The Disability Information and Resource Centre

Siblings Australia are launching a new DVD titled “Stronger Siblings: Support for Brothers and Sisters of Children with Disability”.

The launch will be presented by Ian Henschke, ABC presenter, 891 Mornings on November 3rd 2011 at the Mercury Cinema.

Bookings are essential. RSVP by October 12th 2011.

More information is available here.

Saturday Sibs is the Siblings Australia recreational program for primary school-aged siblings of children with disability. The program is run by a group of young volunteers – in their early twenties and most are doing or have completed a psychology or social work degree – a lovely group who all have police clearances and have gone through an induction.

The aim of the program is to enable siblings to take part in activities that might be otherwise tricky for their family.

The following activities are planned at this stage – all on a Sunday at the moment, as the year goes on, later ones will be on either Saturday or Sunday

May 15 11am Bowling at Cross Road Bowl + Maccas

June 5 12.30-4pm Ice-skating at Ice Arena

July 3 Movies & craft (time to be determined)

Variety, the Children’s Charity, covers the costs of the activities for the children.

A mother of one of the children, Sam Paior, is the parent contact and normally manages children numbers, respite etc. Please email her, sam@skuut.com.au or call on 0410513013, if you are interested.

Please note numbers are limited.

As per previous years, there is no cost for your child to attend, and a respite worker can usually be arranged through Carer Support to care for your other child (also at no cost to you) and give you a break while *all* the kids have fun!

Siblings Australia have had to close their Unley office and place their furniture and other items into storage. They need to find a storage space within the next couple of weeks.

They have several desks, filing cabinets, bookcases, a bar fridge, considerable number of boxes and other sundry gear. It would need a max space of about 3m x 3m.

They are also looking for discounted or free moving costs.

If you can help please contact Siblings Australia on 8357 1214 or info@siblingsaustralia.org.au.

We have received the following information from Siblings Australia:

I am writing to ask for your support, leading up to this year’s Federal election. Once again, Siblings Australia is at risk of being unable to continue its important work in supporting siblings of people living with disability or chronic illness. I am asking that you write letters to your local and/or national parliamentarians telling them why sibling support is important.

In the twelve years since the establishment of Siblings Australia, the organisation has gained a national and international reputation. However, we have faced many hurdles, none more devastating than the loss of funding when the new ALP government came into power in 2007. Since then we have continued to carry out a number of valuable projects to support siblings, families and providers despite severe resource restrictions. However, Siblings Australia is not able to continue this work without proper resources. It would be shameful if this experience and expertise were to be lost.

We are very fortunate to have recently had Families Australia support our efforts by including Siblings Australia in their election proposals. You can read the National Action Plan for Siblings, and a Briefing Paper about the work of Siblings Australia, here. You can see the details of all the Families Australia’s 2010 election proposals, including those relating to siblings on their website. We now need your support in this campaign.

Please feel free to write your own letter but, in order to make it easier, a pro forma document to guide this letter writing campaign in support of Siblings Australia is included below, which you can adapt as you wish to suit your own situation/experience.

We suggest you email any or all of the below parliamentarians, and any others that you wish (you can cc them into one email):

1. Chair, Senate Community Affairs References Committee, Senator Rachel Siewert (AG, WA) senator.siewert@aph.gov.au
2. Chair, House of Representatives Standing Committee on Health and Ageing, Mr Steve Georganas MP (ALP, Hindmarsh, SA) Steve.Georganas.MP@aph.gov.au
3. Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FAHCSIA) The Hon Jenny Macklin MP (ALP, Jagajaga, VIC) JMacklin.MP@aph.gov.au
4. Minister of Health and Ageing, The Hon Nicola Roxon MP (ALP, Gellibrand, VIC) Nicola.Roxon.MP@aph.gov.au
5. You may also like to cc your local Member (see list here) and also Siblings Australia.

We appreciate any advocacy efforts you are able to give in order to ensure our ongoing commitment to siblings.

Kind regards

Kate Strohm
Executive Director

Siblings Australia Inc

p 08 83571214
m 0408 720 558
a 23a king william road, unley, sa 5061
e kate@siblingsaustralia.org.au
w www.siblingsaustralia.org.au

The pro forma email (to be adapted and copied as you wish):

I am writing to support the 2010 election proposals put forward by Siblings Australia and Families Australia and also the Siblings Australia National Action Plan for siblings.

Siblings Australia is the only organisation in this country that is focussed on addressing the unique concerns of brothers and sisters of people with special needs; including chronic illness, disability and mental health issues. However it needs resources in order to continue.

[if you wish, INSERT HERE a paragraph from your own experience (personal and/or professional) about the needs of siblings, the outcomes if support is or is not available and the impact and importance of Siblings Australia OR DELETE THIS SENTENCE.]

Siblings are too important to ignore, not only for their own sake but also for the sake of their brother or sister with special needs.

Can you please assure me that you will consider very carefully the proposal put forward by Families Australia/Siblings Australia for a national co-ordinating organisation to continue this important work?

I look forward to your reply.

Yours sincerely…

Navigate Mental Health in partnership with Siblings Australia is currently seeking expressions of interest for a sibling support group for young people aged 13-16.

The program will look at supporting the needs of siblings of young people impacted by mental illness and include activity based support designed to meet their needs.

The group will be run in the April school holidays over two days from 9am – 3pm.

For more details please see the flyer.

Please contact Navigate on 8159 1400 or Toll Free on 1800 809 304 to register interest before February 26th 2010.