Inside - Novita Children's Services

2When play is3all that mattersWhen just growing up needs help continued...“We talked about a number of thingsduring the course of the workshop butkey issues included:• Providing siblings with information attheir level about the disability andwhat it means for the child with thedisability but also for other membersof the family. If children don’tunderstand they are likely to makeup their own interpretations for whatis happening.• Listening to what children say and2011 National Paralympic 7-a-side Football ChampionshipsBy Darcy ThompsonThis year was the first time theNational Paralympic 7-a-sideFootball Championships wereheld in SA. With our new soccer coachin charge and many months of trainingbehind us, we were hoping for our SAteam to do better than its ‘demolition’by the eastern states last year.Led by SA captain, Tom Goodman,we all arrived at West Beach where westayed for three days and nights withthe interstate teams. It’s a fantasticopportunity to catch up with old andnew opponents both on and off thesoccer ground.As it turned out, we were much morecompetitive on the field than previousyears, helped along by new recruitswho have joined us over the past fewmonths. We played the first gameagainst Victoria and although we lost3-1 we were unlucky and the resulttrying to ‘walk in their shoes’.• Giving siblings permission to talkabout the difficult feelings theymight experience.• Helping siblings learn ways tomanage their feelings.• Sharing as a family ways to copewith difficult situations such asstaring or teasing.• Providing children and parentswith relevant books about siblingexperiences (the Novita library hascould easily have turned into a 2-2draw. I played most of the game butnear the end I was knocked to theground full pelt and injured my arm,which put me out for the next two games.The matches against Queenslandand NSW were lost but not becauseof a lack of trying. All of our teamput in huge efforts against bigger,older, more experienced players.Games that we lost at previouschampionship by 10 goals werenow lost by only a few goals.We were looking forward to our nextgame against Victoria which turned outto be a really exciting contest. Wescored an early goal and later they gota dodgy penalty and kicked a goal toensure a draw. Then we played NSWagain and lost.The last day arrived. We were in theplay-off for a bronze medal and oncemore we had to play the Vics. The firsthalf was very tight and so was thesome and the Siblings Australiawebsite also includes lists ofrelevant age-appropriate books).• Ensuring that siblings takepart in community activities”.Novita plans to hold these workshopsagain in the second week of the Aprilschool holidays in 2012.To register your interest in theseworkshops or for further informationtelephone Melanie Dickson,Parafield Gardens Office, 81821000.second half until the Victorian captainscored a fluke goal, then he gotanother break and slammed though agoal. So, we lost 2-nil, but last year inthe bronze we were eight goals downwhen I stopped counting. So we aregetting much, much better.NSW won the championship afterthe match went to a penalty shoot-out.NSW was rapt and Queenslandwas devastated.It was a good week, especially beingaway from school. Although we have agreat rivalry, particularly with Victoria,we enjoyed catching up with all theteams. We will train and work hard fornext year’s event.Special thanks go to our coachJono, from Football Federation SA,and to Cathy from the ParalympicCommittee. Thanks as well to our teamphysio, Julie, for forcing us to get into afreezing pool after each game and forstrapping my injured arm.Kicking a ball, playing on aswing or just running arounda playground are things mostchildren take for granted, but thereare those for whom it is not so easy.Children with disabilities enjoy playas much as any child. Novita’sConnectABILITY program ensuresthat they can.ConnectABILITY provides aspecialised, supportive and practical‘link-up’ service between children withdisabilities and community sportinggroups. It helps break down barriersand open doors to a range of newrecreation and sporting possibilities.The ConnectABILITY page onNovita’s website contains informationon various opportunities, includinglinks to useful relevant recreationwebsites. This information is updatedon a weekly basis.It includes activities such as musicprograms, surfing, golf, tennis, cricket,soccer, netball and more. Go towww.novita.org.au. If you would like tovolunteer or you would like furtherinformation, contact Joy Marshall,ConnectABILITY Recreation Officer, on8172 9200 or joy.marshall@novita.org.auTennis ClinicThe Australian Paralympic Committeerecently combined with Tennis SA tohold a tennis program at TanundaTennis Club for participants with aphysical disability.Three Novita clients took part in thesix-week program and had a great timewhile learning new tennis skills. Theywere Brodie Healy, Jack Braunack andJoshua Grace.Are you looking for a unique andeasy way to support NovitaChildren’s Services, and love agood bargain?Novita has recently partnered withSoul Deal, South Australia’s new,socially responsible online group buyingchoice for businesses and consumers.Offering great daily discounted dealson South Australian services, productsand experiences such as restaurantmeals, spa and salon treatments,events and outdoor activities, Soul Dealsplits its per deal income significantlywith its charity partners, providingcharities a cost-free, no risk method ofincome generation.When you sign up to Soul Deal,select Novita Children’s Services asyour charity of choice, purchase agreat deal, and Novita will benefit also.How does it work?When you visit www.souldeal.com.auand register for free, select NovitaChildren’s Services as your charity ofchoice and receive daily deals straight toyour inbox. If you like the deal, you canchoose to buy it by safely and securelyuploading your credit card details.When you buy a Soul Deal, you notonly save money and get to enjoy theexperience, product or service, apercentage of your spend is given toNovita. The amount of money that iscontributed to the charity from eachSoul Deal is clearly displayed on the‘Today’s Deals’ page on the websiteand on your voucher.Sign up today, select Novita Children’sServices as your charity of choice. Themore you save on Soul Deals, the moreyou are supporting Novita.www.souldeal.com.au