Families Australia is the national peak not-for-profit organisation dedicated to promoting the needs and interests of families. It seeks to do this at the national level by acting as a conduit for information and views between, on one hand, the Federal Government and its agencies, and, on the other, individuals, families and community-based organisations. From time-to-time, Families Australia conducts focus groups and other forms of consultation to explore understandings about contemporary family issues.

Work to date on siblings issues

Since 2009, Families Australia has worked with Siblings Australia to advocate for and raise the profile of siblings as a cohort, for whom the public policy debate about their wellbeing and potential, is largely silent.

During this period of collaboration, Families Australia has worked together with Siblings Australia to develop a position paper prior to the last Federal election, contributed to the development of the Royal Australian & New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) position paper on siblings, promoted Siblings Australia web resources, as well as regularly included siblings issues in advocacy papers to the Federal Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA).

Families Australia welcomes the recent undertaking by the RANZCP, in advancing the interests of siblings living in complex environments. Their Position Paper 69: Addressing the needs of siblings of children with disability or chronic illness, (http://www.ranzcp.org/images/stories/ranzcp-attachments/Resources/College_Statements/Position_Statements/ps69.pdf) is supported by a more comprehensive report, (http://www.ranzcp.org/images/stories/ranzcp-attachments/Resources/siblings_report.pdf) in which the lack of data and information about sibling needs and supports is articulated. Strategically, the lack of evidence on siblings and their needs creates a ‘greenfield’ or under-developed public policy area, which presents as an opportunity for policy and program development.

Families Australia is particularly interested to understand the implications of mental health and wellbeing issues facing siblings. Siblings are defined as those who have brothers and/or sisters with a chronic condition; whether that condition is disability or chronic illness and includes mental illness.

Purpose of sibling consultation

The purpose of this focus group is to explore the recommendations made by the RANZCP. The aim is to identify practical strategies to underpin the RANZCP recommendations and which Families Australia will utilise in its on-going support for siblings in the national policy arena.

Focus group arrangements

The focus group will consist of approximately 10 people, the majority being siblings, and may include teachers or other workers with a specific interest in sibling support and potentially one or two parents. This diverse mix will create opportunities for multiple interests to be taken into consideration, for example young siblings or teachers who support young siblings within the education system.

The duration of each session will be 1 ½ hours.

The two alternate dates are Friday, 10th February, 5 – 6.30 pm OR Saturday, 11th February, 10 – 11.30.

The venue: UnitingCare Wesley, Adelaide, 2nd Floor, 10 Pitt Street, Adelaide.

Your hosts: Kate Strohm, Siblings Australia and Stella Conroy, Families Australia. Light refreshments will be available.

The discussion and feedback will contribute to future advocacy for siblings.

The Hosts

Kate is the founder and Director of Siblings Australia, and has a sister with cerebral palsy. Stella has a long history in the human services sector, working across diverse family settings and is currently the senior policy manager with Families Australia. Stella is a sibling of an adult brother, who has an enduring mental illness.

RSVP

If you are interested in attending one of the sessions please send your details (name, phone, email) and preferred session via email to kate@siblingsaustralia.org.au or phone 0408720558 by 30 January.

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.

When: Tuesday 20th Sept 9.30am – 12.30pm

Venue: Autism SA, 262 Marion Rd, Netley

Price: $10 per family (payable at door)

Contact: call info line on 1300 288 47 to book or for more info

www.autismsa.org.au

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!

November 12 – 14 2010.

Participants must be between 7 and 18 years old and have a brother or sister with cystic fibrosis.

To register, contact Robyn at CFSA on 8221 5595.

For more information visit www.purplesoup.org.

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…

Livewire, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Starlight Children’s Foundation, today launched Livewire Siblings, a new online community, where young people aged over 10 and under 21, who have a brother or sister living with a serious illness, chronic health condition or disability can support and connect with one another.

Livewire Siblings siblings.livewire.org.au is a free, safe and supportive community where young people can meet and chat online with other siblings who understand what they are going through. The site allows them to share experiences as well as gain skills and knowledge to help them feel more in control of their situation.

Currently, there are approximately 585,000¹ siblings, aged over 10 and under 21, of people living with a serious illness, chronic health condition or disability in Australia. These young people often face unique teenage challenges, and suffer a heavy emotional burden – experiencing feelings of isolation from the rest of their family and their peers; as well as guilt, confusion, anger, jealousy.

Prominent child and adolescent psychologist, Dr Michael Carr-Gregg, says “The sibling relationship is the single most important relationship that a chronically ill young person will have – in terms of its duration and intensity – and the psychological impact on the sibling can be as significant, if not more, than the psychological impact on the patient.

“Up until very recently, siblings needs have been overlooked and ignored, and I commend Livewire for recognising the importance of this formerly invisible group,” he concluded.

As part of Livewire Siblings, young people can chat online with other siblings, create blogs, read content and information created just for them, check out the latest music and games, post in forums and have their say!

“The launch of Livewire Siblings, signifies the next exciting step in Livewire’s goal to connect and support young Australians, aged over 10 and under 21, living with a serious illness, chronic health condition, and their families. Too often, the needs of siblings are forgotten in the wake of their brother or sister’s illness, yet there is an overwhelming need to connect and befriend others with similar experiences who understand their situation and can empathise,” says Omar Khalifa, Managing Director, Livewire.

“Livewire aims to fulfill their need to connect with others, providing a forum for self expression, and enabling them to work through the healing process by discussing issues, concerns, troubles and experiences,” he added.

Unlike other social networks, Livewire Siblings is a secure, moderated community tailored to the needs of its members. Livewire Siblings chat hosts and moderators are trained in adolescent health, and are online seven days a week to ensure that Livewire remains a supportive and fun place to be. Livewire works closely with the Australian Federal Police to help ensure all members of Livewire remain safe while engaging with the community.

This project is supported by funding from the Australian Government under the Clever Networks program, Starlight and major partners. This funding has enabled Livewire to develop a long lasting, sustainable program that will connect, support and empower its members.

Any young Australian aged over 10 and under 21, who has a sibling currently living with a serious illness, chronic health condition or disability who wishes to join Livewire Siblings, or find out more information should visit www.livewire.org.au or contact member.services@livewire.org.au.

NOTES:
1 ABS, “Australian Social Trends, 2008” – Families with a young child with a disability – average family size of children with a disability is 2.3 children compared to 1.8 children in couple families without a child with a disability.

Trick or treat your way around the hall with activities for the kids,
sausage sizzle and fun for the whole family.

$15 entry for kids, includes trick or treat

Adults free with accompanying child

All children must be accompanied by an adult

Where: 2B Chief St Hindmarsh

Saturday October 31st 1:30 – 4:00 pm

For more details contact Nadia on 0400 703 099 or email
paka1@iprimus.com.au

The Siblings Project is an opportunity to use dance, theatre, music, photography or film to engage with Australia’s leading youth dance company that works with disabled and non-disabled people to create unexpectedly real dance theatre.

When: Wednesday evenings from 6.00 – 8 pm
29th July – September 23rd
Where: Restless Studio, 234a Sturt St Adelaide SA 5000 (entrance off Arthur St).
Cost Free.

For bookings and more information:
Telephone: (08) 8212 8495
Email: info@restlessdance.org

The focus of the conference will be on creating connections to ensure quality sibling support now and into the future, and is for anyone interested in families of children / adults with special needs – providers, researchers, policy makers and families themselves.

For submission details for presentations and to register your interest in attending go to www.sapmea.asn.au/siblings09