TeenZone Expands To - Novita Children's Services

2Catch up withClient ServicesMessage from the Director,Client ServicesTeenZone expands to Adelaide’s southTeenZone, Novita’s vacation careprogram for teenagers living with adisability and their siblings,launched its TeenZone South program inthe July school holidays.TeenZone South will continue duringschool holiday periods at HamiltonSecondary College on Marion Road atMitchell Park, with 15 places availableeach day. 23 young people attendedacross the two weeks of the July holidays,which was a great start for a program thathas so far had little formal promotion.The new program was a resoundingsuccess, with Hamilton SecondaryCollege reporting that Outside SchoolHours Care Program Leader MoniqueAzzopardi and her “thoroughlyprofessional” team were responsible for“a job very well done”.TeenZone’s funding has beenextended for a further three years,suggesting a very bright future for thisinnovative program. For enquiries andenrolments, please contact MoniqueAzzopardi on 8243 8282 in office hours.After nearly 10 years at Novita, itis time for me to move on toanother role. I will be leavingNovita on 17 September to take up therole of Chief Executive Officer at Leveda,a non-government organisation whichprovides accommodation, respite andcommunity support services for adultswith disabilities.It has been a privilege to work atNovita and I have been fortunate to bepart of such an effective and committedteam within Client Services and thebroader leadership team at Novita. Inparticular, I want to acknowledge theleadership and support of GlennRappensberg, Chief Executive.I have been so often inspired by theachievements and efforts of our clientsand have learnt much from clients andfamilies over the years. I wish all Novitaclients and families well, and thank youfor the opportunity to work with and foryou over the past 10 years.Warm regards,Wendy Wake-DysterNew southern officeWe are excited to announce thatNovita has reached the finalstage of securing newpremises for Novita’s southern office,which we hope will be operational fromearly 2011.Our new southern premises willcombine services from the currentParkside and Christies Beach offices,accommodating Child and AdolescentService (CAS) South, RegionalServices, Inclusion Support, EarlyChildhood Services (ECS) South, andEquipment Services South.The new office will provide greaterstaffing efficiency, and based oninformation obtained throughdemographic modelling, will achieve areduced average travel time for therapistsattending home and school visits, as wellas for families visiting the office.Before we move in, the premisesrequire internal fit-out to meet Novita’sneeds. The new office will provide alarge Early Intervention room forgroups and training, clinic and splintingrooms, and designated off-street carparking for clients/ families.As the Parkside office lease expiresin October and the new office will notbe ready until early next year, staff fromParkside will take up temporary officeaccommodation from the week of 29September 2010 until that time.Temporarily, CAS South staff will belocated at either the Paradise or theChristies Beach office, and RegionalServices and Inclusion Support staffwill be located at Regency Park Centre.As some Parkside staff already workacross more than one office, they willremain at their alternative location.The timeframe for EquipmentServices South and ECS South tomove from Christies Beach to the newpremises has not yet been established,but will occur prior to April 2011.Families who receive services fromstaff at the Parkside office will receivean individual letter advising how tomake contact and where to accessservices. If you have any queries,please contact your Team Leader orService Area Manager.

31 2 3 45 6 7 8Brain Injury Awareness WeekAchievement & Service Excellence Awards 2010Brain Injury Awareness Week washeld nationwide from 16-22August. In South Australia, theBrain Injury Network of SA (BINSA)presented its annual Achievement andService Excellence Awards in aceremony at 70 Light Square, Adelaideon Friday 20 August. Six Novita clients,the Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) therapistteam and Novita’s ABI speechpathologist received awards during thisinspirational afternoon.1) Andre Lang“Andre started primary school at thebeginning of 2010, and is constantlysurprising staff and therapists with theprogress he has made in his behaviour,language, speech, computer and socialskills! He is a joy to work with and it hasbeen a pleasure to see his progressthus far.”2) Mitchell Hodgkinson“Fourteen-year-old Mitchell has workedhard to overcome many difficultiessince his accident two years ago, andhas matured, becoming much moreresponsible and considerate of others.He has also taken part in an aerosol artproject on two occasions, where hisexcellent work has been exhibited. Hisartworks are now on display in Novita’sABI department.”3) Aramis Keros“With the support of his family andschool, 10-year-old Aramis has recentlyreturned to full-time school and ismaking great social and academicprogress. He has demonstratedpersistence and a positive attitudetowards his rehabilitation.”4) Claudia Banks“Eleven-year-old Claudia had a bleed inher brain in mid 2009. Since cominghome from two months in hospital,Claudia has had regular Novitaphysiotherapy and occupational therapyto work on her walking, running andsports skills. Claudia is a delightful girlwho is always willing to try new thingsand puts in effort whenever required.”5) Phoebe Rutter“Since having a brain tumour removedin July 2009, three-year-old Phoebehas progressed from using a walker towalking independently, using twohands together to play and createsome wonderful works of art. Phoebehas demonstrated great courage andpersistence for such a young child!”6) Jae GoodridgeJae has started high school this yearand has settled in well. He is workinghard to improve his organisationalskills and keep on top of his schoolwork. Jae has received lots of positivefeedback from people around him –a reward for all the hard work he’s putin over the last few months!7) Tamara KellyTamara is the sole speech pathologistin Novita’s ABI service, and receivedher award for her excellence in speechpathology.8) Novita’s ABI teamNovita’s ABI team was nominated fortheir award by Liz Hayball and PhilRutter, the parents of Phoebe Rutter,for “working to ensure the bestoutcomes and environment for ourdaughter to develop and build herphysical and mental energy, with thegoal achieved of Phoebe’s attendanceat kindy in Term 2”.

4Equipment ProvisionAjoint project between theDepartment of Families andCommunities (DFC) and Novitahas been conducted over the past 10months to streamline our equipmentprovision processes. These changes arecurrently being introduced and willbecome more apparent over the comingmonths. One of the changes which hasalready occurred is that the DFC use theDomiciliary Equipment Service (DES),which will be responsible for purchasing,recycling, repairing, maintaining anddelivering DFC-funded equipment toclients across South Australia.Novita will continue to work closelywith DES to improve these services,and while DES manages large stores ofrefurbished equipment, the Novitastore will continue to hold many of thechildren’s equipment items.Novita therapists will continue towork with clients and families to assesstheir equipment needs and developdetailed prescriptions.What does this mean for clients andtheir families? We are in the earlystages, but working with DES to enablethe following services:• Some standard equipment will beavailable without waiting for fundingapproval, following application fromyour therapist and check of stores• Modification to existing equipmentwithout waiting for funding approval• Fast “turn around” for equipmentcollection and delivery• Using DES for cleaning, repairs andsome modifications to equipment,and to order and purchase DFCfunded equipmentPlease note that therapist assessmentsare vital to this provision process andrequests will be managed as efficientlyas possible, in order of urgency, withineach service area.If you have unused equipment items,please call the Novita Store (ph: 82438302) or email equipment@novita.org.au to arrange for collection and returnto the store. Thanks for your help inmaking sure we are making the most ofour resources!Please talk to your therapists if youhave questions about equipment.Feedback regarding equipmentprovision processes can be sent viaemail to equipment@novita.org.au orequipment.feedback@dfc.sa.gov.auFor information regarding Novita’sEquipment Service, please call8329 2025.Sue BostockNovita’s Equipment ServiceArea ManagerCerebral PalsyAwareness Week:Novita’s ‘A day in thelife of a therapist’online campaign1-7 August was Cerebral PalsyAwareness Week acrossAustralia. Novita recognised theweek through an onlinecampaign about the many andvarying activities happeningwith our clients who live withcerebral palsy, inside andoutside our offices. Aiming tocapture snapshots of ‘a day inthe life of a Novita therapist’,candid images and informativecaptions were shared withNovita’s supporters and theSouth Australian communitythrough Facebook and Twitter.Lots of positive and supportivefeedback was evoked by theimages, which included imagesof a Splashers hydrotherapysession, walker clinic,playgroup, and even theRegional Services’ team’sroadtrip to Woomera!The Cerebral PalsyAwareness Week online albumcan still be viewed at Novita’sFacebook page (search for:Novita Children’s Services),and Twitter page(www.twitter.com/novitastar).Transitioning to adult services, or... what happens after Novita?Novita’s Child and AdolescentService has been holdinginformation sessions aboutmaking a smooth transition to adultdisability services, for clients aged15½ to 17 years old.The sessions are aimed at helpingfamilies understand their choices fordisability services after Novita.Each session features a mini expo ofpopular adult disability services,brochures about services plus plenty ofdiscussion and question time.The details of the next session are:Tuesday 21 SeptemberThe BillabongNovita’s Parafield Gardens Office,422 Salisbury Highway,Parafield Gardens (entrance at rearof building)6pm - 7pm Mini Expo7pm – 8.30 Disability SA& Novita presentations.Minimum numbers are required tohold the session, so for moreinformation or to RSVP, please callNovita’s Parafield Gardens Office on8182 1000.We look forward to seeing you there!

5SportsABILITY ExpoOn Friday 16 July, a group ofNovita clients and their siblingsattended a one-hour clinic at StJay’s Recreation Centre in Salisbury,using the Australian SportsCommission’s SportsABILITY Kit. Thiswas a joint venture between Novita’sConnectABILITY and SalisburyCouncil’s Salisbury Connect programs.The kit includes:• Boccia (Paralympic sport) -A bowls-type target game playedat the Paralympics, suitable forall abilities.• Goalball (Paralympic sport) - Anexciting invasion game developed forplayers who have a vision impairment.• Sitting volleyball (Paralympic sport)- A sport for players who cannotparticipate in standing volleyball.• Polybat - An accessible version oftable tennis, particularly useful foryoung players who have coordinationand control impairments.• Table cricket - A dynamic tableversion of cricket for players of allabilities, but specifically those withcomplex or higher support needs.• Tee ball - A striking, fielding, throwing,catching and movement game easilymodified for a range of abilities.• Hockey - A dynamic invasion gamewith adapted rules and equipment.• Targeting and bean bag games - Arange of individual, cooperative andcompetitive games.The limited amount of time meant thata restricted number of activities fromthe SportsABILITY kit were used duringthe clinic, but all the children had agreat time learning new games, orvariations of familiar ones.Many thanks to Corey McLean fromSalisbury Connect and his staff ofcoaches for supplying theSportsABILITY kit and running the clinic.If you missed the Expo, a SportsABILITYkit is available to borrow throughNovita’s Toy and Resource Centre.For more information aboutConnectABILITY or to register as avolunteer, please contact Emily Ayles,ConnectABILITY Recreation Officer, on(08) 8172 9200 or emailemily.ayles@novita.org.au.You can also check out theConnectABILITY page on Novita’s website,which has a link to the ‘Events andActivities’ page where you’ll find updatedinformation on community recreationopportunities: www.novita.org.auShowdown fever at Regency Park Centre!On Friday 23 July, Port Adelaidecoach Matthew Primus andAdelaide coach Neil Craig heldtheir pre-match press conference atNovita’s Regency Park Centre, aheadof Showdown XXIX. Retiring Port starJosh Carr, plus the clubs’ mascotsThunder and Charles Crow, camedown too, to say hi to some veryexcited Novita kids.Thank you to the Crows and Port for avery memorable visit, as well asShowdown sponsor Balfours for bringingyummy Showdown donuts for everyone!A short video of the afternoon’shighlights can be viewed atwww.novita.org.auMatthew Reinertsen meetsPort’s Josh CarrNeil Craig poses for a photo withChase Peerman and mum Katrina

6TheWellbeingFiestaSunday 17 October,10.30am – 3.30pmThe Shores Function Centre,West BeachAn opportunity tohaveyour sayabout disability reformThe Wellbeing Fiesta is CarerSupport’s official event duringCarers Week.Carers and the people they care forwill enjoy a day of fun, relaxation andinformation where they can:• Indulge in a massage or makeover• Attend cooking orgardening sessions• Enjoy music and danceperformances• Try a craft or activities like yoga,tai chi or pilates• Grab a goodie bag• Win a prize• Enjoy a scrumptious morning teaand lunch• Browse the information stands.Entry Adults $12.50,children aged 10-17 $5,children under 10 are free.RSVP is essential and carers mustbe registered with CarerSupport. Please RSVP byFriday 24 Septemberby contactingCarer Support Adminon 8379 5777,and advise of any specialdietary requirements.Respite available.The Social Inclusion Unit of SouthAustralia wants your views in itsplan to develop a ‘blueprint’ forthe long-term reform of the waysupport for people with a disability isprovided in South Australia.On 10 December 2009, the SouthAustralian Minister for Disability,Jennifer Rankine, and Social InclusionCommissioner, Monsignor DavidCappo, announced in a press releasethat Premier Mike Rann and theMinister for Disability had askedMonsignor Cappo and the SocialInclusion Unit to develop a blueprint forthe long-term reform of the waysupport for people with a disability isprovided in South Australia.The blueprint will outline a planthat will:- speed up the development of betterconnected disability services, wherethe focus is on the individual needsof people living with a disability, andthe role of carers and families ismore effectively recognised andsupported across government- join up all government services sothat people living with a disability arebetter supported during keytransition points in their lives, suchas education to employment andemployment to retirement- enhance dignity, independence andparticipation, including wherepossible, choice of one’s ownservice funding, and- better respond to the factors fuellinggrowth in demand for disability services.The Social Inclusion Unit’s review of thecurrent systems has begun, andstatewide community meetings on thisimportant topic have been held duringAugust and September.Novita encourages clients, familymembers and carers to attend theremaining sessions to activelycontribute their views and assist withthe development of the reform plan.Monday 20 September,10:30am to 12:30pmBerri Senior Citizens HallWednesday 22 September,11am to 1pmMurray Bridge Murray Bridge TAFEThursday 23 September,11am to 1pmKangaroo Island Kingscote HallTo RSVP for a session, please contactthe Social Inclusion Unit for furtherdetails on (08) 8226 2314 or emailsocialinclusion@saugov.sa.gov.auTo receive e-bulletin updates on theprogress of the work of blueprintdevelopment, register your details atthe Social Inclusion Unit’s website:www.socialinclusion.sa.gov.au