LeagueNews - Cerebral Palsy League

Sunshine CoastUpdateRECENTLY the Child andFamily Support Services Teamat the Sunshine Coast officein Nambour underwentseveral staff changes.As a result, it has three newteam members: ProgramCoordinator, Mellisa Dunphy,Social Worker, ChristineHegerty, and AdministrationAssistant, Joanne Griffiths.Its In-Home Coordinator,Michelle Knights announcedher resignation recently, afterseveral years of service.The League and the SunshineCoast Team wish Michelle allthe very best in her futureendeavours.MealtimeConsultancy ServiceFEBRUARY saw the firstMealtime Consultancy Service(MCS) at Nambour, whichaimed to provide aninterdisciplinary teamassessment of mealtimeskills.Oral skills, swallow abilityand self-feeding skillswere observed and anassessment completed withrecommendations made inregard to feeding equipment,positioning and textures.Three families attended thefirst MCS and a second will beheld on 8 May.Organisers hope to hold MCSseach term.These include SpeechPathologists, OccupationalTherapists, Physiotherapistsand Social Workers, as well asSenior Therapist Teamrepresentatives, Katy Caynesand Annabelle Marozza.Commonwealth HealthDietician, Deb Paterson wasalso involved.Solving the Mystery:Transition to highschool groupSTUDENTS helped solve themystery when they attended the MtGravatt office earlier this year, toparticipate in the program: Solvingthe Mystery, which providedinformation and skills buildingactivities for students starting gradeeight.The group covered topics such aswhat high school was like, problemsolving, friendships, assertiveness,peer pressure and how to relax andlook after themselves. This wasdone through activities with adetective theme as well asmeetings and friendship forming.VolunteersLEAGUE Volunteer for the MoorookaDay Service, Margaret Beckettrecently sustained injuries includinga cracked sternum, in a serious caraccident.Ms Beckett volunteered, twice a weekfor more than three and a half years,to share her knowledge and skills incraftwork with people attending theDay Service.With a technical tutoring backgroundin dressmaking, Ms Beckettsometimes brought her overlocker, ortook items home for completion whenthings became busy during the annualpreparations for the client’s stall at theMoorooka Street Festival.The League sends Margaret bestwishes for a speedy recovery as hercontribution is sorely missed.Jeanette Campbell’s contribution isalso most appreciated at theMoorooka Day Service, where shehas volunteered her time every weekfor the past two years.Ms Campbell said she and Leagueclient, Olive May, “togetheraccomplish something important”,when she assists her to keep in touchwith her family and friends by writingletters and sending emails, as well asreceiving correspondence in return.“It’s a time when we have funtogether,” Ms May said of herrelationship with Ms Campbell.Students reported feeling morepositive about their first week athigh school having learnedsomething useful.A follow up session will be held toreview their experiences duringTerm One.Solving the Mystery will be offeredagain in the Easter school holidaysto students in grade eight.Students who met with difficultiesduring Term One or who areinterested in making friends andlearning new skills may benefitfrom the program.For further information, contact:Child & Family Support ServicesPh: 07 3347 7200lbrooker@cplqld.org.au“When I get tired, Jeanette types whatI say.”“We are very close,” she said.Centre-based Day ProgramFacilitator, Pedro Guillen-Cordondescribed Ms Campbell and MsBeckett as an amazing support.“Everyone here enjoys their companyand looks forward to their arrival eachweek,” Mr Guillen-Cordon said.“They are valued members of theservice.”For volunteering enquiries or receivingassistance from a volunteer, contact:The Volunteer CoordinatorPh: 07 3358 8008jpanter@cplqld.org.auEnjoying special times: (left to right)League client, Olive May with Volunteer,Jeanette Campbell at the Moorooka DayService.8