Senior Therapist and Service Delivery

We have 2 new families this term, so welcome. Please ask anyone any questions as I think it is important to all the parents to know they are welcome and part of this very special place “the SCCTC”.

It is time for families to re look at the Family Service Plan we set together at the start of the year. Read it again with the specific goals we set out to focus on and reflect if we are on target. Perhaps the goals have changed, other things are now more important to you as a family.

I know the therapists are individually using the first few weeks of the term to also reflect and check that our sessions and goals are on track. Please start a conversation with any or all of your child’s therapists if things are not progressing as you would have hoped. Have we forgotten to follow-through on something we said we would in the plan meeting? We all may need gentle reminders to ensure we are delivering what we said we could way back in February.

There are some exciting professional development opportunities coming up over the coming months or will have taken place by the time you read this. It is a credit to the Centre, the Board of Management and the parents that the staff are able to undertake some highly specialized professional development events. Most of the money required to do this has to be at the centre’s own expense, however we know that having highly trained staff is paid back many times over in the effectiveness and quality of service delivery.

Staff have or will attend workshops on

• Play and Literacy
• Picky feeders vs Problem eaters
• Paediatric Rehabilitation conference
• Large grantees seminar for NSO
• Paediatric Equipment Symposium
• Down syndrome education conference.

Have you heard about All Ability playgrounds?

This is a project undertaken by the Queensland Government to ensure that all children can participate in play experiences. The main gaol is to enable children to be active participants in interactive, challenging, and inclusive play. The accessible design is not only in terms of physical access but also with communication. The states first all abilities playground was established at Landsborough on the Sunshine Coast in 2006. Have you taken the opportunity to go for a drive and have a play? Take a photo of your family at the park and send it in for the next newsletter. It is very popular .Now they are being built all over the state They are well designed outdoor play areas that consider equipment for children with disabilities but also have information in different formats e.g. sign and symbol displays close by the equipment.

I have visited the new playground in Gympie and was very excited by the range of learning opportunities available for all children that the playgrounds provide. In fact on the day the Gympie team popped in it was heavily being used by lots and lots and children enjoying the out side and having fun: the essence of childhood.

The 3 therapists that work in Gympie on a Tuesday are planning on having “a day in the park” in October for all our Gympie families to get together and the children to play together in this wonderful and safe outdoor space. I will try and let you know when this is and we would welcome any of our SCCTC families to come up and join us for morning tea.

Berenice Pembleton

Senior Therapist