Download - Novita Children's Services

2Siblingworkshopscould help your familyHaving a brother or sister with adisability can be tough at times.Parenting children with adisability and managing relationshipsbetween brothers and sisters can alsobe very challenging.Novita will be conducting workshopsfor parents and siblings during the Aprilschool holidays to explore some ofthese issues facing brothers andNEW PRESIDENTCEREBRAL PALSY AUSTRALIACerebral Palsy Australia -the national peak body oforganisations working withpeople with cerebral palsy (CP) orsimilar disabilities, and their carers- has a new President: NovitaChildren’s Services Chief Executive,Glenn Rappensberg.CP is a physical disabilityaffecting movement, and is causedby an injury to the brain, usuallybefore birth. Cerebral PalsyAustralia has provided a nationalvoice for CP awareness since 1952.Mr Rappensberg said he washonoured to be elected to serve theorganisation as its new President.“I see my appointment as anopportunity to work with the nationalsisters and their parents.At the Parents’ Workshop, parentswill be able to consider the experienceof siblings and discuss in a supportiveenvironment a range of strategies thatcan help strengthen family connections.It is open to all parents/carers ofNovita clients who would like to learnmore about the needs and experiencesof siblings.body to make a contribution to theadvancement of research andsupport for a condition that,according to a 2007 AccessEconomics Report, has a higherdisability burden than being blind,deaf, having severe asthma,or diabetes,” he said.There is no pre-birth test for CP,and there is no cure. In Australia,around 600 to 700 infants are bornwith CP each year.Mr Rappensberg said that, with33,000 Australians living with CP, itwas vital that there be a nationalfocus on the promotion andadvancement of the rights, interests,welfare and social inclusion ofpeople with CP.The Siblings Workshop will helpbrothers and sisters of Novita clients toexplore what it is like to be a sibling ofa child with a disability. There will belots of fun activities and opportunitiesto get to know other children who are ina similar situation The workshop is bestsuited for children 8 -14 years of age.Both workshops will be held at anorthern and a southern venue.Thursday 19 AprilNorth (Tyndale College, 50 FernGrove Boulevard, Salisbury East)Friday 20 AprilSouth (Hamilton Secondary College,815 Marion Road, Mitchell Park)At the end of the day there will be ashared tea for all the family and staffinvolved in the programs. The workshopswill be run by Novita’s trained staff. Allof this is FREE for Novita clients andtheir families. A Family Service Coordinatorcan assist families to arrange care forNovita clients while their parent/carerattends the parent workshop.The 2011 workshops were agreat success – 21 siblings in totalattended while their parents attendedthe parent workshops. The siblings hada great time and learned valuable skills.“I got to know other siblings andlearn about what they were goingthrough” - Georgia A“It was awesome” - Michael“It was fun and I met lotsof people” – HarryTo register your interest and save aplace for your family, please callMelanie Dickson at the ParafieldGardens office on 8182 1000 beforeTuesday 10 April.