Connecting kids with their worlds for more than 70 years. - Novita ...

New Director Client Services
N
ovita’s new Director Client
Services, Julie Astley, is relishing
her new job at Novita.
“I want to have a positive impact on
a greater number of children and their
families in helping them connect with
their worlds in a way that just has not
been possible in previous positions
that I have held,” Julie says.
“I believe the diversity of my experience
in the commercial and not-for-profit
sectors will enable me to introduce a
variety of approaches that can be used
to assist kids to achieve their potential.”
Julie’s expertise is significant. In a
career spanning 25 years, she has
occupied senior leadership, management
and clinical physiotherapy positions in local
and international government, not-for-profit
and private health organisations.
During the past nine years, Julie has
enjoyed proven success within the private
children’s health
sector in Adelaide
as founder of
Child’s Play
Physiotherapy
& Aquatics for
Kids. Child’s
Play started in
January 2002 with Julie as its
sole practitioner. It has grown through the
skills of Julie, along with the talents and
skills of physiotherapists and practice
management and support staff,
to provide physiotherapy, hydrotherapy
and swim instruction services to more than
200 special needs children each week.
From 1995-2000 Julie was Allied Health
Divisional Chief at the Women’s &
Children’s Hospital. This involved the
strategic leadership and management
of more than 200 staff in the fields of
Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Occupational
Therapy, Social Work, Speech
Pathology and Orthotics.
Julie’s clinical and business system
interest in the fields of children’s health,
education and disability started in her
two-year tenure at Methodist Hospital
Rehabilitation Institute in West Texas.
During 1993-1995 Julie held several
positions including Director of Outpatient
Services and Lead Physiotherapist.
She brings to her new role a
comprehensive understanding of the
importance of enhancing Novita’s
professional relationships with key players
in the childhood disability service industry.
Asked what she would like to have
achieved within her first 12 months, Julie
responded by saying she wanted to identify
the strengths of Novita Children’s Services.
Julie said she would like to seek out
opportunities for improving and building
on those strengths by working with Client
Services to develop staff action plans
which would enhance Novita’s service
delivery within the health, education and
disability arenas.
Christmas delights and treats for Novita youngsters
C
hristmas fairies, ice cream, face
painters and dancers lit up the
faces of dozens of youngsters at
Novita’s annual Client Christmas Party at
Regency Park Centre.
Queues to see Santa snaked all the way
from his den along corridors and around
corners and finally out the front door of
Novita’s main entrance at Regency Park.
Everybody wanted to say hello and put in
their special order for Christmas Day.
Novita staff, together with volunteers,
worked on barbecues and stalls handing out
a colourful assortment of fruit, jellies and
slices of bread wrapped around hot brown
sausages splashed with loads of sauce.
Entertainment by dancers, musicians
and pony rides rounded out a joyful, warm
afternoon that started at 4.00 pm and
ended at 7.00 pm. Giggling children ran
around clutching show bags generously
donated by major Christmas Party sponsor
Robern Menz.
Novita Chief Executive, Glenn
Rappensberg, thanked the sponsors who
helped make the day a resounding success.
“Two other people who really need to be
thanked are Chris Watson, who sourced a
significant donation to fund the event when
he approached his peers in industry and
who was also responsible for all the
packaged food and lollies with his wife,
Sue Watson, President of the New Era
Auxiliary, both great supporters of Novita,”
Glenn said.
“I would like to thank also Phil Sims,
Managing Director of Robern Menz, a long
time supporter of Novita, both through this
event and Bingo. For our Children’s
Christmas Party he provided 400
showbags that were selling for $20
at the Royal Show – all at no charge.
He also gave great support to Carols
by Candlelight of which Novita was
a beneficiary.
“Michael Evans, from Noises, one of our
entertainers, significantly discounted his
show in support of Novita. And our
gratitude is extended to Mosaic Audio
Visual, who supplied all the sound
equipment free of charge. I must mention
also Broadway for Kids who performed
free of charge,” Glenn said.
“We can’t wait to do it all again next year.”
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