CRCCFNC_newsletter_December2014

COMMONWEALTH
RESPITE & CARELINK
CENTRE
FAR NORTH COAST
INSIDE
T HI S
ISSUE:
Another year is coming to a close. Christmas is nearly upon us again. We
have had a very interesting year at the Respite & Carelink Centre.
Ability Links 3
Mission
Australia—
Carer
Support
4
Carer
Activities
6
&
7
Aged Care
Complaints
Scheme
8
5
The Welfare 9
Rights
Centre
DAISI
9
CareSearch
10
Our Information service (Carelink) finally stopped operating on the 30th June
this year and now if you need information on aged care services you have to
phone “My Aged Care” on 1800 200 422.
Carer Respite & Support was given a reprieve and is now funded until June
2015; we will keep you informed on whether this service will continue after
this date. Unfortunately, we have to wait for the Department of Social
Services to let us know what our future holds. This year it felt like the
eleventh hour when we were told that we would continue supporting carers
for another year.
Uncertainty about our future has not dampened our enthusiasm in providing
a great service, organising carer activities and providing numerous training
opportunities.
107 carers attended lunches throughout the Far North Coast as part of the
Carer’s Week celebrations in October.
136 carers have participated in a broad range of training courses and
workshops including: First Aid courses – senior First Aid Certificate or basic 4
hour course; The Power of Believing workshops; Mindfulness Gym;
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction; PART Training; and Art Alchemy
workshops.
Additionally, 46 young carers (between 8 and 17 years old) have attended
activities including, Laser Skirmish; Circus Skills, Kids in the Kitchen and
Artable.
There are still lots more courses and activities to come between now and the
end of June 2015.
Feedback from the activities and courses has been extremely positive so far
and we expect this to continue next year.
In the meantime, we wish you all a very wonderful Christmas and a happy
and healthy New Year.
From all of us at the Commonwealth Respite & Carelink Centre.
Recipes
11
Amanda, Kitra, Leanne, Teresa, Trudy, Beverley and Sandie
Wish You All a Very Merry Christmas
PAGE 2
Linking people with disability with their local communities
PAGE 3
ABOUT ABILITY LINKS
Ability Links aims to assist people with disability to be valued and equal members
of their communities and to help build a society where people with disability enjoy
inclusive lives in all spheres; community, public, private and social.
Ability Links is the NSW approach to local area coordination. It is about building a
person’s informal networks to support them to achieve their goals and have their needs and
interests met. It is also about promoting community inclusion and participation so that people
with disability are able to access and can participate in activities available to the general
community.
Ability Links forms part of the NSW contribution to the objectives of the National Disability
Insurance Agency.
WHAT DO LINKERS DO?
Ability Links coordinators, (known as Linkers), work with people with disability, their families and
carers to plan for their future.
They help people become more confident, supporting them to achieve their goals and access
support and services in their community.
Linkers also work alongside communities and mainstream services, supporting them to
become more welcoming and inclusive.
IS ABILITY LINKS FOR ME?
Ability Links is for…

People with disability (9-64 years), who are generally not accessing
specialist disability services.

Carers and families of people with disability.

A diverse range of people including Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander Australians and culturally and linguistically diverse people and
communities
The Linkers and Peer Linkers have joined the team and will work across the seven local
government areas (LGAs) of the Northern Rivers. There are several different contacts
depending on your local area.
General contact number, Far North Coast Ability Links:
NORTHERN RIVERS
1300 792 940, or [email protected]
Social Development Council
PAGE 4
Support Groups
FAMILY AND CARER MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM
Are you a family member or friend who has a loved one with a mental illness?
You are not alone.
Meet up with other carers who are in a similar situation in a relaxed, welcoming and
confidential environment—for support, information and skills to develop your own health and
wellbeing.
Location
Ballina
Tweed
Mullumbimby
Lismore
Kyogle
Casino
Time
When
Venue
5pm—7pm
4th
Ballina Bowling and Recreation
Club,
Cherry Street, Ballina.
1pm – 3pm
Monday of the
Month
26th January first group
for 2015.
Last Friday of the
Month
9:30am11am
Contact Leanne for first
group in 2015
th
4 Thursday of the
Month
10am –
12pm
Contact Leanne for first
group in 2015.
1st Monday of the
Month
10am 12pm
2nd February first group
for 2015.
st
1 Tuesday of the
Month
10am 12pm
3rd February first group
for 2015.
Last Tuesday of the
Month
South Tweed Sports Club
4 Minjungbal Dr, Tweed Heads
South
Mullumbimby Neighbourhood
Centre.
55 Dalley St, Mullumbimby.
Mission Australia
Westlawn Building, Level 2
29 Molesworth St, Lismore.
Kyogle Community Health Immunisation Room
199 Summerland Way, Kyogle
Casino Library Function Room
Graham Place
Casino
27th January first group
for 2015.
Please call numbers below if you have any inquiries regarding Support Groups.
BALLINA, TWEED & MULLUMBIMBY
Leanne Gilchrist
Family and Carer Mental Health Program,
Mission Australia
02 6623 7402 or 0409 818 643
LISMORE, KYOGLE & CASINO
Jennifer Owen-Holmes
Family and Carer Mental Health Program, Mission
Australia
02 6623 7401
PAGE 5
FAMILY AND CARER MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM
Our aims to ensure families and carers of people living with a mental illness receive appropriate
support, information, education and skill development to fulfil their caring role, while maintaining
their own health and wellbeing.
We connect carers with carer support groups and networks, mental health services,
non-government organisations and other services providers.
Our goals enhance the wellbeing, resilience and relationships of carers, improve health and
wellbeing of people living with mental illness through the support of their families and carers,
enhance relationships between carers and mental health services, and equip carers with valuable
education to assist them in their caring role.
Education and Training for Mental Health Carers
1st Semester, 2015
Education Session and Groups
Location
Month
6th February
26th February
Mindfulness and Relaxation – Sally Sharman
Deliberate Self Harm – How can I help? –Steve
Carrigg
Mindfulness and Relaxation – Sally Sharman
Trauma Informed Care - Mim Weber
Dealing with Aggressive Behaviours – Steve Carrigg &
Sally Sharman
Mindfulness and Relaxation – Sally Sharman
Lismore
Lismore
Understanding Carer Role
Mental Illness and Homelessness – Dr Peter Siefken
Mullumbimby
Ballina
Lismore
5th June
Dealing with Aggressive Behaviours – Steve Carrigg &
Sally Sharman
8 Stages of Healing for Mental Health Carers – Sally
Sharman and Leanne Gilchrist
Mindfulness and Relaxation
11th June
Trauma Informed Care – Mim Weber
Tweed
5th March
11th March
26th March
4th April
8th April
23rd April
1st May
12th May
6th May – 24th June
Lismore
Ballina
Tweed
Lismore
Mullumbimby
Lismore
All Education Sessions are for Family members and Friends who are caring for a loved one
with a Mental Condition.
Bookings are required for all groups for venue and catering purposes.
To book and to obtain times and venue details please call:
Sally Sharman
Education and Training Co-ordinator
02 6623 7403
PAGE 6
Carers Week & Other
Activities
What has happened so far...
FIRST AID WORKSHOP—
GRAFTON
THE POWER OF
BELIEVING—BALLINA
FIRST AID—LISMORE
MINDFULNESS BASED STRESS
REDUCTION—KIRRA
MINDFULNESS GYM—
ALSTONVILLE
CARERS LUNCH—MACLEAN
CARES LUNCH—TWEED HEADS
CARERS LUNCH—BALLINA X 2
CARERS LUNCH—GRAFTON
MINDFULNESS BASED STRESS
REDUCTION—LISMORE
PART TRAINING—TWEED
HEADS
ART ALCHEMY—NEWRYBAR
YOUNG CARERS—ARTABLE
YOUNG CARERS—CIRCUS
6
PAGE 8
SOME COMMENTS FROM CARERS WHO HAVE
ATTENDED VARIOUS ACTIVITIES:
The workshop was excellent and we got to experience new things like the flying trapeze
and the staff holding the workshop were really encouraging and supportive.
Only comment is H wished that it went for longer. He had great fun.
Surpassed my expectations in content venue & catering. I felt great today (next day) and
feel I have learnt really practical skills which I have already shared with my daughter,
many thanks.
Very nourishing, reassuring. Came home feeling balanced and a lot lighter.
Found the whole day an enjoyable experience hearing the other ladies stories. Having
time & space to concentrate on events both past & for the future. To consolidate a plan
for my daughters future. Thanks so much for the opportunity to enjoy an enjoyable day.
This is one of the two workshops enjoyed by me. The other being Art in Lismore. Both had
facilitators who were capable of keeping the participants thoroughly involved ALL THE
TIME. I must also mention that the entire CARER group was happy and involved
throughout.
Enjoyed each segment. All were hands on and not pages of notes which are sometimes
above my full comprehension and retention. Best workshop I have participated in. Thank
you for allowing me to attend. Would not change a thing, went home rejuvenated.
All I want to say is a big thank you.
It would be great if this was a six monthly or annual workshop. A lot of us learned a lot,
and with most of us we picked up something we had forgotten - easy to do when one is a
carer.
This was most interesting and useful course to update and re-affirm knowledge of first
aid procedure.
Having worked in a nursing home this was a top up to what I had already learnt and was
very good to update on anything new and was really useful to new carers. A lot of
questions were asked and answered.
Aged Care Complaints Scheme
PAGE 8
Information for care recipients, families, representatives and carers about
the Aged Care Complaints Scheme.
The Aged care Complaints Scheme assists with concerns about the quality of care or services you
are receiving from Australian Government subsidised aged care providers of residential care, Home
Care Packages and Commonwealth HACC services excluding HACC services in Western Australia and
Victoria.
They encourage you to raise your concern with the aged care provider first where possible as this can
often achieve a fast and sustainable Resolution.
If you cannot resolve your concern with the aged care provider, you can phone the Aged Care
Complaints Scheme on 1800 550 552. You can also lodge an online complaint at:
agedcarecomplaints.govspace.gov.au/concern/. The service is free.
Your concern may relate to any care or services provided to you by the service including personal or
clinical care, choice of activities, discrimination, catering, communication or the physical
environment.
“Who can raise a concern?”
Anyone can raise a concern.
This includes people receiving care, partners, family, representatives, friends, advocates, staff and
volunteers.
If you are raising a concern about the care someone else is receiving, you should make sure the
person (or his or her representative) knows about it.
We will examine concerns regardless of a person’s cultural background, disability, gender, sex and
gender identity, sexual orientation or any other status. We do not discriminate.
“What happens when I contact the Complaints Scheme?”
Our focus is on resolving your concern.
Please provide as much information as you can when you contact them. This helps them to
understand your issues and expectations.
They will select the options most likely to achieve the best outcome, based on the nature of your
concern and the risk to the person receiving care.
Aged Care Complaints Scheme
Phone 1800 550 552*
For further information about the Aged Care Complaints Scheme visit the website below
Website: health.gov.au/agedcarecomplaints
The Welfare Rights Centre
PAGE 9
The Welfare Rights Centre NSW is a community legal centre that specialises in social security
law. They can provide legal advice and information on matters relating to social security law
and issues with Centrelink.
The majority of advice is provided through the telephone advice service. They are based in
Sydney but provide a service to all of NSW. They can assist callers with advice on a range of
Centrelink matters such as:








Appealing Centrelink decisions
Centrelink debts
Qualifications for payments
Exemptions from or reductions to activity tests,
Information on income and assets tests
Residency
The effect of compensation on Centrelink payments and family assistance payments etc.
Requirements to qualify for a Carer Payment and Carer Assistance, breaks from caring
and studying or working while caring
The Welfare rights Centre produce factsheets and self-help guides, which are available on
their website. They publish the Independent Social Security Handbook which is available on
line.
The Welfare Rights Centre telephone advice times are:
Monday, Thursday and Friday
9.30am to 1.00pm
Tuesday
1.00pm to 4.30pm
Contact:
Phone
1800 226 028 (outside Sydney)
E-mail
[email protected]
Website:
www.welfarerights.org.au
Information sourced from Carers NSW – Carers News- August/September 2014
DAISI is a free confidential service providing information on services and
supports available to assist the aged and those of all ages with a disability; and
their families, carers and advocates.
Contact DAISI on
Freecall: 1800 800 340
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.daisi.asn.au
PAGE 10
CareSearch
- palliative care knowledge network
CareSearch is a website designed for palliative care patients, their carers, families
and for health professionals.
To celebrate Carers Week 2014, CareSearch released a new feature on their website
called My Information Kit.
My information Kit allows users to choose factsheets from the Australian Centre for
Grief and Bereavement, Palliative Care Australia and CareSearch. The resources
cover a range of issues that are relevant to carers, including:



Managing medications
Practical caring information
Grief and loss
My information Kit factsheets are written specifically for people who need
trustworthy, easy-to-understand palliative care information during a difficult time..
These include a series of 12 factsheets that Caresearch has developed specifically
for carers and cover practical case studies of different caring situations, including
coping with holidays, financial issues, asking for help and finding support.
Need information visit :
www.caresearch.com.au
PAGE 11
Chocolate Baubles







1/2 x 350g pkt frozen chocolate butter cake (Sara Lee brand), thawed, icing removed, cut into cubes
100g butter
250ml (1 cup) sweetened condensed milk
100g (1/2 cup, firmly packed) brown sugar
16 white marshmallows
65g (3/4 cup) desiccated coconut
80g chocolate sprinkles
http://www.taste.com.au/
recipes/2869/chocolate+baubles
Step 1
Place the chocolate cake in the bowl of a food processor and process until fine crumbs form.
Step 2
Combine the butter, condensed milk and brown sugar in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
Cook, stirring, for 10 minutes or until the butter melts and the mixture thickens and comes away
from the side of the pan. Remove from heat. Set aside for 30 minutes to cool slightly.
Step 3
Add the cake crumbs to the butter mixture and stir until well combined. Use your hands to roll 1
tablespoonful of the cake-crumb mixture around each marshmallow to enclose and form a ball.
Step 4
Combine the coconut and chocolate sprinkles on a large plate. Roll each chocolate ball in the
coconut mixture to evenly coat. Place on a tray lined with non-stick baking paper. Cover loosely
with plastic wrap and place in the fridge for 1 hour or until firm.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Frozen Mango
Margarita






2 x 300g pkts frozen mango cheeks
250ml (1 cup) silver tequila
160ml (2/3 cup) fresh lime juice
160ml (2/3 cup) Cointreau liqueur
100g (1/2 cup) caster sugar
2 cups ice cubes
Step 1
Place half the mango, tequila, lime juice, Cointreau, sugar and ice in the jug of a blender and
blend until smooth. Pour evenly among half the serving glasses. Repeat with the remaining
mango, tequila, lime juice, Cointreau, sugar and ice. Serve immediately.
http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/14705/frozen+mango+margarita
PO Box 739 ALSTONVILLE NSW 2477
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