Current Newsletter - 24th August 2010

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AN INVITATION TO FAMILY AND CARERS

Carers are family members or friends and neighbours who provide support to children or adults who have a disability, mental illness, chronic condition or who are frail aged.

Where: Nelson Bay Bowling Club, Stockton Street, Nelson Bay
Time: 9.30am — 2.00pm for 3 consecutive Thursdays
Cost: Free — Morning Tea & Light Lunch Provided
When: 3 Thursdays on the 9th ,16th & 23rd September
Sessions cover:
Stress management; Carer coping skills and practical caring ideas
Accessing Health and Community Services; Respite Care
Legal Issues, Advocacy and Advanced Care Planning
Supporting Carers to link with each other

Come and join us for a FREE information session at the Maitland Town Hall

COMMUNITY RESOURCES
including Commonwealth Carelink and Respite Service, Maitland Community Health Centre & ADHC
CARING FOR THE CARER

WHEN: Saturday 18 September 9.30am – 12.30pm (morning tea provided) OR
Tuesday evening 12 October 6.00pm – 9.00pm (supper provided)
VENUE: Maitland Town Hall Heritage Room 279-287 High Street Maitland

FINANCIAL ISSUES – (CENTRELINK presentation)
ADVANCE CARE PLANNING

WHEN: Tuesday evening 19 October 6.00 – 9.00pm (supper provided)
VENUE: Maitland Town Hall Heritage Room 279-287 High Street Maitland

Book now!! Don’t miss out on this opportunity!
PHONE EDuCARE: 49214 895 or 1300 887 776
We ask that you RSVP for catering purposes.
Contact us for assistance to arrange respite if required

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  Carer Connections

Take the opportunity to re-connect with other carers

  When : Thursday 26 August 2010

Time : 10am – 12noon

Venue : Cardiff RSL 45 Macquarie Rd Cardiff

Carer Connections is a free event, but please RSVP for catering purposes

• Enjoy friendship & support over morning tea
• Take time out just for you
• New carers’ welcome!
• Topics: * Who's looking after you?

* Top health concerns for carers

For more information or to register contact EDuCARE on:

4921 4895 or 1300 887 776

or email

Educare-Admin@hnehealth.nsw.gov.au

by Monday 23 August 2010

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IT’S SPRING!

Celebrate the importance of Spring:

a time to re-vitalise your spiritual, emotional, physical and mental health – come to our

HEALTH & WELLBEING WORKSHOP FOR CARERS

Do you provide practical &/or emotional support to someone who has a chronic medical condition, disability, a drug or alcohol issue, mental illness or is frail aged?

Then this is for You!

• S poil yourself – take time out for yourself for the day
• P articipate in Tai Chi
• R espite is available (contact the Commonwealth Carer Respite Centre on1800 052 222)
• I nvest in your health / Instigate a Spring Clean
• N etwork with other Carers
• G iggle and laugh out loud with Ruby the Clown!

  When: Wednesday 1 September 2010

Time: 9.30am – 2.30pm (Registration from 9.15am)

Cost: $10.00 – Includes Morning Tea & Lunch

Where: Toronto Workers Club, James St, Toronto

RSVP: RSVP & payment (see below) required by Friday 27 August 2010

Seating is Limited so don’t delay!

Contact: EDuCARE Support Service on 49 214895 / Educare-Admin@hnehealth.nsw.gov.au

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For far too long there has been no broad public voice in Australia advocating for parents, families and carers. Crucial decisions by government on policies shaping how we care for our families - children, the elderly, the ill and those with a disability - are usually dominated by a neo-liberal/managerial view of the world which reduces family values to rhetoric about increased workforce participation and assigns 'support' exclusively to formal and often impersonal agencies. There is no serious discussion of realistic policies to ease what is often a collision between work and family life.

On health, or schools, or disability, or parental leave, the debate is restricted to politicians, academics, and service providers, with parents and families invisible. Often the only voice claiming to speak for families is the conservative Christian lobby through organisations like the Australian Family Association, but such groups do not ‘represent’ the diversity of contemporary Australian families. Because there is no inclusive and representative voice, too many of us are excluded from public debate on policies which profoundly affect our well being.

What we want to do in these Workshops is explore ways of changing all this and developing a broad parents and families movement. Your are warmly invited to participate.

What are the obstacles to parents families and carers working together to become the strongest movement for change in the land?

What are the divisive issues amongst us and how can they be overcome?

How do we influence the public debate so that parents and families do the talking, and not simply be talked about?

How do we build up our own capacity? Who are our leaders?

Our aim is to develop a parents and families movement that can have a profound influence on the next Commonwealth government (whoever that is) over the coming three years.

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Are you aged between 13 – 17 years?

Do you help look after your brother or sister, parent, grandparent, other relative or friend who has a disability, mental illness, chronic medical condition, drug and/or alcohol related condition or who is frail aged?

Come along to EDuCARE’s:

i-care Young Carer Camp

@ One Mile Beach Holiday Park!!

What will I be doing at Camp?

• Tenpin Bowling
• Sandboarding on Stockton Bight Sand Dunes

(Boards, Instruction and Supervision are provided)

• Swimming
• Make new friends
• Have a great time!!

When: Friday 10 th September until Sunday 12 th September, 2010

Time: 3.30pm for a 4.00pm Departure

From: Energy Australia Stadium, Turton Road, Lambton

Where: One Mile Beach Holiday Park, 426 Gan Gan Rd, Anna Bay

Cost: Free - Includes accommodation, all meals & activities

Respite: Respite Care available if required

  Proudly sponsored by Rotary Clubs of District 9670

Limited places, so don’t miss out on this opportunity!

For application forms contact Kathy Jones at EDuCARE on: 4921 4895

Adult supervision throughout camp is provided by EDuCARE Support Service,

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Are You a Carer?

Do you look after someone who is frail aged, has a disability, drug or alcohol issue or chronic illness?

Are you a family member, partner, friend or neighbour who offers this care?

Do you help with personal care, mobility, transport, communication or housework?

If you answered YES to any of these questions – have you thought about enrolling in our FREE Carer Information Sessions?

Learn more about accessing carer services, caring for yourself, practical skills, legal issues & meet other people in similar caring situations

Phone: 1300 887 776 or 4921 4895 for more information

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CarersHaven members are being reminded about a free service available to help people caring for someone with dementia whose behaviour is having an impact on their care.

The Dementia Behaviour Management Advisory Service (DBMAS), works with family carers, clinicians, community care organisation and those working in aged care facilities to help them better understand and care for people with dementia

Carers can contact the sevice on 1800 699 799 at any time of the day or night. Qualifying situations will be assessed free of charge and appropriate referrals to other support services can also be made.

For more information email info@alzqld.asn.au or visit www.alzheimers.org.au