Download - Novita Children's Services

Fright nighta Bingo thrillerIt was fright night when witches,warlocks, ghouls and scary monstersplayed Novita Bingo on Friday 13 Jan.The creepy players joined a nearrecord crowd of approximately 350people for ‘Black Friday Bingo’ atNovita’s Regency Park Centre.“One of the winners really earnedher cash prize,” says Novita BingoManager, Michael Burgess. “Shespent half her working day incostume and full makeup at theAdelaide courthouse.”If you missed out last time, youhave another chance. Michael isstaging another macabre event onFriday 13 April with a ‘Pimp myBroom’ theme. You will need to‘dress up’ your household broommuch as would ‘trick up’ a motor car.Cash prizes are on offer so don’t miss it.Novita Bingo’s annual EasterParty on 31 March was a runawaysuccess again this year. Hundredsof players swelled the rooms atRegency Park. There will be moreparties at Marion Sports Club, 10.00am, 4 April and another one at theBritish Workingmen’s Club, MorganStreet, Wingfield on 5 April.More information on the Novitawebsite at www.novita.org.au/eventsto your doctor and speech therapist for thecontinued care of your child’s feeding difficulty:• Information about the pressuresgenerated during your child’s swallow• Information from a mealtime observation• Information about your child’s currentnutrition, height and weightYou are under no obligation to take part,however, if you are interested in the studyand would like more information pleasecontact us:Lara Ferris, Speech Therapist8161 6680lara.ferris@health.sa.gov.auLisa McCall, Research Nurse8161 7183lisa.mccall@health.sa.gov.auStamatiki Kritas, Research Scientist8161 6879stamatiki.kritas@health.sa.gov.auEddie getsa BetterStartBy Bek Hall, Eddie’s mother“We decided to enrol Eddiein the Novita Better StartIntensive Program,basically on the advice of our physio.My husband and I figured that itcouldn’t do any harm, so we enrolled.However, we were reluctant to enrolfor two sessions a week as Eddie has avery hectic week already, and reallycouldn’t justify having him out fourdays a week (he was 2 at the time).From the moment we walked intothe “classroom” Eddie loved theenvironment. The group was bothrelaxed and structured. Eddie enjoyedinteracting with the other children, andhaving another perspective on how toapproach his goals was really informative.Once he got used to the routine andthe other children, he settled in really7well. Eddie loves the Better StartIntensive Program (or Little Kindy as hecalls it) Eddie finds the physio to be themost challenging, but each week heimproves and whinges less and lessabout it. For us, the extra speech hasbeen a huge benefit. We have beenworking with a PODD communicationbook for the first time, and this hasmade a huge impact in how hecommunicates with us. Eddie is nowverbalising more, and his speech hasbecome more understandable.Group Therapy has also been a niceintroduction to kindy. Eddie started thisterm, and prior to Group, I was worriedabout how he would cope with a verystructured group, and working withother children that he didn’t know.Eddie is loving having the routine, andthe two terms of group we haveattended have helped us start to getmentally ready for the education system.Eddie has changed so much sincestarting ‘Little Kindy’. He is moreconfident, has better lower trunkcontrol and is now very empoweredthanks to the PODD.”Editor’s Note: The Better start Intensiveprogram is held at Regency Park Centre1-2 mornings per week. Experiencedtherapists work together to providephysiotherapy, occupational therapy andspeech pathology in an intensive groupsetting. For more information on theBetter Start Intensive Program please callour Central Intake Team on 1800 337 443.