Mission Statement

To build and maintain the capacity and resilience of families and carers who support people with a disability, through partnerships between families, carers and professionals using a whole of life approach.

News

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News and Updates from the Families in Partnership Co-Operative.

Co-operative Newsletter
The Co-operative produces a Newsletter each quarter to provide information on current issues of interest to families and service providers. They contain contacts and details of new services, government announcements and upcoming events within the community. Contributions from both families and services are very welcome and can be made by contacting the Coordinator.

June 2008 Newsletter
April 2008 Newsletter
January 2008 Newsletter
October 2007 Newsletter
July 2007 Newsletter
April 2007 Newsletter

Bob Lester is leaving as Coordinator at end of November.

It is with a great deal of regret that I informed all members of the Co-operative of my resignation as its Community Development Coordinator. I am leaving to take up a position with Wollondilly Shire Council as its Community Development Officer working across a number of areas of community life.

My last day with the Co-operative will be the 28th November but I will not be far away and look forward to meeting everyone in some way or other in my new role with Wollondilly.

The past five and a half years have been very enjoyable and rewarding to me and I have met many dedicated parents and professionals who strive to make Macarthur a better place to live. I have learnt a lot from family members and the invaluable role they play in supporting people who have a disability. I hope that the knowledge and inspiration they have shared with me can continue with the Co-operative in the future.

To all those service providers and community supporters of the Co-operative thank you for your support and for advocating for families carers and people with a disability. Macarthur is know for the way people work together and I have seen many advances in the level and quality of disability and community services over the past years. Partnerships can work!!!

The Board of the Co-operative has met to look at replacing me (how could they!!!) But seriously the Co-operative needs to continue on, who ever the person sitting in the Co-ordinator's chair and even if no one is. I encourage you to support the Co-operative to continue the work we all have achieved over the years - right back to 1994 when parents first got together.

Catch you soon for a coffee perhaps some time.
Bob Lester

Helping Children with Autism
The Commonwealth Government has recently committed $190 million over the next four years to deliver a suite of initiatives under the banner of Helping Children with Autism, to address the considerable need for support and services for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). These new initiatives include:

The Co-operative has gathered currently available information into a fact sheet to provide additional details of the Government's commitment. Fact sheet link.

In addition to the Helping Children with Autism package, commitment was given to establishing six new autism-specific child care centre as part of the broader commitment to provide up to 260 new child care centres nationally.

The Co-operative will be working closely with other family based organisations to track the implementation of the package' initiatives and provide additional information to families as it comes available.

Our Co-ordinator is available to discuss any questions you may have on the announced package and how you could benefit from them.

PlayConnect Playgroup opens for children with Autism or ASD like disorders.

The first PlayConnect Playgroup site has been announce as Campbelltown NSW and will start next Friday 31 October.

The venue address is Hurley Park Hall, Dumaresq St, Campbelltown NSW.

PlayConnect Playgroups will offer play-based learning opportunities for children with ASD or ASD like symptoms, and create and extend social support networks for their families and carers. These Playgroups will also connect families and carers to resources available in their local area and to other elements of the Helping Children with Autism package.

If you would like to attend these PlayConnect playgroup Sessions please contact me, Sandy Kervin on 1800 171 882.

AN INFORMATION SESSION FOR PARENTS AND CARERS OF CHILDREN WITH AUTISM

TUESDAY 9 DECEMBER AT 10.00AM
Campbelltown Civic Centre Hall, corner of Queen and
Broughton Streets, Campbelltown.

An information session for parents of children living with Autism Spectrum Disorder is to be held in Campbelltown. This session will present the range of services being introduced by the Federal Government to assist families.

The Macarthur Disability Network and the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) are offering parents an opportunity to learn about a range of new services to provide additional support for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) and their families and carers.

The package includes the following new programs:
- Early intervention services to assist parents from the day of diagnosis.
- Autism Advisor Program.
- PlayConnect Playgroups.
- Education and Support which includes workshops and a Website.
- Autism Specific Early Learning and Care centres.

Speakers from FaHCSIA national office will provide information on what the new programs will offer families, implementation time lines and appointed providers of services in the Macarthur region.

The package will supports families who have a child diagnosed with Autistic Disorder; Asperger's Disorder; Rett's Disorder; Childhood Disintegrative Disorder and Pervasive Development Disorder - Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS).

For further information and to confirm attendance, please contact Patrick Vasquez or Karen Simpson at Macarthur Disability Services on 4621 8400.

Proudly supported by Campbelltown City Council and Macarthur Disability Services.

Thru the Maze

A great resource has been re-published by the Association for Children with a disability NSW (ACD NSW), providing a wealth of information and support for parents of children with a disability. As children grow, the territory changes for parents in terms of who to contact and issues to face, with many transitional point along the way. It can be a maze of services and people for many families and this book is a guide for parents to use and reuse.

Electronic copies can be obtained through the Associations website on www.acdnsw.org.au. Free hard copies of the booklet are available from the Co-operative.

Advocacy Services across NSW

A wide variety of Advocacy services are funded by the Commonwealth and State Governments to assist families, carers and people who have a disability. In addition a number of services and organisations, like the Co-operative can advocate for people and lobby for changes to government. A listing of Advocacy Services has been developed to assist people who need to assistant of an advocate or in self advocating.