Wingecarribee Carers News

This local Carers News is produced by the Southern Highlands Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation which has received generous support from the Springett Family Foundation specifically to produce the Carers News four times a year. You can contact the SHF through their email: carersnews@gmail.com or through the mail to: Southern Highlands Foundation, PO Box 853, Bowral 2576.
The following services are just some of the local services described in the Carers News for the first quarter of 2009. IDEAS online: If you have access to the internet, the IDEAS website provides a high quality accessible web portal for people with a disability, and people with age related disability - their families, carers and other supporters, to access and search for information that promotes their independence. www.ideas.org.au They also have a toll free phone number: 1800 029 904, and a TTY phone number: (02) 6947 3377. What is TTY? The telephone is a vital element in our daily living. For most of us, the telephone provides a convenience that we take for granted. However, for deaf people the convenience as well as the life-saving capacities of the telephone have, until recent years, been inaccessible. Today, a deaf or speech impaired person can make telephone calls using a TeleTypewriter (TTY). With a TTY, the conversation is typed rather than spoken and direct communication is possible with anyone who has a similar device. Calls placed to or from a non-TTY user can be placed through the Telecommunications Relay Service. A growing number of government agencies and businesses are installing a TTY to provide direct phone communication to and for their deaf employees and customers. Availability of this service is denoted with a TTY preceeding the telephone number. To find out more, contact the Deaf Society of NSW: E: info@deafsociety.com - Ph: (02) 9893 8555 - TTY: (02) 9893 8858 - Fx: (02) 9893 8333
The Disability Trust (formerly known as the Illawarra Disability Trust) TDT has announced that "Parmenter House", their new respite home in East Bowral offers a home-away-from home atmosphere so that a Carer will feel comfortable leaving a loved one in the care of others. For more information about "Parmenter House" and the other services provided by TDT, please contact Peg Ludwig on (02) 4872 4975 or www.disabilitytrust.org.au
Coping with grief - when counselling might be needed. Grief is a natural reaction to loss, and recovering from it is also usually a natural process. It takes time and it takes patience and support from those who are close to us. Sometimes however, a person may need the help of a professional counsellor to resolve issues that cause some distress to an individual. The Southern Highlands Bereavement Care Service offers counselling that is supportive and confidential, and aims to assist the individual to find their own way through the darkness of a terrible loss. Karen Mundell and Bruce Schubert are experienced in providing a listening ear and one that can help. The Bereavement Care Service is located in the grounds of the Bowral Hospital and can be contacted on (02) 4861 1701. There is also a web page with resources: www.shbcs.org.au
Interchange Wingecarribee Inc (IWI) Interchange Wingecarribee Inc (IWI) has been assisting people with disabilities, the frail-aged and their carers in the Wingecarribee Shire for over 20 years. They currently run 20 programs, the majority of which are government-funded and are designed to assist eligible people to remain living at home independently. Services provided under thee programs include respite, social support, recreation, case management, domestic assistance, personal care and community participation. "Springett House" was set up in 2006 to provide overnight respite in a home-like setting in the Southern Highlands. It was the first of its kind in this area and continues to be very well patronised. Eligible clients can also attend Day Programs at "Springett House", undertaking activities such as learning basic living skills, numeracy and literacy; crafts; minor home maintenance; and participating in recreation. For further information contact IWI at 59 Kirkham Road Bowral, or PO Box 1284, Bowral 2576. Ph: (02) 4862 2644 - Fx: (02) 4862 1563.
Southwest Sydney Community Care Centre of Anglicare: NSWSWSCCC of Anglicare NSW has the following services for Carers: South West Sydney: (a) Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre. The Centre provides: Advice and support to assist the carer in performing their caring role on an emergency, short-term, or planned respite options. Single access point providing information on services available in the community for Carers. Referral service for longer term assistance to support the Carer on an ongoing basis. The Centre assists Carers of people who are frail aged or with: a disability (physical and intellectual); an acquired brain injury; chronic illness; mental health issues/psychiatric disability or autism; palliative care needs; dementia and/or challenging behaviours. South West Sydney: Carer Services Program: short term and emergency respite; respite for Carers of younger people with severe and profound disability; young carers program; mental health respite program; commonwealth carelink - information and advice service. To contact your local Centre - SWS Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre, during standard business hours: Tollfree - 1800 052 222. For emergency respite support outside standard business hours: Tollfree - 1800 059 059. Calls from mobile phones - charges will apply. Funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing, and the Department of Family, Housing, Community Services & Indigenous Affairs - South West Sydney: (b) Support Coordination Program: The Support Coordination Program supports older parent Carers of an adult son or daughter with a disability to maintain their caring role for as long as possible, by providing support and respite opportunities and to plan and to prepare for a transition from parental care. What services do we provide? case management: needs assessments case plan, evaluation and review. Information and referral. Home visits. Carers Assistance Packages. Who can access this service? Parent Carers aged 65 years and over who are caring for their adult son or daughter with a disability, also some non-parent providing the 'parental' care may be eligible. Priority for access will be given to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Carers aged 45 years and older, and parent Carers that are currently not accessing any disability or family support services. How to contact: Tel: (02) 9728 0252 - 9am to 5 pm (Monday to Friday) Funded by the Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care.