In this issue • NDIS - Your Questions Answered
• How you can impact the services you get
• Meet Kylie, Team Leader
• Autism Tool Kit
• Christmas in July for some Windermere families
From the desk of Tracey Millen Welcome to our latest edition of Windermere Disability News. With Spring in the air so much has been happening at Windermere and I’d like to take this opportunity to introduce myself. I’m Tracey Millen and I am now the Manager Early Intervention & Disability Services. In order to strengthen the organisation for the future, and to maximise funding for direct services to our consumers, Windermere has undergone a significant restructure resulting in the consolidation of a number of services into larger portfolios. Julie Knowles is now the Manager of Family Health & Wellbeing, which combines Integrated Family Services and Counselling, and I have taken on the Management of Early Intervention & Disability. I have been with Windermere since 2010 and have previously held the positions of ASD Case Consultant Practitioner, Manager Disability Services
and more recently Manager Early Childhood Development Services (Early Intervention). My aim is to continue to support both teams in providing high quality consumer directed services within existing funding. Windermere are looking positively to a future of National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) funded services for people with a developmental delay and disability, and we are continually exploring opportunities as to how we can offer our valuable services within this new environment.
With each quarterly newsletter, we aim to bring you the latest news and information, together with an update on the NDIS. We hope you enjoy the read!
Meet the team‌ 5 Minutes with
Background I have worked in the Community Services sector for 8 years with varying roles within Disability & Aged Care within not for profit & for profit programs. I have been very lucky in having opportunities to work actively in respite facilities, community based programs and also day placement settings.
I hope to use my previous experiences to support Windermere staff in delivering high quality services, as well as engaging clients who are currently awaiting service to be linked into supports where possible through various upcoming projects. Outside of Windermere
Windermere I have had the privilege of working for Windermere for nearly 2 years now (WOW, time really does fly, when you enjoy your work). Name Kylie White Role Team Leader Disability Services
Seeking expressions of interest!
My role as Team Leader sees me working alongside a great team of Case Managers & Facilitators, some of whom you may currently be receiving services from.
You will generally find me spending time with my family or enjoying a relaxing weekend away with friends. I am open and receptive to new ideas and feedback, and welcome any discussions you may like to have.
Do you want the chance to directly affect your services?
Windermere Disability Services is currently seeking expressions of interest for the
Consumer Consultative Committee. The committee comprises of people who are currently accessing services, or who are on our Priority Needs Register to access a program through Disability Services. The role of the committee is to provide support feedback about how Disability Services are implemented and Windermere’s policies and procedures. We would also seek your ideas and recommendations for improvements. Meetings are held monthly on Tuesday evenings and run for 1.5hrs. Any costs incurred as a result of attending the meetings, such as travel, respite care, attendant care, interpreting costs etc will be reimbursed to you. For more information please contact Disability Intake on 9705 3200
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Stress getting the better of you or your family? At times it can be beyond challenging. Did you know that Windermere offers an extensive range of programs for children and families to support them through difficult times? Here are just a few...
Resilience For Life.
A four week program about learning positive ways of dealing with day to day problems, life stresses and life changes.
1-2-3 Magic & Emotion Coaching.
My FRIENDS Youth.
A three week parenting program to assist parents to manage difficult behaviour in their children.
An eight week course that provides adolescents with the tools to manage difficult or anxiety provoking situations.
Parents, carers and those over 18 Parents with children aged from 2 to12
Adolescents between 12 and 17
For more programs visit:
https://www.windermere.org.au/get-involved/upcoming-groups/
Issue 02 . Spring 2014
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NDIS For many of us, we have heard NDIS being discussed in the media, primarily from politicians and Government; but have no idea what the direct impact might be for us. Below is a snap shot of the common questions, currently being asked:
Q. A. Q. A.
What is NDIS and how will it affect me and my family? NDIS is a generational reform that focuses on a person centred system of support. The scheme will aim to provide a person with a permanent or significant disability, access to reasonable and necessary supports to live life in their own way, to achieve their goals and participate in social and economic life.
What can I do to prepare for NDIS? Great question! At the moment, it is really important to grasp the concept of what the NDIS is and where possible, build your knowledge of the scheme. Windermere will continue to provide you with information as we receive it. Through these newsletters and our website, we also keep you informed on how Windermere are preparing for an NDIS rollout in our local area and how the services you currently receive may change.
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Q. A.
How is NDIS different from services I am currently receiving? For many, the current services you receive are fragmented and it is quite common to have to repeat your story numerous times and you may be placed on multiple waitlists, many of which can be several years until you receive service. Currently, there are people with similar levels of support needs receiving varying levels of services. This may be for many reasons including their location and when they first accessed the service. This varying level of services, has been identified as a key area and the NDIS aims to reduce the number of people “falling through the gaps”. NDIS aims to provide a prompt response and provide you with service within a couple of months, your funding would be ongoing and you wouldn’t be on multiple waitlists.
For more information:
Q. A.
Why isn’t NDIS provided Victoria wide at the moment? The NDIS can be described as the largest social reform since Medicare was first introduced. As you can imagine, the transition for a program of this scale is an enormous task and will take time.
www.ndis.gov.au
www.nds.org.au
At this point, NDIS will likely roll out in our local area on July 1, 2016, with a state wide completion by 2020. However, as more information is taken from each trial site, the timeframes and way in which NDIS operates in our area may be different from how it is operating at the moment.
Issue 02 . Spring 2014
www. everyaustraliancounts.com.au
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Have you checked out the DIY Autism Starter Kit? The Windermere team have developed a kit to help case workers and carers, meet the needs of people with ASD faster. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a condition affecting social interaction communication, restrictive and repetitive interests and behaviours, and sensory sensitivities. It is a lifelong impairment, however its severity can be reduced with effective early intervention programs and diagnosis.
funding for an ASD Case Consultation Practitioner. The practitioner, an expert in their field provided training and support to ASD case managers throughout the Southern Metropolitan Region, to increase knowledge and skills to better assist families.
According to Centrelink, 1 out of every 160 children aged 6-12 years has ASD. Early intervention programs cater to children under school age, so early detection and diagnosis is critical.
In the last year alone, Windermere successfully provided training to over 500 professionals within the disability and family services sector.
For two years, as part of the Autism State Plan, Windermere received
The positive flow-on effect resulted in over 71% of families/clients with ASD reporting positive behaviour improvements, with another 24.5% of case managers still assessing the outcomes. Whilst the funding for the Case Consultant ceased on June 30, Windermere are confident our work has been of great
1 out of every 160 children aged 6 -12 years has ASD benefit to the regions, networks and families, and in order to continue this have developed a DIY Autism Starter Kit. The Kit aims to gather a basic level of information about a person’s ASD related needs and behaviours, and to give some basic ideas about meeting these needs and preventing behaviours of concern. If you would like to receive a copy of the ASD Toolkit you can download it from our website: www.windermere. org.au or you can call Windermere’s Disability Intake Officer on 9705 3200 who will be able to assist you.
https://www.windermere.org.au/how-we-help/ i-have-a-disability/autism-spectrum-kit/
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Help us secure a $50,000 donation!! Dick Smith Foods is running a charity giveaway and Windermere could be the lucky recipient, but we need your help. All you need to do is simply take of photo of you in your pantry with any Dick Smith Food product and text* or email the photo to: charity@dicksmithfoods. com.au Don’t forget to include our name (Windermere) and yours… the more photos we get the greater chance we have to win. Windermere can also receive bonus points if you send a photo of you holding up a Dick Smith Food product with a group of up to 10 friends – one point for each person present in the photo. So spread the word! For more details visit www.dicksmithfoods. com.au/charitybreakthrough Feel free to share your great pics on our Facebook page too – Windermere Child and Family Services
Useful Contacts Department of Human Services Intake & Response Team 1300 131 079 Providing information and support to people with disabilities & their carers.
Alfred Health Carer Services 1800 052 222 www.carersouth.org.au Providing carers with information and support (business hours) and emergency respite (24 hours)
Home & Community Care (HACC) services respite/personal care/home maintenance
City of Casey
9705 5200 City of Greater Dandenong Information & Referral worker
8571 5502 Shire of Cardinia (MECWA care)
5941 5454
* It does sound strange, but believe it or not you can put an email address on the phone number field for texting and it will go through!
Association for Children with a Disability 1800 654 013 www.acd.org.au
The Disability Team Manager: Tracey Millen Team Leader: Kylie White Case Managers/ Facilita tors: Jenni Harvey, Nicole Thomas, Julie Pie rce, Cheryle Koesemans , Jo Opperman & Talia Do w Continence Support Sch eme, Dry Nights and FaHSCIA programs: Teresa Gibson If you have any suggestion s for the upcoming disa bility newsletter or genera feedback please let us kno l w by contacting the disa bility intake worker on 97 053200
Issue 02 . Spring 2014
Advocacy & support for families of children with a disability, run by volunteers who are parents of children with a disability.
Companion card 1800 650 611 www.companioncard.org.au Companion Card promotes the rights of people with a disability, who require a companion, to fair ticketing at Victorian events and venues.
Carers Australia 1800 242 636 Short-term counselling, emotional and psychological support services for carers and their families 7
Christmas comes early to Windermere
“We wanted to bring some cheer into the lives of children and families undergoing difficult circumstances, to tell and show them that someone does care”. Interested in other Windermere news and events?
Windermere recently welcomed a donation of more than 800 Christmas in July gifts, put together by local charity Mums Supporting Families in Need. The volunteer group spent months collecting and wrapping gifts, which have been distributed by Windermere to families who have suffered significant disadvantage. Mums Supporting Families in Need Vice Pesident Melissa Webb contacted Windermere recently to see if they could lend a hand. “We wanted to bring some cheer into the lives of children and families undergoing difficult circumstances, to tell and show them that someone does care”, she said.
www.windermere.org.au
“Windermere were overjoyed by the tremendous community support generated by the volunteer group. We are always moved by how individuals excitedly join our efforts to build a stronger, supported and connected community”, said Windermere CEO, Dr Lynette Buoy.
Windermere makes a splash for MND On 1 September, the team took up the global ice bucket challenge to raise money and awareness for Motor Neurone Disease, a degenerative neurological condition that impacts all the motor nerves in the body, usually leading to death within 3 years of diagnosis. It’s a cause close to our heart – our disability services team often work with clients with the incurable disease and see first hand the impact it has on victims and their families.
Jump online:
Windermere case managers commended the volunteers on their selflessness, as all too often these children have witnessed terrible trauma and the family, through circumstances might not be able to afford things, or they’ve lost everything.
A total of 17 staff participated in the challenge, including Julie Knowles, Family Health and Wellbeing Manager. “The MND Association has worked closely with our disability team on many occasions, often providing equipment from their libraries, sharing the cost of respite as well as generally sharing their expertise with our team”, Julie said.
The Ice Bucket Challenge requires people to pour a bucket of ice water over their head and donate money to MND before nominating others to do the same. The "frozen" sensation of icy water is meant to parallel the state of immobility MND patients endure. Dr Lynette Buoy, CEO also braved the icy conditions. "If we can try to understand and emulate even the tiniest amount of an MND victim’s pain and experience in order to help and drive awareness, then that’s a really great thing for the team to be involved in”, she said.