The Disability Information and Resource Centre

If you care for someone with Parkinson’s, Parkinson’s SA invites you to morning tea on Wednesday November 30th at Aged Care Alternatives.

For full details have a look at the flyer.

Carers SA River Murray and Mallee Carers invites you to attend these free courses for Carers.

Wednesday 2nd Novenber 2011
Berri Resort Hotel, Riverview Drive, Berri

The Carer Journey

9.30am to 12pm

Registrations from 9am

• Explore the concept of caring as a journey, with six common stages
• Identify and share your own experience of the carer journey
• Learn appropriate strategies and tools to support each stage of your caring journey

Manual Handling

1pm to 3.30pm

Registrations from 12.45pm

• Back care and posture
• Basic manual handling
• Preventing falls
• Safe home environments
• Aids for daily living

This is a practical, hands-on workshop. Please wear comfortable clothing and comfortable low-heeled shoes.

Register with River Murray and Mallee Carers, Loxton.
Ph: 8584 6855 or 1800 806 580.
Registration is essential.

Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea will be provided.

A carer contribution of $10 is requested.

River Murray and Mallee Carers are organising a 4 day retreat at the Monarto Zoo. This retreat is an opportunity for you to relax with time out from your caring role.

Monarto Zoo Retreat 22nd to 25th November – 4 days and 3 nights
Staying at the Rivers Edge Caravan park, in Tailem Bend
Share accommodation in Park cabins only.

Enjoy the scenic drive through the Mallee with accommodation overlooking the beautiful River Murray. A full day tour of the Monarto Zoological Park with a 3 course gourmet BBQ lunch provided by Red Jam catering at the waterhole function centre in the Zoo. The following day relax by the river with your choice of activity.

Eligibility criteria: Retreats are funded by Home and Community Care and are therefore open to Carers who are caring for someone who is frail aged, or frail aged themselves or cares for an adult with a moderate to severe disability.

Expressions of Interest: Must be lodged by 5pm on Monday 24th October 2011. When lodging your expression of interest you must intend to go on the retreat. Talk to the caree and relevant supports prior to registering.

If eligible you will receive an acceptance letter and forms by 2nd November, which must be returned by no later than 5pm on Monday 14th November 2011.

Contact River Murray and Mallee Carers, Loxton: 8584 6855 or 1800 806 580.

Consumer Directed Care – What will it mean for me? Western Linkages Regional Forum Mon 14 Nov, 10.00am – 2.00pm City of Charles Sturt Civic Centre, 72 Woodville Rd, Woodville.

Consumer Directed Care enables people who receive services and their Carers to have greater control over the design and delivery of the services they receive.

Consumers, Carers and Service Providers are invited to come and hear about the current ways that services in the West are utilising Consumer Directed Care Principles to increase flexibility and maximise consumer control.

Program includes an overview of Consumer Directed Care and will showcase current service models including ACH, Resthaven, Uniting Care Wesley and the Disability sector. Importantly presentations will include Consumers / Carers of those who are receiving Consumer Directed Care and service providers.

Guest presenter Dr Heather Waddy TQEH Neurologist and Carer will speak about Consumer Directed Care and Dementia.

Click here to register or go www.westernlinkages.org.au and follow the links. Bookings are also available by phone: 8440 6737.

There is no cost for this forum.

Download the flyer.

Carers SA Invites Carers & Their families and Carer Groups to:

2011 Carers Day – at the Movies

This event is part of the National Carers Day celebrations being held across Australia to recognize family carers.

Movie: Water for Elephants (Admission is free for carers & their families)

Date: Tuesday, October 18 2011

At: Capri Theatre 141 Goodwood Rd, Goodwood SA

Time: Tea & Coffee from 10.30, Organ at 10:45, Movie 11.00am

Bookings essential. RSVP by Thursday, October 13 Ph: 8291 5600

Carer groups are welcomed but please RSVP ASAP to secure your seats.

Passenger drop off zone at the Capri Theatre front doors for those with limited mobility.

Limited parking for drivers dropping off those with limited mobility at:
Goodwood Community Centre, Rosa St off Goodwood Rd.

Get the full Carers Week Program of events here.

Carers of adults with a mental illness find it difficult to access the Carer Payment and the Carer Allowance. In 2004, the government reported that 1.3 million Australians are missing out on the Centrelink benefits designed to help them to participate in the community.

Carers Victoria are conducting a survey to find out more and to inform government what needs to be done to ensure that carers of adults with a mental illness get the payments they are entitled to.

There are two ways you can participate:

1. An online survey (allow around 15 minutes to complete).
2. Via telephone conversation or interview (allow around 30 minutes).

For more information, click here, or you can send an email to Penny Paul to register your interest.

A Carer Forum facilitated jointly by Uniting Care Wesley Bowden, Commonwealth Respite & Carelink, and Northern Carers Network.

Tuesday 30 August 2011, 10am to 2pm

Includes morning tea and light luncheon.

Salisbury Uniting Church Hall
Cnr Park and Brown Terraces, Salisbury

For more information click here.

The School of Health Sciences at the University of South Australia is conducting a research project that seeks to identify methods of measuring stress.

They are looking for carers between the ages of 18 and 70 to volunteer for the study.

For full details click here.

Are you providing ongoing care to a family member or friend with a disability, chronic illness (including mental illness) or a person who is frail and needs your assistance with everyday tasks?

Are you a young carer – a young person providing ongoing care?

If your answer is yes, then you are a carer under the SA Carers Recognition Act 2005.

The SA Carers Recognition Act commenced in 2005 to recognise and support carers and their role in the community. It also requires services for carers, and those for whom they care, to be delivered in line with the South Australian Carers Charter.

The operation and effectiveness of the Act is currently under review, and the Office for Carers is inviting carers and those with an interest from across the state to have their say.

How well is the Act working? What are the gaps? How can it be improved?

There are several ways in which you can contribute your views:

1. Complete the online survey on www.sa.gov.au/carers
2. Print a copy of the survey from www.sa.gov.au/carers and email or post your submission to:
   Office for Carers PO Box 70 Rundle Mall Adelaide SA 5000
   Or email: carersactreview@dfc.sa.gov.au
3. To have a copy posted to you, call Office for Carers on 08 8207 0424 during business hours.
4. Consultation sessions for carers, service providers and government agencies are being held in several regions. For more information, contact the local carer support service at:
   Mount Gambier: Ph 08 8724 7188
   Barossa: Ph 08 8562 4000
   Davoren Park: Ph 08 8284 0388
   Coober Pedy: Ph 08 8672 5376
   Port Augusta: Ph 08 8641 1844

Submissions close 5pm Friday 19 August 2011

This is your chance to have your say! Don’t miss it!

Investigating the relationship between quality of life and career development of parents of children with Down Syndrome and Autism Spectrum Disorder

Friday, June 24, midday 1pm, Room N220B, Sturt North Buildings, Flinders University

Viviene Mangos, Honours Research Proposal

This study plans to build on previous research undertaken by the author in 2009 regarding the Quality of life (QOL) and career development of parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). A rationale for this investigation will be presented followed by a discussion of relevant theoretical frameworks and a proposed research methodology ..

Reducing Anxiety in Professional Carers of People with Dementia

Friday, July 8, midday 1pm, Room N220A, Sturt North Buildings, Flinders University

Graham Webber, PhD Progress Seminar

This study builds on a previous MSc thesis that identified the high levels of use of complementary therapies in the treatment and management of people with dementia. The researcher plans to examine the perceived effects of a complementary therapy (Reiki) in reducing the anxiety of professional care-givers who are supporting people with dementia. A report will be given on the planning to date and discussion of important issues will be encouraged by the audience.