April Newsletter

Welcome to the April Edition of the

Communities for Children
Newsletter

NEWSLETTER INDEX
Hub of the MonthGarden Grubs

One Year on at Amity Health

Travelling with children

Fussy Eaters

What's On in your Area

6/7

AEDC 2015 Ministerial Release

Community Activity Fund

BordenReady, Set, Go!

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Albany Young Carers Club

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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.

Young Carers Laserscape Adventure 12

Upcoming events/Calendar

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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 | 4

Communities for Children

Hub of the Month
Rainbow Coast Neighbourhood
Centres Garden Grubs
Garden Grubs is a free activity funded by the Australian
Government Communities for Children program for
primary school aged children and parents. Garden Grubs
has been run by the Rainbow Coast Neighbourhood Centre from the Community Garden on Sanford Rd since
2011.
Based on the philosophy that the more kids get to spend
time in a veggie patch the more likely they are to eat a
diversity of fresh fruit and
vegetables, Garden Grubs combines nature play,
gardening, cooking and craft activities.
Popular sessions include bug hunts, tending the
worm farm, foraging for berries, snow peas and
cherry tomatoes and bandicooting for potatoes.
Garden Grubs runs from 3:30 to 4:30 on a
Wednesday afternoon during term time (starting the
second week of term) and offers a free, healthy
afternoon tea. Please contact the coordinator, Yann
Toussaint, through Rainbow Coast Neighbourhood
Centre on 98418254 for more information.

AMITY HEALTH

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One Year On
Readers of this page understand that birthdays are special
particularly in the early years. So, at Amity Health, weve decided to celebrate the first anniversary at our new location.
In one sense, it feels as if 136 Lockyer Avenue has been home
forever. In another, it feels as if it was only five minutes ago
that we were unpacking boxes.
As an organisation, weve been around for a while now, more
than twenty years if youre counting (and we have been!) In that time weve grown from a tiny team of three ,
when all we had was a phone, a kettle and a new supply of stationery, to a mature organisation delivering
services in many rural and regional towns and communities in southern WA.
You may have seen us on the road in the Goldfields, or the south west forests. Were on the road in the back
blocks of the Wheatbelt, and the country towns of the Great Southern. Esperance, Bremer Bay, Albany and
Denmark are on our coastal watch. Serving our country communities is what we do. And we can do that with
telehealth, improved care coordination, or on the road, linking in with other services and building
partnerships as we go.

Something Special for Children

When we moved, we wanted to offer something special for children. We have specialised staff who knew
exactly what we could be providing, and wanted us to be offering the very best So, we developed
a brand new child therapy wing . The rooms are bright and welcoming and we have toys, games even a
swing and a hammock for children to enjoy.
We have a team of clinicians experienced in working with children:
Cleo Drygan our Occupational Therapist
Michelle Robson Speech Pathologist
Danita Walsh Occupational Therapist, specialising in child mental health and art therapy.
Arielle Hyland Accredited Dietitian, with an interest in children.
Some children require just a few simple strategies, others have more complex needs. Talk to our therapists
and they can provide you with advice.
We also offer services to schools supporting teachers with classroom strategies for individual children,
and offering screenings and reports.
We have a child health nurse who works
with children at daycare, providing a
screening service at 18 months and
three to three and half years. Its a great
way to check your child is on track before
starting
kindy. This is a wonderful service, provided in partnership with West Australian Country Health Services.
Come and call, say hello, find us on
Facebook wed love to meet you and
see how we may be able to help you
and your family.
Amity Health
136 Lockyer Avenue, Albany
T: 98 422 797

AMITY HEALTH

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Travelling with Children

Planning holidays with kids
Whether youre hanging out in one spot or heading off to explore, holidays with kids are about planning for
short attention spans and short travel times.
Here are some top tips:

Youll need lots of breaks and fewer activities than you would if you were travelling on your own
or with adults.

Plenty of stops for meals and drinks will keep everyones energy levels up.

Activities and local attractions to keep children entertained might involve swimming, games, playgrounds, carnivals, fun parks and movies.

Dont forget to plan down time for yourself too. If your children are entertained with organised activities, are playing with other children, or are looked after by babysitters, youll get a break for
yourself.

If your holidays are going to involve long car, bus, train or plane trips, it might pay to think ahead
about ways to keep your children entertained. Depending on the age of your child, it can be helpful to have books, toys and movies available.

If travelling in the car, consider getting a sun screen for the back windows to help block the sun.

Everyone has more energy in the morning, so this can be a good time for adult activities. Kids
can look forward to their activities in the afternoon.

Keep drinks and snacks handy for eating and drinking on the go.

Make sure you take enough nappies, baby wipes and nappy bags if you wont be able to buy them
on your trip.

Involving kids in holiday planning

Getting the children to help you plan your holiday can get them interested and excited. Their input can help
you have a holiday thats fun for everyone.
You could get some books from the library or
find some websites about the place youre going. That way your children can look at pictures
and tell you what looks like fun. You could read
or tell some stories from the place youll visit, or
learn a few words of the language if you're going overseas.
If your children are younger, you can come up
with a basic plan and give them some options
to choose from.
Although holidays are exciting, some kids do
get nervous about the break from routine. Talking about holiday plans is also a good way to
help them settle in to the idea and reduce anxiety.

Sourced from http://raisingchildren.net.au/

AMITY HEALTH

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Fussy Eating
Arielle Hyland
Accredited Practising Dietitian
Meal times can be stressful for parents,
especially when the dining table turns into a battlefield. Often fussy eating is less
about taste preferences and more about
the child wanting to be independent.
When a child refuses food, parents might
feel frustrated and concerned that the
child isnt eating enough. Here are some
tips that will help make meals more enjoyable for all.
You decide what your child eats and they decide how much they eat

Children have sensitive appetites and small stomachs. Try not to put too much their plate to
begin with, if they are still hungry they will ask for more.

Ensure they have a good appetite for their meal by avoiding snacks and drinks within an hour
beforehand.

Encourage your childs independence by allowing them two options. This respects their likes
and dislikes but you remain in control.
Be a positive role model

Eating meals together as a family allows your child to learn about food and eating habits.

Provide healthy foods and show that you enjoy them.

Make mealtimes a positive, relaxed, and calm experience. Avoid punishing your child if they
refuse to eat a food. Stay calm and quietly remove their plate.

Children respond well to regular meal routines. Avoid distractions such as toys or TV at meal
times.

Avoid bribing with food (such as eat your vegetables, if you want dessert) as this tends
backfire. Use other rewards such as stickers, visiting the park, or playing a game.
Explore food with your children

Offer new foods to your child. If they reject it, offer again and again! Children commonly need
to be offered a new food more than 10 times before they accept it.

When trying new foods, serve them with some of your childs favourite foods. Arranging foods
in the shape of face and offering a variety of colours, shapes and textures can make the meal
more fun.
Remember that a healthy child will not starve themselves

If your child wont eat, think about possible reasons. Are they full from a recent snack? Is
there too much food on the plate? Are they feeling ill or overtired?

Wait until the next scheduled meal or snack before offering an alternative food. Avoid
substituting the missed meal with milk, desserts, chips, biscuits, or lollies as your child will
soon learn this is a reward for refusing meals. One or two skipped meals a week will not harm
a healthy child.
Useful websites about child nutrition and eating habits
Australian Dietary guidelines https://www.eatforhealth.gov.au/
LiveLighter for Families https://livelighter.com.au/livelighter-for-families/
Food Balance game for children http://www.eatforhealth.gov.au/nutrition-calculators/food-balance
Parents Voice http://www.parentsjury.org.au/
Western Australian School Canteen Association http://www.waschoolcanteens.org.au/parents/

AMITY HEALTH

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Whats On in the Great Southern for April 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.
Appts: Mon, Wed and Fri afternoons. Ph 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 noon. Ph Jane 0400 209 767.
- ALAC Swim School: All ages and stages
welcome. Ph: Nola 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 appointments.
- King River Playgroup: King River Hall, Millbrook.
Playgroup & 3yr old Kindy. Mon, Wed, Thurs &
Fri, 10-12pm. Ph: Janine 0438 945 604.
- Little Grove Playgroup: Tues, Wed & Fri 9.3011.30am. 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.
Mt Lockyer Child and Parent Centre. Ph: 9842
9998.
- Mt Lockyer Child and Parent Centre: Rhyme
Time: Mon 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 Sandford 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 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. Crche facilities are
generally available but please call ahead.
- Rainbow Coast Toy Library: for children 0-8
years. Sat 10am -12 noon (school term). Fri by
appt.. Behind PCYC building 77 Sanford Rd.
E: rctoylibrary@hotmail.com
BORDEN
- Ready Set Go (Borden Early Years Network). 9 11am at Borden PS. Ph: Shannon 0428279288
AMITY HEALTH

BORNHOLM
- Western Districts Playgroup: Thurs 9.30am.
Bornholm Hall, Lower Denmark Rd, Contact
Renee 0458 149 735.
BREMER BAY
- Playgroup: Tues mornings. Ph Veronica Thomas
0413 761 370.
- Story Time at the Library. Ph: Bremer Bay
Community Resource Centre 9837 4171
- School Holiday Program. Ph Bremer Bay
Community Resource Centre 9837 4171
CRANBROOK
- Playgroup: Friday 9am 11am, Cranbrook
Primary School. Ph 9826 1028
DENMARK
- Denmark Library: Rhyme time: Mon 11am. Story
time: Thurs 11am.
- Denmark Playgroup: Mon 9 11am. Gumnut
Corner (Child Care Centre)
FRANKLAND RIVER
- Frankland River Playgroup Wed 9:30 - 11:30.
Community Resource Centre, 55 Wingebellup Rd.
E: Genelle genellehood@yahoo.com.au
- Play in the Park, 10am to 12pm. 4th Wednesday
of the month Federation Park (next to Library)
GAIRDNER
- Gairdner Playgroup: Tues 9.30 11.30am Ph:
Jen 0409 425 915
GNOWANGERUP
- Gnowangerup Playgroup: Tuesday 9:30-11:30.
Family Centre Building, Whitehead Rd. Contact
Renee 9825 8188
- Gnowangerup Library: Story time: Thurs 9.30am:
Contact the Gnowangerup CRC
rd
- Play in the Park, 10am to 12pm. 3 Wednesday
of the month Community Park
JERRAMUNGUP
- Mothers Group: Tues (f/night) 10-12noon,
Jerramungup CRC. Ph: 9835 1630
- Story Time at the CRC Library Ph: 98351630
- School Holiday Program, contact the
Jerramungup CRC Ph: 9835 1630
- Play in the Park, 10am to 12pm. 1st Wednesday
of the month Roe Park
KENDENUP
- Storytime: Fri 9am at Kendenup PS. Ph:
98514061
- Playgroup: Tues 9.30am. Kendenup Hall.

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Whats On in the Great Southern for April 2016

KATANNING
- Katanning Library: Story time & Baby Rhyme
Time. 10am on alternating Tues. Ph Mickala 9821
4300.
- Badgebup Playgroup: Wednesday, 9.30am,
Badgebup Hall.
- Family, Fun and Learning: Supported Groups:
Tues 9am-12 (for migrant families), Fri 9am -12
(universal). Ph: Katie from Wanslea 9821 1102.
- Walk & Talk: Wednesday, 9am. Contact 9821
2009.
- Katanning Playgroup: 0-5 years. Wed 9.3011.30. Thurs 10am-12 noon. 84 Conroy St
(opposite public pool) E:
katanningplaygroup1@yahoo.com.au
- Katanning Toy Library: Tues & Sat 10.3011.30am Katanning Library, Austral Tce.
- Play in the Park, 10am to 12pm. 2nd Wednesday
of the month. All Ages Playground

SOUTH STIRLING
- South Stirling Playgroup: Monday 9.30-11.30am,
South Stirling Hall.
TAMBELLUP
- Tambellup Kids: After School and School
Holiday programs for children and youth. For
details of events during term and Holiday
Program, Ph Viv 0477 999 950
- Tambellup Playgroup: Tues 10am. Crowden St.
Ph: Ashleigh 9825 1770.
- Indigenous Parenting Playgroup: Friday 9.30am,
Primary School. Contact: 98251144

KOJONUP
- Kojonup Playgroup: Tues 10am-12 noon & Thurs
9.30-11.30am. Spring St.
- Toy Library: Tues 9.30am, playgroup building.
- Story time in the Park with activities 10am
12pm every 4th Wednesday of the month at Apex
Park, contact Kojonup Library 98312412
MT BARKER
- Mt Barker Toy Library: Thurs 10-11.30am at Mt
Barker CRC, Robyn 0402 115 680 or
mtbarkertoylibrary@gmail.com
- Play in the Park: 10-12noon Thursday, Mt Barker
Library. Ph: 0409 048 204.
- Mount Barker Playgroup: Wed @ 11am. RSL
Club, Booth St. Ph: Tara 0448 124 443.
- Madar Mothers Group Wednesday, Mt Barker
College Ph Leith 0428 359 713
Manypeaks
- Manypeaks Play Caf: Tuesdays, at the Primary
School Ph: 98461269
NYABING
-Nyabing Playgroup: Thurs 9-11am. CWA Hall.
Ph: 9828 5200 or jehobley@bigpond.com
ONGERUP

- Community Activities at the Community

Resource Centre, Contact: 9828 2325
PINGRUP
- Play in the Paddock Events check with the
Community Resource Centre, 98201101
- Pingrup Playgroup: Wed 9.30- 11.30am,
Pavilion, Gaby Street, 98201123
AMITY HEALTH

WALPOLE
- Walpole Kinder Gym. Tues 10 to 11am: 0-5
Activity Ph: Maree: 0418 916 543
WELLSTEAD
- Playgroup: Wed 9.30-11.30am, Wellstead
Primary School. Ph:9847 2030
WOODANILLING
-Playgroup: Fri 9.30am - 12pm during school term.
Contact Bindi Murray 0409 347 299.

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.

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Release of the 2015 AEDC results

Mar 09, 2016

Findings from 2015 AEDC

In the 2015 data collection, information was collected on 302,003 children in Australia
representing 96.7 per cent of
children in their first year of full-time school. The key findings included:

22 per cent of children were developmentally vulnerable on one or more domains.

11.1 per cent of children were developmentally vulnerable on two or more domains.

15.5 per cent of girls and 28.5 per cent of boys were developmentally vulnerable
on one or more domains.

The majority of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children were not considered
developmentally vulnerable, 42.1 per cent of Indigenous children were developmentally vulnerable on one or more domains.

Where children live can have an impact on their development. Of children living in
major cities, 21 per cent were
developmentally vulnerable on one or more domains, compared to 47 per cent of
children in very remote areas.

Socio-economic status can have an impact on a childs development. Children living in the least socio-economically
disadvantaged Australian communities were most likely to be on track on each of
the AEDC domains.

Under sixteen percent of children living in the least socio-economically disadvantaged Australian communities were
developmentally vulnerable on one or more of the AEDC domains compared with
nearly 33 per cent of children in the most
disadvantaged communities.

In 2015 there was an increase in the percentage of children from least disadvantaged communities vulnerable on one or more domains compared with 2012, although this remained lower than in 2009.

In the most disadvantaged communities the number of children developmentally

vulnerable on one or more domains in 2015 decreased from 2012 although remained higher than in 2009.

Visit the AEDC website to access your communitys AEDC results. www.aedc.gov.au

AMITY HEALTH

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AMITY HEALTH

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AMITY HEALTH

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APRIL 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

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

23

24

SCHOOL
18

19

20

21

SCHOOL
25

26

27

28

HOLIDAYS
22

HOLIDAYS
29

30

ANZAC Day
Public Hol

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

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