May Newsletter

Welcome to the May edition of the

Communities for Children
Newsletter

NEWSLETTER INDEX
Mindful Kids Group

The Core Issue

Hub of the Month: Tambellup Kids

Parents: Looking After Yourself

National Families Week

What's On in your Area

7-9

Community Activity Fund

10

Albany Young Carers Club

11

Upcoming events/Calendar

12

Communities for Children is funded by the Australian

Government via the Department of Social Services. This
program is part of the Families and Communities
Programme (FCP) providing prevention and early
intervention programs to families with children who are
at risk
of disadvantage and disconnected from
childhood services.
Amity Healths team is passionate about helping rural,
remote and isolated families and their children. Our role
is to provide support to local community partners to
deliver programs and activities so families can be
healthy, feel supported and connected to their
communities. Programs and activities are located in
various community based settings and reflect the needs
of individual communities across the region.

Subscribe to the latest Communities for Children

newsletter at cforc@amityhealth.com.au or
phone Amity Health on 9842 2797
AMITY HEALTH

Additional services available from Amity Health include Dietetics,

Occupational Therapy, Child Mental Health, Speech Pathology
and Diabetes Education.

CforC NEWSLETTER 2016 | 5

Mindful Kids Group

Danita Walsh
Amity Health has recently completed its first Mindful Kids group series for children aged
between 8-12 yrs old. The group ran for 6 sessions after school during Term 1. Children
who attended the group were encouraged to bring a parent along to learn too. This allowed
for parents to provide greater support and follow-up at
home with their children, to reinforce the new skills learned.
Most children learning mindfulness and relaxation skills will
need ongoing support to integrate these into their daily
routine, so its great when parents can model these skills in
real life, during calm and stressful times. All skills take
practice to benefit from!
Children attending the group reported feeling safe and
enjoying the group, finding it easy to understand and do the
exercises. They particularly enjoyed exploring the mindful
sensing activities, the yoga stretches, breathing and body
relaxation exercises.
The Mindful Kids Group focuses on mindfulness and
relaxation training skills in a small group environment, to
boost self-regulation and resilience in children. Any child is
welcome to join and benefit from the skills. In particular, children who may be anxious,
stressed, have self-regulation difficulties and need to develop coping skills would benefit
from learning how to use mindfulness and relaxation skills to cope better with life at school
and home. Some of the skills explored include: breathing skills, mindful sensing
techniques, relaxation and simple yoga exercises, guided visualisations and education
about stress and the link between body-mind, which impact on our thoughts and feelings.
The groups are fun and simple, aimed at childrens learning levels to encourage a sense of
exploration and participation.
Children who may be anxious in
groups are welcome to participate
at their own pace. Parents are
encouraged to attend the group
sessions to learn the skills to
reinforce at home.
The group runs for 1hr after
school, over 5 weeks during
school terms.
The group is facilitated by Danita
Walsh, Occupational Therapist,
Child Youth Counsellor and Art
Psychotherapist. For more details,
call Amity Health on 9842 2797
AMITY HEALTH

CforC NEWSLETTER 2016 | 5

The Core Issue!

Cleo Drygan - Occupational Therapist
The school year is well and truly begun as we step into Term 2! As children move through school,
they are required to sit and concentrate more and more. For some children, this can be a difficult
task. A number of things may be impacting on their ability to sit and concentrate in mat or table top
activities. If your child is having difficulty holding their body in an upright position against gravity, to
then be able to concentrate, focus and attend to the task at hand beyond this point will be made
exponentially difficult. To hold ones body upright, postural stability and core control are required.
With poor development of these muscles, children may develop compensatory techniques that can
affect their development further.
In the early years, children with poor postural stability and control of their core may change
positions regularly, lean on one hand (usually non dominant), or lay down when in class especially
during mat work. This can limit their ability to use both hands together increasing their bilateral
coordination abilities (when stabilising themselves with one hand), may limit their engagement in
tasks and can be unsuitable (when laying down or moving to a position where they can lean on
items for support). As children get older (approx. Year 2) this may present in different ways, such
as holding their head in their hand rather than supporting their paper, continuous repositioning of
body, and wrapping their legs around the chairs legs for additional support. W sitting is also a
position children of any early age may adopt (sitting on their knees with their feet angled away from
their body and their bottom sitting between their feet on the ground). This position puts the childs
hip joint in extreme internal rotation, potentially affecting their balance and coordination, and should
be discouraged (encourage crossed legs, legs out front, or to the side etc.). These examples are
not extensive and children can present with varying compensatory or adapted techniques.
The good news is that a strong core and good postural control can often be developed with fun and
playful games! Core strengthening is essential for the progression of other developmental skills,
because the core is the centre of control for everything else the body does.
Some fun activities to play with your child
include:

Wheelbarrows take turns in holding

each others feet and walking on your
hands. For children with poorer postural
control hold their feet up higher. Aim to
beat your last distance!
Jumping on a trampoline
Tug-of-war
Animal walks for example, crab walk
(keeping bottom off the ground), bear
walks, and elephant walks (bending at
waist and hanging arms)
Swings self propelling

If you have any concerns with your child

postural control or would like further
information or activities, please contact Cleo,
Childrens Occupational Therapist, at Amity
Health, 98422797.
AMITY HEALTH

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Communities for Children

Hub of the Month
Tambellup Kids
The kids have had a great start to the After School Program in Tambellup.
Cooking was a huge hit with an average of 25 kids turn up and cooked some
yummy meals. A big thank you to Anita Phillips, all the teachers and parents
that volunteered to help.
During the Term One school holidays, we had
a fun day of Archery which was run by Woody
Archery from Woodanilling. The kids and
parents all had a great day. Viv, the Tambellup
Kids Co-Ordinator, cooked up a storm with a
massive sausage sizzleover 90 sausages
and 4 kg of onion! We would like to thank you
Ellen Hooper for all your help.
The second dance day was massive with 35 kids dancing at the Shire Hall.
Anyes from Twilight Dreams in Albany did yoga, hip hop, art and natural food
and drinks. Great fun and a big thank you from the mums of Tambellup as most
of the kids went home and fell asleep.
This term we have a dancing class planned at the town hall provided by
Twilight Dreams from Albany. We also have a golf clinic planned which will be
taught by Shane Woods, a local from Tambellup. This will be for both the
primary and the high school kids, so plenty of fun to
be had by all.
Next term school holidays there is more fun planned
with sports events and even some art days. So keep
an eye out on the Amity Health Facebook page for
more information so you can also join in on the fun,
or contact Amity Health on 9842 2797

AMITY HEALTH

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Parents:
Looking After Yourself
There are incredibly positive things about becoming a parent, like the joy of seeing your baby smile.
But theres also more responsibility, less time for you and your partner and maybe more tiredness
than you ever imagined. Looking after yourself helps you be the parent you want to be.

Parents and parenting

Parenting doesnt always come naturally. All parents are working it out as they go along. All parents make
mistakes and learn through experience. Parenting requires observation, understanding, persistence,
imagination, patience, honesty and energy!
Its OK to feel confident about what you know. And its also OK to admit you dont know and ask questions
often the dumb questions are the best kind!

Looking after your relationship with your partner

Happy couples have a positive effect on their children. This means that looking after your relationship can
help you both get the most out of being parents and partners.
Open communication can help you cope with the relationship changes that come with becoming a parent.
You might be getting less sleep, less time to talk to each other and less time alone with each other. This
can sometimes lead to disagreements.
You can counter these tensions by telling each other how youre feeling and finding ways to support each
other. You can keep your relationship positive by picking your battles and setting aside a time and place
to discuss frustrations and work out solutions.
Setting realistic expectations, being understanding and forgiving each other during the early years can often
make the difference between staying together and drifting apart.

Looking after yourself: activity, food and rest

Three things make a world of difference to your energy levels and ability to
look after your new baby:
staying active
eating healthy food
getting as much rest as you can.
Regular exercise improves circulation, increases your overall metabolism,
boosts the immune system and makes you feel good. A daily walk gets you
out of the house and into the fresh air. A change of scenery can do wonders
for your mood, or you can just jump around the house listening to your
favourite music.
Eating well can be very difficult for busy parents. Have some simple food on hand, like fresh vegetables
cut up ready to eat with dips, fruit, yoghurt and wholegrain bread.
If youre breastfeeding, you need a lot of protein and nutrients, plus plenty of fluids.
When it comes to rest, there are three golden rules: sleep when your baby is sleeping, go to bed early, and
nap whenever you can.
Sourced from http://raisingchildren.net.au/
AMITY HEALTH

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About the Week

Each year, over a hundred thousand people and hundreds of organisations
celebrate National Families Week Australias annual celebration of families.
The aim of National Families Week is to celebrate the vital role that families
play in Australian society.
National Families Week is a time to celebrate with your family, make contact
with your extended family and friends, and share in the enjoyment of family
activities within the wider community. It is a time to celebrate the meaning of
family and to make the most of family life.
All Australians, including community organisations, schools, councils,
companies and individuals are invited to participate in National Families Week
each year.
The 2016 theme is Stronger Families, Stronger Communities

What sorts of events are held during National Families

Week?

Each year, tens of thousands of people and hundreds of organisations

celebrate National Families Week Australias annual celebration of the vital
role of families. In 2015, more than 125,000 people participated in events
across Australia. Participating organisations undertook a wide range of
National Families Week activities such as morning teas, barbeques, sausage
sizzles, playgroup visits, family picnics, artwork displays, family information
days, drawing competitions, dances, art displays, photo competitions,
seminars and workshops, breakfast gatherings, story-telling events, services
displays, and movie nights.
National Families Week is funded by the Australian Government Department of Social
Services.

http://nfw.org.au/
http://nfw.org.au/get-involved/resources/
AMITY HEALTH

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Whats On in the Great Southern for May 2016

ALBANY
Australian Breastfeeding Assoc:
Thurs 10-12, 18 Chester Pass Rd.
(Albany Playgroup). Emilynne 9844 1458,
visit www.breastfeeding.asn.au
Albany Breastfeeding Centre:
99 Collie St. Appointments Mon, Wed
and Fri afternoons. Contact 9842 7561
Albany Library:
Story time Thurs and Sat 10.30am,
Rhyme time Wed and Fri 10:30am
Albany Museum:
School Holiday Activities
Albany Playgroup:
18 Chester Pass Rd, Tues, Wed, Fri 9:30
-12:00. Ph: Jane 0400 209 767
ALAC Swim School:
All ages and stages welcome. Nola on
9844 2274 or nolao@albany.wa.gov.au
Immunisation Clinic:
Tues 1.30-4pm and Thurs 1.30-4pm at
Population Health, Warden Avenue. Ph:
9842 7500 for an appointment.
King River Playgroup:
King River Hall, Millbrook. Playgroup &
3yo old Kindy. Mon, Wed, Thurs, Fri, 1012pm Ph: Janine 0438 945 604
Little Grove Playgroup:
Tues, Wed and Fri 9:30-11:30. Little
Grove Progress Hall. Ph: Rebecca 0411
858 567
Mt Lockyer Primary School Playgroup:
Wed 9am - 12 noon. Please bring a piece
of fruit to share. Child and Parent Centre,
Humphreys Street, Ph: 9842 9998
Mt Lockyer Child and Parent Centre:
Rhyme Time: Mon from 9:30-10:30am.
Jumping Joeys: Tues 9:30-10:30am. Mt
Lockyer Primary School. Ph: 9842 9998
My time:
Support for parents of children with
special needs, Wed 9.30am at Wanslea.
Ph: Di 9842 9998.
Play in the Park:
Tues& Fri 10-12noon Cull Park,
Campbell Rd. Ph: 0409 048 204
PCYC:
77 Sanford Rd. Low cost activities.
Toddler gym - Mon, Thurs 10am. Kindy
Gym: Tues 4.30pm; Gymnastics: Mon,
Thurs, Fri 4pm, Sat 8.15am and 9.45am;
For teens Strike II: Fri 7.30pm; Jnr
AMITY HEALTH

Rangers: Tues 6pm. Police Rangers:

Tues 6.30pm. Ph: 9842 1716 or 9841
6672
Rainbow Coast Neighbourhood Centre:
219 North Road, Ph 9841 8254. Parent
Support Programs and Community
Garden Activities. Free and low cost
activities. Creche facilities are generally
available but please call ahead.
Rainbow Coast Toy Library:
for children 0-8yo. Sat 10am-12noon
(school term), Fri by apt.Behind PCYC
building 77 Sanford Rd E:
rctoylibrary@hotmail.com

BORDEN
Ready Set Go (Borden Early Years Network)
9 11am at Borden Primary School.
Shannon 0428279288

BORNHOLM
Western Districts Playgroup:
Thurs 9.30am. Bornholm Hall, Lower
Denmark Rd, Ph: Melita Smith
0437887693

BREMER BAY
Playgroup:
Tues mornings Ph: Alice Reddington
0439328961
Story Time at the Library:
Ph: 9837 4171
School Holiday Program:
Ph: Bremer Bay Community Resource
Centre 9837 4171

CRANBROOK
Playgroup:
Friday 9am 11am Cranbrook Primary
School. 9826 1028

DENMARK
Rhyme time:
Mon 11am. Story time: Thurs 11am,
Denmark Library.
Denmark Playgroup:
Mon 9am 11am at the Child Care
Centre, Gumnut Corner

CforC NEWSLETTER 2016 | 5

Whats On in the Great Southern for May 2016

FRANKLAND RIVER
Frankland River Playgroup:
Wed 9:30 - 11:30. Community Centre,
55 Wingebellup Rd. Ph: Genelle
genellehood@yahoo.com.au
Play in the Park:
10am to 12pm 4th Wed of the month,
Federation Park (next to Library)

GAIRDNER
Gairdner Playgroup:
Tues 9.30 11.30 Ph: Jen 0409 425 915

GNOWANGERUP
Gnowangerup Playgroup:
Tuesday 9:30-11:30. Family Centre
Building, Whitehead Rd. Ph: Renee 9825
8188
Gnowangerup Library:
Story time, Thurs 9.30am, Contact the
CRC
Play in the Park:
10am 12pm, 1st Wed of the month at
the Community Park

JERRAMUNGUP
Jerramungup Activities:
for families, Story Time, School Holiday
Program all at the CRC Ph:9835 1630
Play in the Park:
10am 12pm 1st Wed of the month at
Roe Park

Family Fun and Learning:

Supported Groups: Tues 9am -12pm (for
migrant families), Fri 9am 2pm (universal)
Katie from Wanslea 9821 1102
Walk & Talk:
Wednesday, 9am, Ph: 9821 2009.
Katanning Playgroup:
0-5 years. Wed -9:30-11:30 & Thurs
10:00-12pm. 84 Conroy St (opposite
public pool) E:
katanningplaygroup1@yahoo.com.au
Katanning Toy Library:
Tues & Sat 10.30-11.30am Katanning
Library, Austral Tce.
Play in the Park:
10am 12pm, 2nd Wed of the month at
All Ages Playground

KOJONUP
Kojonup Playgroup:
Tues 10am -12 & Thurs - 9:30-11:30.
Spring St.
Toy Library:
Tues 9.30am, playgroup building
Story Time in the Park with activities
10am -12pm every 4th Wed of the month
at Apex Park Ph: Kojonup Library 9831
2412
Deadly Brotha Boyz:
Aboriginal Boys 8-18yo,Wed 3.30 5.30
at the Kojonup Sporting Complex Ph:
Robbie 0439 982008 or Stuart
0419406333

KENDENUP
Story Time:
Fri 9am at Kendenup PS Ph: 98514061
Playgroup: Tues 9.30am at Kendenup Hall
Contact Teresa Stockdale o427518800

KATANNING
Katanning Public Library:
Story time and Baby Rhyme Time at
10am on alternating Tues. Ph: Mickala
9821 4300
Badgebup Playgroup:
Wednesday, 9.30am, Badgebup Hall.

AMITY HEALTH

CforC NEWSLETTER 2016 | 5

Whats On in the Great Southern for May 2016

Hall

MT BARKER

TAMBELLUP

Mt Barker Toy Library:

Thurs 10-11:30am at Mt Barker CRC,
Robyn 0402 115 680 or
mtbarkertoylibrary@gmail.com
Play in the Park with story time:
10-12noon Thursday, Mt Barker Library.
Ph: 0409 048 204.
Mount Barker Playgroup:
Monday 9.30am-11.30am
Wednesday 11.00am-1.00pm RSL Club,
Booth St. Contacts: Veeta (President) 0400235194 or Jamie (Secretary) 0415557224,
mtbarkerplaygroup@gmail.com
Wriggle, Giggle & Grow:
Fri 10.30am at the Library (school terms
only) Ph: 9851 2661 or
library@plantagenet.wa.gov.au
Madar Mothers Group (supported Group)
Wed, Mt Barker Community College Ph:
Leith 0428 359 713

Tambellup Kids:
After school and School Holiday
Programs for Children and Youth. For all
details Ph: Viv 0477 999 950
Tambellup Playgroup:
Tues 10am. Crowden St. Ph: Ashleigh
9825 1770
Indigenous Parenting Playgroup:
Friday 9.30am, Primary School, Ph: 9825
1144

NYABING
Nyabing Playgroup:
9-11am on Thursdays. CWA Hall.
Contact 9828 5200 or
jehobley@bigpond.com

WALPOLE
Walpole Kinder Gym:
Tues 10am 11am 0-5yo activity Ph:
Maree 0418 916 543

WELLSTEAD
Playgroup:
Wed 9.30-11.30am, Wellstead Primary
School. Ph: 9847 2030
Toy Library:
Wellstead CRC

WOODANILLING
Playgroup:
Fri 9:30am - 12pm during school term.
Bindi Murray 0409 347 299

ONGERUP
Community Activities:
at the Community Resource Centre Ph;
9828 2325
Ongerup Playgroup:
Tues 9.30 11.30 Ph: Kelly 9828 2195

PINGRUP
Play in the Paddock events:
check with the Community Resource
Centre Ph: 9820 1101
Pingrup Playgroup:

Please subscribe to the latest Communities for

Children newsletter by emailing
cforc@amityhealth.com.au.
Contact the CforC team at Amity Health to
update program contact details and information
on 98 422 797 or email as provided above.

Wed 9:30- 11:30, Pavilion, Gaby Street

Ph: 9820 1123

SOUTH STIRLING
South Stirling Playgroup:
Monday 9.30-11:30am, South Stirling
AMITY HEALTH

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AMITY HEALTH

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10

AMITY HEALTH

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MAY

CALENDAR

Tip: Stick this on your Fridge or Notice Board and

add your own activities to attend this month
Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

Sun
1

8
Mothers Day

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

27

28

29

Families Week

23

24

30

31

25

26

Communities for Children - Lower Great Southern is funded by the Australian Government via the Department of Social Services.
This program is part of the Department of Social Services Families and Communities Programme (FCP) providing prevention and early intervention programs to families with children who are at risk of disadvantage and disconnected from childhood services.
Communities for Children is managed by Amity Health with the aim of overseeing the development of activities and
organising funding allocations to selected community projects in the Lower Great Southern.
Additional services available from Amity Health include:
Dietetics

Occupational Therapy

Speech Pathology

Diabetes Education

T: 9842 2797

AMITY HEALTH

Amity Health
F: 9842 2798

Child Mental Health

136 Lockyer Ave

PO Box 5294, Albany WA 6332
E: cforc@amityhealth.com.au
W: www.amityhealth.com.au

CforC NEWSLETTER 2016 | 5

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