a film starring Goldie
Hawn) will be a feature
fundraiser for Mitcham Auxiliary
of Novita, this August.
Butterflies are Free, a gentle
romantic comedy and winner of
three Broadway awards, will be
presented by St Jude’s Players Inc
on 1 August at 8.00pm, 444
Brighton Road, Brighton. Tickets
$19 or $15 concession. All proceeds
in aid of Novita Children’s Services.
Contact Jocelyn on 8296 4470.
BUDGET
BOOST
FOR
N
ews that the Australian
Government is extending the
Home Interaction Program for
Parents and Youngsters (HIPPY) in
South Australia has been welcomed
by Novita Children’s Services.
“HIPPY sites at Salisbury North,
Davoren Park and Mansfield Park are
already helping parents to develop
their young children’s skills in reading,
writing and numbers before they start
school and in the first year of school,”
Novita Chief Executive, Glenn
Rappensberg said.
Mr Rappensberg said research
has proven that a child who is ‘school
ready’ is far less likely to fall behind in
the classroom, which reduces the
chance of them failing to complete
their education later on.
“But long before children start
school, they are constantly learning
new things from their very first and
most important teachers – their
parents. HIPPY is so effective because
it helps the parents in that role,” he said.
The two-year program helps parents
and their 4 to 5-year-old children in the
year before school and first year of
school. Trained tutors visit the families
at home to show parents how to work
with their children through weekly
activity packs that nurture a love of
learning and build pre-literacy and
IT’S DAD’S BIG DAY OUT
9.30am Sunday 2 September 2012
Botanic Park
Great fun for all the family! Bring your children,
a picnic rug, and Daddy, for a stroll around the
Botanic Gardens as part of Adelaide’s big
annual Walk With Me event. Details will be
available soon at
www.novita.org.au/walkwithme
I
Hippy tutor’s brighter future
By Natasha Miller,
HIPPY Salisbury North Home Tutor
t was a normal Friday morning when
HIPPY came into my life. After taking
my two eldest children to school,
I was headed to the playgroup which I
was coordinating when one of the kindy
staff informed me a lady from Novita
Childrens Services wanted to talk to our
families about a new program that was
to start in our local area.
That morning we welcomed HIPPY
into our playgroup and then into our life.
It wasn’t long before I realised what an
opportunity had just fallen into my lap. I
signed up as a HIPPY family and quickly
applied for a HIPPY Home Tutor position.
Since that normal Friday HIPPY has
changed the lives of my whole family.
Firstly, my youngest, she has blossomed
under the HIPPY program. Her
opportunities to learn have grown as I
learn to generalize our activity learning
into our everyday life. As my confidence
grows, she grows and so do all my children.
Since my eldest was born, 15 years
pre-numeracy skills. The activities are
designed to be carried out as part of
the family’s daily routine.
Salisbury North, Davoren Park and
Mansfield Park are funded by the
Australian Government Department of
ago, I have been a stay at home mum.
My life has revolved around my
children’s activities, kindy, school,
sports and playgroups.
The next 15 years of my life were
looking a bit sad, children growing up,
needing me less and less, and no real job
opportunities. HIPPY has allowed me the
chance to be me, not only my children’s
mother. This has built my self esteem
and allowed me to become a better
parent. HIPPY has given my children the
opportunity to see me in a new way.
Now they see me as a working woman
with hopes and dreams.
But I think the biggest and most
important change HIPPY has brought to
my family is the opportunity to have a
brighter future. Until HIPPY, I didn’t know
what my future held, beyond being a
parent. But now, with the help of my
HIPPY Coordinator Sarah, I have a future
plan. I LOVE HIPPY and will be forever
grateful for this opportunity.
7
Education, Employment
and Workplace Relations
through HIPPY Australia. For information,
about the national program visit
the HIPPY Australia website at
www.hippyaustralia.org.au

8 9
I
t was strictly girls only when
Novita’s New Era Auxiliary
held a memorable evening
in May to share dinner and
laughter at the Hackney Hotel.
Eighty two Auxiliary members
were entertained by former Miss
South Australia Gabrielle Overton
(nee Clark) who spoke of her life
as a “Proudly Passionate South
Australian former Media Identity,
Farmer, Fisher, Fashionista and
Fundraiser. Fun A-Z on Sixty years
of Pathways, Passion,
Perseverance and Prophecy”.
Fashion is a passion for others
and they were catered for when the
Auxiliary staged a fashion parade in
the Perri Cutten store, Unley.
Fashions were by Perri Cutten
and hats by Heather.
Champagne and ribbon
sandwiches were a welcome
accompaniment to a parade of
fashions, modeled by Tanya
Powell Model Agency.
It was all in aid of the more than
2000 children living with disabilities
and special needs in South Australia
who are supported by Novita.
Photo: Chris Lawrie, President,
New Era Auxiliary (right), with Gabrielle
Overton (former Miss SA 1973).
When your wage
is but a smile
S
miles and giggles from a
young child are the only
wages on offer to a dedicated
group of volunteers working to help
transform the lives of youngsters
living with disability on Eyre Peninsula.
Theirs is a unique form of community
service. Many of the children they help
are unable to talk, so they can’t say
thank you, but their delight in taking a
first step or just rolling a ball is the only
payment those volunteers need. They
have made a difference.
These Upper Eyre Peninsula angels
are members of the Port Neill, Cleve &
Districts Auxiliary for Novita Children’s
Services. Together, they spend
hundreds of hours each year raising
money for Novita.
This Auxiliary is one of more than
20 Auxiliary groups across metropolitan
Adelaide and throughout regional
South Australia.
Speaking at the Port Neill, Cleve &
Districts Auxiliary’s Annual General Meeting,
Novita Chief Executive, Glenn Rappensberg
(pictured) said the work of Novita’s
Auxiliaries represented an outstanding
contribution by dedicated individuals
who understood the importance of
helping young people who needed it most.
“Port Neill, Cleve and Districts Auxiliary
has much to be proud of. Founded in
1976 they have raised more than
$600,000 for Novita,” Glenn said.
He paid special tribute to Auxiliary
Secretary and Port Neill local Margory
Head (pictured) whose own son died of
duchenne muscular dystrophy 24 years
ago at the age of 19.
“Margory is a stalwart,” Glenn said.
“Her enthusiasm and dedication to the
cause are exemplary. She has held the
position of Auxiliary Secretary since
1984 and was its inaugural President
for eight years before that. I know that
she continues to work hard and
encourages the younger members to
get behind the many activities the
group arranges for the benefit of
Novita’s young clients.”
Novita’s Regional Service Team
provides support to 37 Lower Eyre and
21 Upper Eyre Peninsula clients aged
from birth to 18 years, their families and
local service providers.
Glenn presented service badges to
a number of Auxiliary members including:
30-year Novita Service Badge
Margaret Eastwood
20-year Novita Service Badge
Karen Quinn (President)
Rose Jenkins
Barbara Shearer
Mary Edwards
Jenny Cook
Molly Henley
15-year Novita Service Badge
Wendy Laing
Mel Quinn
Judith Jackson
10-year Novita Service Badge
Christine Byrne
Amy Allen
Margaret Tait
Kath Barnes
Lisa Cook
Megan Phillips
Megan Cox
N
ovita clients
are playing their
way to London’s
Paralympics in September.
Latest to increase his
chances at winning gold is
budding champion table tennis
player Connor Holdback, who
has returned from the People’s
Republic of China where he
was in preparation for this famous
games event.
A client of Child & Adolescent
Services (South), Connor has been
identified by the Australian Paralympic
Committee and is a member of the
Paralympic Preparation Program,
established to help potential athletes
achieve their Paralympic goals.
Accompanied by Connor’s dad,
Andrew, his contingent travelled to
Nanning, China in April for eight days
of intensive coaching as well as visits
to local training centres and the
provincial table tennis academy.
The boys had a very rewarding
experience, not only learning from local
coaches, but by making
many new
In the 800m freestyle, Julie came 14th
with a time close to her best and nine
seconds quicker than she did at the
Nationals. She also competed in the
200m freestyle and the 400m freestyle,
800m freestyle and the 50m breaststroke.
FINA oversees competition in five
aquatic sports: swimming, diving,
synchronized swimming, water polo
and open water swimming.
“I am a distance swimmer – not a
sprinter,” she says. “These championships
were the culmination of four years’
training, getting up at 5.15 am each
PARALYMPICS
PING PONG
PLAY
friends in the process.
The itinerary consisted of daily
training sessions learning and
practising Chinese coaching methods,
followed by evening sessions of
matches against local players. Despite
warm conditions, Connor coped well
with the rigorous schedule.
During a trip earlier this year to the
Australian National Championships,
Connor won a Silver medal in the
team’s event and a Bronze medal in
the individual event for his class.
Novita’s own
‘superfish’, Director Client Services, Julie
Astley, is now ranked Number 11 in the world after her appearances at
the 14th World Masters Swimming Championships, in Riccione, Italy. Julie’s ranking
applies to the 3km swim which is her favourite event. “I saved the best for last!” Julie says.
“Nearly made my goal of top 10...11th in the world for the 3k still sounds pretty good! I swam it
well, in a fast time, so I have to be happy with that.” In her first race after arriving for the FINA
(International Swimming Federation) Championships, Julie swam nine seconds
ahead of the time she clocked in this year’s Australian National Masters
Swimming Championships.
Novita’s Julie is a ‘superfish’
weekday morning to do laps,” Julie said.
As a teenager she competed
strongly, “just making it into the
national titles.” She left swimming to
give priority to her family and has now
taken up the sport again later in life.
The FINA World Masters
Championships is the Federation’s
biggest competition in terms of
participation, because it welcomes,
every two years, swimmers, divers and
water polo players aged 25 to more
than 100-years-old from all corners of
the globe.
The London Summer Paralympics are
coming in September. The Opening
Ceremony for the inaugural Paralympic
Games was held in Rome on 18
September 1960, with a crowd of
5,000 spectators welcoming 400
athletes from 23 countries, to Rome.
At the 2008 Beijing Paralympic
Games, Australia was placed fourth on
the overall medal tally with 23 gold, 29
silver and 27 bronze medals out of 147
countries. Australian paralympians will
be competing in a number of sports
including boccia, goalball, powerlifting,
wheelchair rugby and others.
Want to know more about Paralympic
sport and sporting opportunities?
Contact Cathy Lambert (SA
Development Coordinator)
08 8415 6802 or email
cathy.lambert@paralympic.org.au
For updated event details visit
www.paralympic.org.au
The vibrant Masters movement
actively promotes fitness, friendship,
understanding and competition
through its five disciplines (swimming,
diving, water polo, synchronised
swimming and open water swimming).
FINA officially created the Masters
movement about 25 years ago, the first
event held in 1986 in Tokyo, Japan.
This year’s event ran from 3-17 June.

10
11
Novita
sporting
stars
Chris Okely
T
he recent edition of the Australian
Paralympic Committee’s ‘Talent
Times SA’, lists the achievements
of South Australians in a variety of
Paralympic sports. Eighteen current
Novita clients are named in this
newsletter with many competing
in sports at a national level.
What an inspiration these people
are. Thank you for showing us that
sometimes what holds us back is only
ourselves. For some more inspirational
scenes, look at this:
http://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=_0t74lT8iBg
Child & Adolescent Service (South)
Brayden Davidson
Nash McLean
Chris Okely
Paralympic Football Bronze medalist at National Championships.
Gold 400m, 800m, Silver 100m, 200m and long jump at Athletics
State Championships.
Paralympic Football Bronze medalist at National Championships.
Paralympic Football Bronze medalist at National Championships.
Sam Paech Gold 1500m, Silver discus, shot put, 400m, Bronze 100m, 200m,
discus (able-bodied competition).
Amy Davies Gold wheelchair 100m, 200m and 400m.
Jesse Aungles
Emily Musitano
Jack Netting
Caleb Crowden
Connor Holdback
Child & Adolescent Service (North)
Jimi Curtis
Darcy Thompson
Sean Docherty
final 50m breastroke at 2012 Australian Swimming Championships.
Attending Sydney for National School Sport Swimming
Championships in July.
Gold and 2x Silver SAPSASA State Swimming Championships.
Attending Sydney for National School Sport Swimming
Championships in July.
2 x Bronze SAPSASA State Athletics Championships.
Bronze medalist at Senior National Boccia Championships.
Silver medal (team) and Bronze medal (singles) at National Table
Tennis Championships. Connor recently travelled to China on a
9-day junior scholarship program to train with top coaches.
Paralympic Football Bronze medalist at National Championships.
Paralympic Football Bronze medalist at National Championships.
Gold: discus, shot put (new U18 Aust record) at
Athletics State Championships.
Jemma Lee Gold: shot put, discus (new U16 Aust record) Silver; 100m,
long jump at Athletics State Championships.
Joshua Grace
Allison Oliver
Regional Services
Ellie McInerney
Lochie Charity
Gold medal at Cross-Country Championships. Silver and Bronze
medals at SAPSASA State Swimming Championships.
3 Bronze medals at SAPSASA State Athletics Championships.
2 Silver medals at SAPSASA State Swimming championships.
Attending Sydney for National School Sport Swimming
championships in July.
3 Gold medals SAPSASA State Athletics Championships.
First
prize
NATIONAL
AWARD FOR
NOVITA
RESEARCHERS
T
wo Novita researchers, Rob
Garrett and Toan Nguyen, have
won first prize for their paper
submitted to the Telecommunications
Journal of Australia as part of the
Journal’s annual Christopher Newell
Prize papers sponsored by Telstra.
The Christopher Newell Prize
recognises and commemorates the
ground-breaking work that the late
Revd Canon Dr Christopher Newell AM
undertook within the telecommunications
industry from 1990 to 2008 in representing
the needs of people with disability.
Rob and Toan’s paper, ‘Together we
can find telecommunication solutions
for people with complex
communication needs’ describes the
development of the community-based
Newell Network (www.newell.org.au),
a Web 2.0 site centred on empowering
individuals with complex communication
needs, their carers and support
organisations. The site enables these
N
individuals to add information on available
telecommunication solutions and be
directed to known applicable resources.
Well done Rob and Toan!
Exciting new project with Disability Services
ovita will be starting an exciting new collaborative project
with Disability Services, funded by the Department for
Communities and Social Inclusion. The project, led by Dr
Angela Crettenden, will explore factors which contribute to parents
of children and young people with disabilities who are clients of
Disability Services placing their child in out-of-home care.
A recent report by the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human
Rights Commission suggests the consequences for children in
being placed in care and their families are severe. The report points
to the role of services in providing early intervention for families
under stress.
Busy time in Physical Rehabilitation
Novita’s Physical Rehabilitation
Program (PRP) has been quick out of
the blocks this year.
They have been arranging and
staffing clinics at the Novita offices in
collaboration with the Rehabilitation
Paediatricians and Orthopaedic
Surgeons from the Women and
Children’s Hospital (WCH).
“Our PRP team has developed
in-depth knowledge about surgery and
best post-operative management to
assist our clients to achieve their
goals,” PRP Service Area Manager,
Sue Bostock, said.
Brett Williams is PRP Team Leader
and a senior physiotherapist. His
expertise includes physical management
after procedures such as surgery or
Botulinum Toxin A injection, gait analysis
and orthotics prescription. Brett has
vast experience at Novita and provides
PRP services to Darwin and Alice Springs
hospital clinics with staff from the WCH.
“We welcomed Kerrie Kuszczakowski,
senior Physiotherapist (PT) to our team
in late 2011,” Sue added. “Kerrie came
from Novita’s Child & Adolescent
Services North team and brings
in-depth PT experience and dynamic
enthusiasm to our team. Abbie
Robinson is also a senior PT in PRP and
has worked in many other Novita
services including the Equipment Service
and Acquired Brain Injury Service.”
PRP Occupational Therapists Angela
Gerhardy, Louise Ganser, Jane Mangos
and Sarah Whisson have specialist
knowledge regarding physical
management of children’s upper limbs.
They work with the Statewide
Occupational Therapists to provide
advice and treatment for children with
complex splinting and upper limb
management. They also attend medical
clinics with the Rehabilitation Paediatricians
to assess and discuss potential for
surgical intervention for the hand and
arm as well as Botulinum Toxin A
injections to muscles in the arm and hand.
“People may have also met our
Occupational Therapists when they
provide assessment and therapy
following Botulinum Toxin A injections
to the arm and hand to optimize the
outcomes of this procedure,” Sue said.
Meanwhile, Speech Pathologists
Emma Grace and Xanthy
Hatzigeorgiou work in a variety of ways
providing clients with specialist advice
and therapy on mealtime management.
“This advice can be done by directly
advising the client and their family or by
providing support to their local Novita
Speech Pathologist,” she said.
“The PRP Speech Pathologists also
host various workshops tailored to school
staff, families and therapists around
mealtime management. Our team works
closely with a dietician and they liaise
frequently with the medical team
ensuring best possible care for our clients.
“We are so happy to welcome Linda
MacGillivray to PRP,” Sue said.
“Linda has more than 30 years of
experience at Novita, working as an
Allied Health Assistant (AHA) and has
also been very involved in supporting
Girl Guide groups and camps for our
clients over many years. Jen Gormly
also works as an AHA in our team and
is very warmly welcomed back to PRP.
Jen has been working with CAS and
Early Childhood Services teams in the
St Mary’s office (SMO) and will
continue to work from both Regency
Park Centre and SMO.
“Karen Mentha is our pool attendant
and works with clients in the pool as
well as managing the daily pool
maintenance regime. Karen teaches
swimming skills to prepare children for
recreational swimming in their
community as well as following
programs devised by our
physiotherapists,” Sue said.

Diary dates
Please visit novita.org.au/events or contact the
Novita Events Team on 8243 8229 for more
information about any of the following events.
Casino Royale Night at Bingo
You only live twice…
So live a little longer, and come dressed to thrill.
It’s Black and White Night at Novita Bingo. Pull
your glad rags on and swing with us for a while.
Cast off your cares and dress like you mean it.
Best dressed will win a great prize.
6pm, Saturday 30 June 2012.
Novita Bingo Hall, Regency Park.
Questers Auxiliary presents
Patrick McMahon concert
6pm, Friday 27 July 2012.
The Links Lady Bay, Normanville.
$70pp including dinner.
Contact Yvonne on 0419 820 046.
Mitcham Auxiliary
“Butterflies are Free” play
8pm, Wednesday 1 August 2012.
444 Brighton Road, Brighton. $19 adult or
$15 concession. Contact Jocelyn on 8296 4470.
Celebrating Potential seminar
5.30pm, Wednesday 1 August 2012. Novita
Regency Park Theatre. $15pp. Register at
www.novita.org.au/cp
Burnside Auxiliary “The Sapphires”
Movie afternoon
3pm, Sunday 12 August 2012.
Regal Theatre (formerly Chelsea). $20pp.
Contact Doody 0419 844 342.
Walk with Me
10am, Sunday 2 September 2012.
Botanic Gardens. www.novita.org.au/walkwithme
Mighty River Run 2012
Monday 19 - Friday 23 November.
Register now call 8243 8229 or go to
www.novita.org.au/riverrun
Novita’s Toy and
Resource Centre
opening hours
Tuesdays 8.30am to 4.30pm
Wednesdays 8.30am to 12.30pm
Thursdays 8.30am to 4.30pm
Novita
Children’s
Services
Hahndorf
Auxilliary
Mrs Aileen
Woolford from
Hahndorf Auxilliary died in April.
Aileen was a member of the
Auxilliary for 28 years and was
President for three years, in 1994,
1998 and 1999.
She was an enthusiastic and hard
working member, always gracious
and encouraging.
Aileen will be greatly missed.
Maxine French, President
For Sale
Piedro boots - Navy blue Nubuck sandal style
2582.5602, width 3, size 28. Good condition.
$100 neg. Contact 0418890607.
2005 Toyota Tarago 98,600km, cruise control,
tinted windows. Reg. XMT-860. $19800 neg.
Contact 0418890607.
Please note: It is your responsibility to check the
suitability for your child of any equipment listed.
Novita app!
It’s now easy to keep up to date anytime,
anywhere with our latest news, upcoming
events and more by downloading our free app
from Apple iTunes or from the Android Market.
Network with Novita
Stay in touch with Novita
through Facebook and
receive daily updates. ‘Like’
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– follow us at
www.twitter.com/novitastar
You can tune in to Novita’s
YouTube channel as well at
http://www.youtube.com/
novitacs
Novita Children’s Services
171 Days Road, Regency Park SA 5010
PO Box 2438 Regency Park SA 5942
T 8243 8243 F 8243 8238
enquiries@novita.org.au
www.novita.org.au
Central Intake Team
15-31 Ayliffes Road, St Marys SA 5042
T 1800 337 443 F 8172 9201
central.intake@novita.org.au
www.novita.org.au/registration
Rehabilitation Service
171 Days Road, Regency Park SA 5010
T 8243 8270 F 8243 8377
rehabilitation@novita.org.au
www.novita.org.au/rehabilitation
Child and Adolescent Service
Northern Office
422 Salisbury Highway,
Parafield Gardens SA 5170
T 8182 1000 F 8182 1010
Southern Office
15-31 Ayliffes Road, St Marys SA 5042
T 8172 9200 F 8172 9201
child&adolescent@novita.org.au
www.novita.org.au/childandadolescent
Early Childhood Service
Northern Office
171 Days Road, Regency Park SA 5010
T 8243 8311
Southern Office
15-31 Ayliffes Road, St Marys SA 5042
T 8172 9200 F 8172 9201
earlychildhood@novita.org.au
www.novita.org.au/earlychildhood
Regional Services
15-31 Ayliffes Road, St Marys SA 5042
T 8172 9200 F 8172 9201
regionalservices@novita.org.au
www.novita.org.au/regionalservices
Editor: Arndrae Luks
T: 08 8243 8234
E: arndrae.luks@novita.org.au
The opinions expressed in Nexus are those of the
individual authors and do not necessarily reflect
the views of Novita Children’s Services. While
every care has been taken in the preparation of
Nexus, the information contained within is of a
general nature only and does not constitute advice.
Articles from Nexus may be reproduced in other
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with written acknowledgement of its source.
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