14 February 2012
You can contribute by email to one of these updates.
In this update you will find news about:
Summer Disco at Angle Park
Para Canoe Talent Search
What will happen when it becomes harder to care for my child?
Free pre-retirement expo
2012 Mt Gambier Disability & Ageing Expo—postponed
Changes to Better Access program increase mental health support
QMS Quality Forum
Annual Pacific Rim International Conference on Disability and Diversity
Adult Child Maintenance
Online video service brings treatment to children with disabilities
SA Community News
SACOSS bulletin
Summer Disco at Angle Park
A fun, inclusive night of music and dancing for adults with disability, their carers and friends.
When: Friday 17 February from 5.30pm to 8pm
Where: Parks Centre, Cowan Street, Angle Park
Cost: $5 with light supper included
Bookings: Call 8243 5623
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Para Canoe Talent Search
Canoe SA, with the support of Wheelchair Sports SA and the Australian Paralympic Committee, will be holding a
Come and Try and
Talent Search opportunity in Para Canoe; the newest event on the Paralympic program.
When: 19 February from 10am to 12:30pm
Where: Aquatic Reserve, Bower Road, West Lakes
Cost: Free
Bookings: Pre-registration is required. Contact Ian Heard (Development Coordinator Canoe SA) on 8240 3294 or 0417 081 426 or email: canoesa1@canoesa.asn.au
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What will happen when it becomes harder to care for my child?
Six workshops for older carers of adults with disability run by UnitingCare Wesley as part of their Planning in Partnership Program. Topics include legal issues, making a will, care plans, carer support, respite, advocacy. Carers can come to all sessions or only those most relevant to their situation. Respite and transport available if required.
When: Starts 29 February, 10am to 12.30pm
Where: Plympton
Cost: Free
Bookings: Contact Kay (North and West metro) 8346 8329 or 1800 052 222 or Vicki (South and East metro) 8379 5777 or 1800 052 222
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Free pre-retirement expo
Living Life to the Fullest expo—A community event for people who are over 50, retired or planning retirement.
When: Wednesday 29 February from 11am to 3pm
Where: Playford Civic Centre, 10 Playford Boulevard, Elizabeth
Cost: Free
Learn more: Call Jodie on 8256 0241 or email jblake@playford.sa.gov.au
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2012 Mt Gambier Disability & Ageing Expo—postponed until 1 June
The date of the Mt Gambier Disability and Ageing Expo has been changed from Friday 23 March 2012 to Friday 1 June 2012. Registrations for exhibitors will now close on 1 May 2012.
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Changes to Better Access program increase mental health support
In the 2011-12 Budget, the Commonwealth Government brought in changes to the Better Access program. The number of rebatable therapy sessions was reduced. This month, the Government has made an additional six services available to people in ‘exceptional circumstances’ for a transitional period from 1 March to 31 December 2012.
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QMS Quality Forum
QMS invites you to this exciting one-day forum for all Health and Community Services with a desire to develop excellent organisations, services and programs. Come and hear key speakers on the quality challenges for Health and Community Services and find out about continuous improvement, accreditation options and quality choices. See the new QMS Quality Portal in action, aimed at helping to manage the accreditation and compliance jungle online.
When: 15 March 2012
Where: Pavilion on the Park, South Terrace, Adelaide
Cost: $165
Bookings: QMS Website
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Annual Pacific Rim International Conference on Disability and Diversity
The conference will bring together academics, community leaders, self-advocates, specialists and government officials. The conference will also include the International Forum on the Human Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
When: 26 and 27 March 2012
Where: Honolulu, Hawaii
Cost: $315 early bird rate (rising to $340 after 3 March)
Learn more: Conference Website
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Adult Child Maintenance
Under the Family Law Act, an adult child (or a parent/carer) can seek financial support from his or her parents if the adult child is completing his or her education, or has a mental or physical disability.
For free telephone advice, please phone the Child Support Helpline on 8463 3576 or email childsupportunitsa@sa.gov.au.
The Child Support Unit is part of the Legal Services Commission of South Australia and operates independently of the Child Support Agency. You can make a face-to-face appointment if you wish.
Information is also available on the website or on Facebook
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Online video service brings treatment to children with disabilities
A government initiative will mean that more children with hearing or vision impairment living in regional and remote Australia will be able to talk to a specialist right from their living rooms. The Federal Government is investing $4.9M over three years to deliver this initiative.
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SA Community News
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SACOSS bulletin
The latest bulletin from the South Australian Council of Social Service (SACOSS) is available.
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Older, still current, news
Tutti painting exhibition
Colourful Dreams is an exhibition of paintings created by Tutti Visual Artists exploring the theme of Abstraction
When: Showing daily 10am to 5pm from 12 January to 29 February. Official launch: 27 January from 5.30pm to 7.30pm
Where: Fox Creek Cellar Door Gallery, Malpas Road, McLaren Vale
Cost: Free
Bookings: Official Launch: tuttivisualart@yahoo.com.au
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Training—Rules about sex (getting them right)
A 3.5 hour training module familiarising workers and other support people in the use of a CD-based resource relating to touch, privacy and sexual behaviours under the law in South Australia. The CD-based resource can be used to build the capacity of people with a disability to minimise the risk of sexual victimisation or getting in trouble with the law unnecessarily. It also aims to maximise their ability to get help, self-advocate about sexual matters and negotiate healthier sexual relationships.
When: All year, starting 9 February
Where: GP Plus Health Care Centre, 64c Woodville Road, Woodville (parking off Bower Street)
Cost: $50
Bookings: via SHine SA
Learn more: SHine SA
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Training—Deep Quality and Michael Kendrick
Following the success of Dr Michael Kendrick's Deep Quality course in 2011, the two week course will be repeated this year. Dr Kendrick is a well-respected voice in the international disability community, working on leadership and emerging developments in the disability, mental health and ageing sectors.
When: May/June 2012
Cost: Book before 24 February 2012 to access the early bird registration of $2700.
Bookings: Call the Julia Farr Association on 8373 8333 or 1300 857 327 (local call from most phones) or email admin@juliafarr.org.au
Learn more: Julia Farr Association
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Training—Dad Factor
A course for fathers, grandfathers, uncles and other male carers emphasising the important role that dads play in the lives of their children, and to assist dads to develop their own parenting style. Supported by SA Health. Topics covered include:
- The role of fathers
- communicating with children
- helping children develop self-confidence
- understanding and responding to kid's behaviour
- handling stress and personal relationships.
When: 6pm to 8pm on Wednesdays for seven weeks starting 27 February
Where: Forbes Children's Centre, 80 Thomas Street, Plympton
Cost: Free
Bookings: Call GP Plus Health on 7425 8680
Learn more: Call 7425 8680 and ask to speak with Andrew
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Medical Heating and Cooling Concession
The Medical Heating and Cooling Concession is a new energy concession introduced by the South Australian Government from 1 January 2012. It provides additional financial assistance to people on low or fixed incomes who require medical heating and cooling in their home to prevent or reduce the symptoms and impact of multiple sclerosis, Parkinsons disease or a number of other qualifying medical conditions. The concession assists people who incur high electricity costs because of their medical need to use air conditioners or heaters on a frequent and/or prolonged basis to prevent the worsening of their symptoms.
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Training—Autism Spectrum Disorders
The Autism SA training calendar for February is now available.
When: Throughout February 2012
Where: 262 Marion Rd, Netley, Adelaide
Cost: (Unless otherwise stated) Half-day sessions: Members $70, Non-members $75. Whole day sessions: Financial Members $140, Non members $150
Bookings: Via the Autism SA website
Learn more: For further information contact the Education and Training Officer on 8462 0638 or email: nwelz@autismsa.org.au
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Emergency App
The Federal Government has released a smartphone application to provide quick and easy access to information about emergencies and disasters across the country. The DisasterWatch app can be downloaded for free and contains the latest public information via a direct feed from emergency response teams in each state and territory. This free app is available from the Android Market and iTunes.
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The Joseph Seridis Trust Fund
This trust fund has been created in memory of Joseph Seridis, in collaboration with UnitingCare Wesley Adelaide, to enable grants to be distributed to assist young people with physical and/or multiple disabilities to obtain equipment that enhances daily living. The Trustees invite applications for assistance from or on behalf of young people with a disability between the age of 16 and 30 years. Application forms and eligibility guidelines are available online or from Graham Loveday (Mon-Wed), UnitingCare Wesley Adelaide, phone: 8202 5149 or email him at graham.loveday@ucwesleyadelaide.org.au
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