The Wilson Home Trust

Rodney: Tuesday lunchtime2nd September 12.30-2.30 Where: Orewa Community Centre, Moana Court

North Shore: Tuesday lunchtime 9th September 12.30-2.30 Where: Glenfield Community Centre, Cnr Glenfield Rd & Bentley Ave

Waitakere: Tuesday evening 16th September 5.00-7.00pm Thursday evening 18th September 2.30-2.30
Where: Kelston Community Centre Cnr Great North & Awaroa Rd

Family/Whanau Focus Groups
Are you a parent or family member of a child or young person who has had a mental illness, emotional or behaviour issue? If you are we would like you to have your say about How Waitemata DHB Child and Youth Mental Health and Addictions services to develop over the next 10 years.

Light refreshments will be served & children welcome If you would like to come please contact: Anita McFarlane (Project Lead) Anita.McFarlane@WaitemataDHB.govt.nz OR Claire Cox (Family Advisor) laire.Cox@WaitemataDHB.govt.nz Phone: 09 486 8983.

A 3-day conference exploring the establishment of ‘right relationships’ between people receiving services, those who serve them & the community.

Purpose: The conference is seeking to promote a deeper understanding of:
- The need for and impact of authentic partnerships in professional/client
-The impact of power differential on effective service
- The potential abuse when relationships go wrong and to contribute to the building of truly inclusive lives for: Disabled people, older people, those with mental illness within New Zealand society. Ph 09 262 5374 Where: Rotorua www.imaginebetter.co.nz

Ministry of Social Development (MSD) have funded Transition providers to work with ORRS funded Students in their final year of school to support them to move from School to work and community participation.

Where: Onehunga Community Centre (83 Church Street, Onehunga)

Who Should Attend
* All Students who are 15-21 years and who are ORRS funded
* Parents families and caregivers
* Teachers, NASC, Work & Income staff and Health & Disability Team
* Group Special Education, Office of Disability Issues, MP’s

For further information about the transition Expo, go to www.parentandfamily.org.nz or phone PFRC (09) 636 0351

Family Matters Newsletter for August and September is now published.
Articles include:

Wilson School Opening
ME interactive health programme
Child Psychotherapy at AUT
Trust Partnerships Conference
Spectacles Subsidy
Depression Research
Autism Workshops
Parent2Parent
Transition Expo MSD & Parent & Family Resource Centre
Disability Law & Special Education Advocacy

Family Matters August September 2008

Fragile X from infancy to adulthood
Scottish Society Hall, Cnr of Edgeware and Caledonian Rd, St Albans
Friday 7 November 2008, 10 am to 4 pm

Programme
10.00 - 11.15 Introduction to fragile X syndrome (Louise Gane)
11.15 - 12.30 Early intervention and education strategies (Louise Gane)
12.30 - 1.30 Break for lunch
1.30 - 2.00 Speaker to be announced
2.00 - 2.30 No Longer Fragile, an education programme for fragile X children (Anita Nicholls)
2.30 - 4.00 Transitioning to adulthood & discussion (Louise Gane)
Louise Gane is an expatriate New Zealander who works as a genetic associate at the MIND Institute, University of California at Davis, the leading international centre for fragile X research and treatment. She works closely with Drs Randi and Paul Hagerman, widely regarded as the foremost authorities on fragile X syndrome. Louise is a passionate speaker and has a vast wealth of knowledge on fragile X.
Anita Nicholls is an early childhood educator, the parent of two boys with fragile X and the chairperson of the Fragile X Trust. Anita will introduce No Longer Fragile, a new locally developed approach to intervention and education.

Fragile X syndrome is a genetic disorder that affects around one in 2500 individuals by causing a range of intellectual and behavioural problems, from mild learning delays to severe mental impairment and autism. It is the leading known cause of autism. One in 250 women and one in 500 men are carriers of the syndrome and also may suffer mild to moderate effects.
Registration fee: $25 for professionals, $15 for families (1-2 persons). Lunch is not provided.
To register please send a cheque, together with names and addresses of attendees by 24 October to: Fragile X Trust (NZ), 196 Taita Drive, Lower Hutt 5011
(Please include a contact phone number and/or email address)

NOTE: This workshop is linked to a weekend gathering of fragile X families at the Christchurch Top Ten Holiday Park.
For more information on the workshop or the family gathering, please call Anita or Chris toll-free 0508 938 0552 or email fragilex.info@nzord.org.nz www.fragilex.org.nz

EPILEPSY INFORMATION EVENING Dr. Richard Frith, Neurologist Will speak about EPILEPSY RELATED ISSUES at a FREE public meeting to be held on Wednesday 3rd September at FICKLING CONVENTION CENTRE (Hillsborough Room) 546 Mt Albert Road Three Kings Commencing 7.30pm.
Dr. Frith is an internationally acknowledged expert in the field of epilepsy. This is an opportunity for anyone affected by epilepsy - including parents, family members, friends, carers, etc - to come along, view a presentation and have all those questions answered.Enquiries: please contact Colin Reive Epilepsy NZ – AUCKLAND BRANCH Phone (09) 373.4312. auckland@epilepsy.org.nz

EPILEPSY AWARENESS WEEK(1st – 7th SEPTEMBER 2008)
Learn about some complimentary options which may enhance the quality of life for people with epilepsy at a FREE public meeting to be held on Wednesday 3rd September 2008 at FERNDALE HOUSE 830 New North Road Mt Albert Auckland
Commencing 12.15pm – light refreshments
SPEAKERS:
Yvonne Hilsz – Life Coach – 1.00pm
Julie Kirsop - Naturopath – 2.30pm
Jarrard Seymour – Representing the NZ Epilepsy Assist Dogs Trust – 4.00pm
RSVP: Numbers are limited – register as soon as possible and not later than 29th August 2008.
Enquiries: please contact Colin Reive Epilepsy NZ – AUCKLAND BRANCH Phone (09) 373.4312 / Em: auckland@epilepsy.org.nz

Child Psychotherapy is a specialist way of working with children who are experiencing some distress or difficulties in their life. These difficulties may be as a result of past or current experiences such as abuse, neglect, medical intervention, or a change in their environment, for example the death or illness of a family member or a change in their family circumstances. Symptoms may include; school refusal, regressed behaviour, tantrums, separation anxiety, unusual aggressiveness etc.

How can Child Psychotherapy help?
Child Psychotherapy provides an opportunity for the child to work through their difficulties so that they have mastery over them. This is done in an environment conducive to providing a safe and helpful experience for the child. Child Psychotherapists work alongside parents in order to support them and to offer some understanding of their child’s distress.

Our Child Psychotherapy Clinic and Ethics
The Auckland University of Technology Child Psychotherapy Clinic is located at the Akoranga Campus, Northcote. The Clinic is designed and equipped specifically for children to enable them to feel at ease in an unfamiliar situation. The preferred medium for working with children is play, which enables them to express their feelings and worries in a non threatening way.
Child Psychotherapy is provided by students studying the Master of Health Science. Sessions are video taped and/or screened to ensure safety for the child and the best training for the student. Weekly supervision is provided by a senior practising Child Psychotherapist.

The Practice undertaken at the clinic will adhere to the Code of Ethics set by the New Zealand Association of Child and Adolescent Psychotherapists.

Referrals are accepted by GP’s, Child and Family Mental Services, CYFS and other statutory agencies. Parents are welcome to self refer and contact the clinic for consultation. Contacts Carol Shrinkfield, Clinic Co-ordinator.

Appointments Phone: +64 9 921-9999 ext 7219 Fees and Cancellations for Both (Adult and Child) Psychotherapy Clinics. There is a sliding scale with a maximum of $30.00 per session. Gate 2 Entry, AR Building, Akoranga Campus, Northcote.

Families of diagnosed ASD pre-school children
are invited to attend the Information meeting of the NAS EARLYBIRD® PROGRAMME

Waipuna Hotel & Conference Centre, 58 Waipuna Road, Mt Wellington
The EarlyBird® Programme is a three month programme which combines group training sessions for parents (caregivers) with individual home visits when video feedback is used to help parents apply what they learn.
The EarlyBird Programme will help you:
- Understand your child’s autism
- Develop interaction and communication with your child
- Manage your child’s behaviour
Applications for the EarlyBird Programme are accepted from parents of a preschool (not yet in full time education) child with a diagnosis of an autism spectrum disorder. Two parents (or carers) from each family may attend. The family must live within two hours traveling distance from Auckland and must make their own arrangements for travel and childcare for this information meeting. For further information please contact Autism New Zealand Inc.
This invitation does not constitute an enrolment in the program. After this meeting has been held, individual families will be approached with offers of places.

Villette Kolose, Auckland@autismnz.org.nz
8460913 ext 1, Autism House, 65 Morningside Drive St Lukes

Carers NZ is pleased to announce the launch of Family Care Radio, a one hour internet radio show for families with health and disability needs.

Family Care Radio’s hosts are Pip Fowler, Margie Wheeler, and senior journalist and broadcaster Todd Niall … all past or current carers.

The magazine-style radio show is the first of its kind in the world, offering interviews with carers, medical experts, political decision-makers, and others with an interest in caregiving.
Family Care Radio was made possible with funding from the Government’s Digital Strategy Community Partnerships Fund. Carers NZ has been able to secure other funding to ensure the monthly show is viable ongoing.
The inaugural programme can be accessed by going to http://familycareradio.net.nz
Interviews in the first Family Care Radio Show:

• Tina Cross reminisces about travelling north with her family as a child to care for her grandfather, who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness. “What we didn’t know at the time is that Mum, who was his primary carer, was herself very unwell, and nearly died.”
• A special report about the Government’s recently launched Carers’ Strategy. Interviews include the Minister for Social Development and Employment, Ruth Dyson; Carers Alliance chair John Forman; carers who attended the Strategy launch at Parliament; and Baroness Jill Pitkeathley, Carers NZ’s mentor, who in 2004 urged the non-profit to establish a Carers’ Alliance to create a unified voice to lobby for a Carers’ Strategy … with speedy results!
• Our first ‘five minute’ features: ActiveWellness, with tips and advice from ACC about how to prevent injuries and stay well; and Anna Filliol’s Melt meditation, one of a library of meditations designed for carers by Anna which will be available at the Family Care Radio website 24/7.
  Our September programme will be live later this month, featuring interviews with political leaders for Carers NZ’s We Care We Vote! election special.

  Other interviews will include Iain Gordon, the keyboard player with well-known group Fat Freddy’s Drop, who composed the Family Care Radio theme music … and new five minute features about physical wellness with Wayne Halkyard, managing continence at home with the NZ Continence Association, preventing common carer injuries with ACC, and St John’s advice about how to manage common health emergencies at home.

  In October, tune in for our interviews with Dame Kate Harcourt and Dame Fiona Kidman, who both supported elderly parents as younger women. And lots more!

  You can listen to the whole Family Care Radio programme each month at http://familycareradio.net.nz … or the segments that most interest you. You can also download the programme to your MP3 device, so you can listen to Family Care Radio anywhere!

  Carers NZ thanks the Community Partnerships Fund, Iain Gordon and his musicians (including his sister Jane!), and especially Pip Fowler, Margie Wheeler, and Todd Niall.

  Our We Care We Vote! election special will be live in late September. Discover what the leaders of political parties currently represented in Parliament will do to recognise and support family carers if they are part of the government after the upcoming election.
  © Copyright 2005 Carers New Zealand. All Rights Reserved

Presented by Parent to Parent New Zealand Inc. in conjunction with the Ministry of Education, Special Education Services.
These free IEP Seminars and workshops are stand alone sessions and only require that you are a parent with a child/ren who are involved or likely to be involved in the IEP process.
IEP Workshop Thursday 11th September
The IEP workshop covers:
• IEP planning
• Describing current functioning
Briefly covering the following:
• The IEP process
• The IEP meeting and document
• The Parents’ role
Venue: Yes Ability Achievement Centre, 3 William Laurie Place, Albany, North Harbour

IEP Seminar 9am – 12pm
Friday 12th September
The IEP Seminar covers:
• An overview of SE2000
• The IEP process
• The IEP meeting and document
• The Parents’ role

Venue: Parent to Parent Auckland Office
14 Erson Avenue, ROYAL OAK
IEP Seminars and Workshops
Parent to Parent NZ Phone: Toll-Free 0508 236 236
Email: national@parent2parent.org.nz www.parent2parent.org.nz

If you would like to know more please phone
Toll-free: 0508 236 236
Email: national@parent2parent.org.nz