The Disability Information and Resource Centre

Diabetes SA would like to invite you to attend a one day education session for health professionals working in the aged care setting.

This session will be held at Diabetes SA on Wednesday 29 May 2013, 9.30am-4.00pm.

For more information tel. 8234 1977 or to book online visit http://www.diabetessa.com.au/education/education-sessions/calendar

SHine SA’s sexual health course for disability workers. The course aims to help workers include relationships and sexual health education and support in their work. The final day includes assessment tasks which result in participants gaining a unit of competency in providing sexual and reproductive health information to clients. 20 May, 28 May and 3 June 2013 at Carers SA, 95 Swanport Road, Murray Bridge. Cost: $350. Book online at: www.shinesa.org.au/go/education-and-training/fresh-freedom-to-explore-sexual-health  Enquiries: email ralph.brew@health.sa.gov.au or call 8300 5317.

The Adelaide Disability & Ageing Expo is on again – August 16!
The Disability Information and Resource Centre (DIRC) is the proud host of the Annual Disability and Ageing Expo. The Adelaide expo, run every August, provides a wealth of the latest information, products and services available to those who are ageing or living with a disability, their families, friends and carers. The Disability and Ageing Expo also provides an excellent opportunity for service providers to network with each other and promote products and services to potential clients and develop brand awareness with the general public.

Click here for exhibitor information.

For enquiries please contact:

Justine Terese
DIRC Marketing & Event Coordinator
T: 08 8236 0575 M: 0411 896 010 E: events@dircsa.org.au

JFA Purple Orange Workshops for people living with disability, family and friends to be held May, June and July 2013 in Adelaide.

JFA Purple Orange is holding a series of workshops in Adelaide from May through July. The workshops explore how people living with disability can move towards a good life, especially given the changes to how disability support is funded. All workshops are held from 1:00pm—3:30pm at Our Space, 104 Greenhill Road, Unley, Adelaide. The workshops are free to attend (cancellation policy applies) and refreshments will be provided. Registration is essential.

These workshops target people living with disability and their families who are able to engage in an ordinary workshop format. A separate workshop will be held in September for people who may need extra help with learning. Contact us for details.

Workshop 1 is called You and Your Life. The description of this workshop is as follows. Thinking about who you are and the life you want to live. Explore how you see yourself and imagine a good life. The workshop is based on our Model of Citizenhood Support and explores a life that doesn’t have to be just about receiving disability services. This workshop will be held on Wednesday 22 May 2013.

Workshop 2 is called Making a Plan, Moving towards the life you want. The description of this workshop is as follows. Explore different approaches to planning to achieve what works best for you and examine the government requirements if your plan includes spending government money. This workshop will be held on Friday 24 May 2013.

Workshop 3 is called Choices and Voices, Finding information and being heard. The description of this workshop is as follows. An overview of the changes to disability funding locally and nationally: what is individualised funding and how will it affect you? Explore how to get the information you need and where to get help to make informed choices and have your voice heard. This workshop will be held on Wednesday 29 May 2013.

Workshop 4 is called Connected, Navigating into community life. The description of this workshop is as follows. Explore ways people actively connect into community life, including going beyond standard respite and day support options. This workshop will be held on Wednesday 5 June 2013.

Workshop 5 is called Choosing your Personal Assistance, It’s your support. The description of this workshop is as follows. Explore the relationship between a person and the formal assistance in their lives, and what you might look for when choosing a person or agency to assist you. This workshop will be held on Wednesday 12 June 2013.

Workshop 6 is called My Home, My Castle, Creating your sanctuary. The description of this workshop is as follows. Explore the difference between a house, a home and a support staff workplace, and what might work best for you. This workshop will be held on Wednesday 19 June 2013.

Workshop 7 is called Safeguarding for a Good Life, How to stay safe while living your life. The description of this workshop is as follows. Explore the relationship between vulnerability and risk, and how greater awareness of safeguards, and thinking about your own attitude to risk, may help you do more of the things you want. This workshop will be held on Wednesday 3 July 2013.

Workshop 8 is called Leadership. The description is as follows. Explore the options of consumer led entities and the NDIS. The date for this workshop is still to be confirmed.

Registration Form

A cancellation policy applies to all workshops. Once registered it is important you attend or nominate a proxy or provide seven (7) days notice of cancellation as places are limited. Otherwise you may be charged a cancellation fee of $20 (except in extenuating circumstances). By registering you agree to these terms.

Click here to download the registration form and find out more information.

The next Introduction to Volunteering course will be starting in May 2013. This course is being run from Trott Park and is free.

Learn about rights and responsibilities of the volunteer and the organisation, what volunteer roles are out there and assistance to match you with an appropriate role.

Click here to download the flyer for more information.

The State Government is offering organisations across South Australia grants of up to $10,000 towards the cost of training courses for volunteers and volunteer managers from not-for-profit incorporated community organisations. Courses should assist volunteers to obtain the skills and qualifications needed to support their volunteering roles or to meet the identified training needs of the local community.

Funding from the $80,000 Free Volunteer Training Grants program is available to eligible South Australian volunteer resource centres, councils, training providers and not-for-profit incorporated community organisations.

See the Office for Volunteering website for more information.

Do you know someone who needs to update their resume, improve their interview skills or just get some more confidence to get out there and sell themselves?
This course could be for them! It is especially designed for someone who is trying to get back in the workforce, change career or just needs more motivation.
Please find flyer attached for the Win that Job! program.This was Adult Learning Program of the Year 2012!!  One not one to be missed……..

A new course will start next term. It is called ‘I want to be a better me!’ This is a free, 9 week course!!

It is designed for participants who would like to change their lifestyle to a healthier one….. people will learn about cheap opportunities for physical activity and healthy eating.

All participants will get the opportunity to create their own goals to gain more confidence and motivation.
Please look at the attached flyer for more information.

The conundrum of the chicken & egg is surely matched by the question of the causal linkage of mental disorders & substance use. A commentry by Kavanagh highlights the complexity of the matter. He quotes a study by de Graaf which found that cannabis use in adolescence produced a modest increased risk of subsequent depression, a result which ‘highlighted the complex web of behavioural, cognitive and emotional factors that appear involved’. In unpacking further studies which attempt to demonstrate a causal link, the inability to make definitive statements becomes clear. The author concludes: ‘The complexity of potential causal connections requires that we initially approach co-occurring disorders as primary and having potential for mutual interaction, providing integrated treatment for both, while observing the apparent strength of specific causal associations over time.This approach does not guarantee success, but it may allow delivery of a treatment that is better suited to an individual’s situation, than if practitioners routinely focus on a single disorder.’

Kavanagh,D. Commentary on Liang et al. (2011): Unravelling the tangle of comorbidity –are we there yet?aAddiction, 106, 1135–1136 1135..

Would you like to learn more about the conceptualization & mangement of such cases? You may like to attend our next workshop on Friday 5th April.

Comorbidity Workshop

5th April 9.30am – 4.30pm

Presented by Malcolm Robinson

The prevalence of complexity and comorbidity in the community is a major issue for the health, mental health, welfare, education and disability sector. The co-occurrence of substance use disorders with mental and other disorders is a common dilemma for clinical and therapeutic treatment, counselling and case management processes. Comorbidity and the complex interactions that occur in such matters act as a significant constraint to treatment and management and the options available to agencies and practitioners. This also raises major questions about the compartmentalisation of treatment processes for disorders and conditions that are clearly linked to each other. Dealing with these apparently separate disorders separately is systemic nonsense. Practitioners need to consider these disorders and problems as part of the whole person and family; as complex phenomena closely linked to one another. Whilst there are significant problems for practitioner s in the management of people with complex circumstances and comorbidity there is still a dearth of information available about best practice. The Bower Place Complex Needs Clinic specialises in work with a diverse population of complex, comorbid individuals, couples and families and has developed a comprehensive integrated methodology to address the dilemma that these matters present in therapeutic practice. This methodology is premised upon ideas drawn from neurobiology, justice, contract theory and socio-relational interaction. This is a small group workshop for practitioners to examine the direct application of this methodology to clinical practice with complex comorbid matters, the development clinical skill, and the development of sound management principles.

To Register click here

Are you under 20 years of age, in primary or secondary study, receiving Disability Support Pension and need help with education costs? The Schoolkids Bonus can help you.

The Schoolkids Bonus replaces the Education Tax Refund that was previously claimed through the tax system. Unlike the Education Tax Refund, you don’t need to claim the Schoolkids Bonus or keep receipts for education costs.

Other people who are eligible include families receiving Family Tax Benefit Part A and students receiving some income support payments (such as Carer Payment) and veterans’ allowances.

The Schoolkids Bonus is paid in January and July every year.

You (or your carer, on your behalf) will receive two instalments of $410—a total of $820 per year.

Provide us with your study details

You need to provide us with your study details so we can pay you the Schoolkids Bonus, if you’re eligible. Call us on 132 717 or visit your nearest service centre.

For more information about the Schoolkids Bonus, visit the Human Services website and search for Schoolkids Bonus.