| SEPTEMBER 2015 |

Welcome to this September’s edition of Nexus. This month we take a look at Community Options SA (COSA), a division of Novita. COSA meets the needs of children, adolescents and adults with disability or additional needs as well as families. Their individualised services promote choice, independence and empowerment. Read on to find out more.

Welcome from Jo General Manager Jo Shearer brings a wealth of experience to Community Options SA (COSA).

COSA offers a range of services for people living with disability, as well as families with other additional needs.

We provide the following services for children, adolescents and adults with disability:

• accommodation and tenancy support services

• Day Options programs

• recreation and community access groups

• in-home support

• family support and education services

• Out of School Hours Care (OSHC)

We have more exciting developments ahead.

COSA is working towards growing our group-based Day Options programs and our recreation and community access services in the future.

I joined COSA late last year, after more than a decade working in the public service. My experiences include working for the advisory committee on education and care for children and students with disabilities for the Minister for Education and Child Development.

Earlier in my career I worked in accommodation and community support services for people with intellectual disabilities. I’ve also spent time working for universities in service evaluation and

delivering professional learning to special education and disability studies students.

It is terrific to return to a disability service agency and work towards making a direct difference to the quality of lives of people living with disability.

I hope you enjoy reading more about COSA services in this special edition of NEXUS.

If you want to chat more about our services and how our services can assist you or your family, please contact our team on 8243 8243 or visit our website,

www.communityoptionssa.com.au

In July, COSA began a new vacation care service based at the Adelaide West Special Education Centre. This service runs in addition to TeenZone, Novita’s OSHC service for teenagers with a disability.

The program, known as AdWest OSHC, operates during the school holidays and caters for children from reception to senior secondary school. It is designed for children with high support needs and is staffed on a 1:3 ratio.

12 students attended the session when it began in July.

Educators at AdWest OSHC provide a program which meets the individual care and learning needs of each child.

The ‘My Time, Our Place - Framework for School Age Care in Australia’ supports the program which is delivered by trained staff with experience working with children living with a disability.

Feedback from families and staff after our first vacation care was very positive.

AdWest complements TeenZone, our other OSHC service. TeenZone runs specifically for teenagers at Hamilton Secondary College in Mitchell Park, and at Novita’s Regency Park Centre.

If you would like more information about AdWest, or TeenZone please contact the Team Leader Vanessa Wardle at vanessa.wardle@novita.org.au

COSA run seven recreation programs and two school holiday programs. These programs are available for adults and youth with mild to moderate intellectual disability and low support needs that are current clients of South Australia’s Department for Communities and Social Inclusion (Disability SA). They’re based in Adelaide’s southern and western suburbs and in the Fleurieu Peninsula.

Activities at the groups vary and include:

• movies, bowling, mini-golf and dance events

• lunches or dinners out at a local hotel, RSL, restaurant or eatery

• visits on the tram to markets, Rundle Mall, Glenelg or city

• excursion to fairs, the Royal Show, horse races, wildlife parks, museums or art galleries

• visits to Inflatable World, Bounce!, MegaZone laser skirmish, the Beachouse or a dolphin cruise

• Playground adventures at the Jubilee Park, Adventure Playground at Old Noarlunga and Kardi Yarta Adventure Playground at North Haven. You’re never too old to have fun at a playground!

Some groups have vacancies. To join, a referral is required from the local Disability SA Branch. Contact us on 8243 8243 or email admin@communityoptionssa.com.au to enquire about availability.

Expressions @ BowerThe program at Bower Cottages Semaphore Park runs on Thursdays. Nine adults take part in the four hour sessions. Activities include craft, music, cooking, games and DVDs, as well as walks for those able to join.

Friendship Star A Friday evening group which meets every two to three weeks at Melrose Park.

Guys, Girls and Gigs Held at Noarlunga on a Friday evening, monthly.

Southern Adelaide Recreation Program (SARP) The group meets at O’Halloran Hill and runs every second Saturday for four hours.

Jet SportsThe group for adults is held fortnightly on Saturdays for four hours.

Fleurieu Kids WeekenderA Sunday program that runs monthly in Victor Harbor. The group enjoys activities locally and further afield.

Fun and Friendship The group for adults runs fortnightly on Sundays from Woodcroft.

School holiday programs Two school holiday programs operate in the southern suburbs and the Fleurieu Peninsula region.

As the NDIS rolls out in SA we want to expand our services to others, so keep in touch.

COSA have set up a new accommodation service in Murray Bridge. Our growing number of accommodation support staff are helping four new clients who are residing in their own homes to live independently. The service is staffed 24 hours, seven days a week.

Murray Bridge offers a beautiful back drop for the program which is all about supporting community participation and skill development whilst working alongside clients to live as independently as possible as they pursue their individual goals and interests.

This new Murray Bridge Program is the third accommodation service for COSA. Our other accommodation services are in Murray Bridge and Gawler.

RIGHT - Client, Mat has been enjoying his new home and likes hiking, music, getting out for a drive and has started jogging with members of the team.

Accommodation service inMurray Bridge

The aim of the COPE program is to improve children’s development and to support parents.

The weekly supported playgroups run in partnership with Bagster Road Community Centre in Salisbury North, Parafield Gardens Children’s Centre and Lake Windemere Children’s Centre.

The Lake Windemere playgroup is running on Saturday mornings to provide parents with alternative opportunities to be involved. The playgroups are run by experienced staff and provide an opportunity for parents and children to get together and join in discussion and share activities in a stimulating environment.

Parent information workshops are also offered each week and include a crèche to make it easier for parents to attend. The workshops cover a broad range of topics such as language development, health, reading and behaviour. For further information about COPE please contact sarah.stevens@novita.org.au

COSA has established a new family service in the northern suburbs. Community Options Parent Engagement (COPE) offers supported playgroups, parent information sessions and will eventually offer home visiting where parents provide each other with advice and practical tips on parenting issues.

1300 NOVITA (1300 668 482)www.novita.org.au/c4k

A truck load of fun for the whole family!

Sunday 18 October 201510am - 2pm

CMV Truck Sales100 Port Wakefield Road,Cavan

Gold coin donation entry - Supporting Novita Children’s Services

Live Entertainment

Jumping Castles

Face Painting

Truck and Vehicle Displays

And much more

September signifies the end of winter and the gateway to longer, warmer days, making it the ideal time to think about getting active!

Novita’s ConnectABILITY program will be coordinating some activities during the October school holidays, specifically giving Novita clients the opportunity to try something new and have fun. Movie club will be back again at Novita’s St Marys office on Thursday 8 October (second week of school holidays). Showing the classic movie ‘The Mighty Ducks’, there will be winter themed, fun activities for the kids to enjoy.

The South Australian Cricket Association (SACA) is generously running a cricket clinic just for Novita clients. This will be held on Tuesday 29 September (first week of school holidays) at the Adelaide Oval Indoor Cricket Centre.

To find out more about the above activities, or for general enquiries regarding recreation (active and non-active), contact Emily Ayles – ConnectABILITY Recreation Officer by phone: 8172 9232 or email emily.ayles@novita.org.au

Ability First Australia (AFA) is seeking feedback from parents of children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (0-6 years) who are receiving Novita services that are funded by the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

Parents of Novita clients who match the age and ASD criteria should have received the survey by email or a printed form from your child’s therapists.

AFA is a national body of Australia’s leading disability organisations working to ensure that every Australian living with disabilities and their families, will have access to programs that maximise their potential by creating opportunities for them to make their own choices.

Aims of the surveyThe survey aims to collect feedback on parent’s experiences of NDIS funded services from AFA member organisations, and to gain an understanding of parents’ priorities for therapy services for their children in the years ahead.

Survey information The survey will take approximately 15 minutes to complete and close on 30 September 2015.

How the results will be used The results from this survey will be collected anonymously by an independent research company, ‘Reflections Research,’ and will be reported back to AFA. It will help inform Novita service development and improvement, and AFA service development around Australia.

Further information If you have any questions about the survey or have not received one as yet, please speak to your child’s Novita therapist or call Julie Astley, Director Operations (Client Services), on 8243 8210 or email julie.astley@novita.org.au

Ability First Australia Survey

Novita is thrilled to announce an exclusive Junior Jam session with members from the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. The popular ASO Junior Jams series offers pre-school aged children the chance to sing, dance and make music together as they discover the instruments of the orchestra through stories, songs and demonstrations by musicians of the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. It’s designed especially for little people to engage with and enjoy making music in a stimulating program and will be presented by Elizabeth McCall and Emily Gann.

Novita will hold the session at the St Marys office on 27 October 2015 starting at 10.30am.

Please register your interest by calling Novita on 1300 668 482 or speaking with your therapist.

Bookings must be made by 22 October 2015.

What’s new at the Library?

Dino Meal [game]In Dino Meal this hungry Dinosaur has stolen another dinosaur’s eggs. Roll the dice to choose which egg to rescue first, then carefully reach in and take out the egg...but watch out! You never know when this intimidating Dinosaur might leap out at you. Win the game by rescuing the eggs before the Dinosaur gets you.

Minion Dave [toy]Minions is an American 3D computer-animated comedy film. ‘Dave’ is one of the characters from the film he has a voice, lights and pop out eyes. Press the front pocket to hear Dave’s voice (7 different sayings).

Spider-man with turbo racer [toy]This Titan Hero Series Spider-Man figure comes with a SpeedyTurbo Racer vehicle and four removable missiles.

The Novita Library is located at the Regency Park Centre, 171 Days Road Regency Park. It’s open from 8.30 to 4.30 Monday to Friday. We’re excited to introduce the following new items to our collection:

Novita is excited to introduce a new physiotherapy service for children.

Novita Kids Physio is available for children with physical disabilities, injuries or other conditions that benefit from physiotherapy.

The clinic is run by a team of physiotherapists who have extensive experience working with children. They understand the developing and growing body which allows them to provide children with treatment that is suitable for their age, stage of development and physical needs. Staff members will work with each child and their parents / carers to assess, diagnose and provide therapy. The clinic is located at the Regency Park Centre,171 Days Road.

Consultation rates apply. For details please call Novita on 1300 668 482 to make your first appointment.

ASO Junior Jam session at Novita PeaPod [therapy resource]

The peapod is an inflatable student calming station that provides deep-touch pressure to help calm children with sensory processing issues. Its sides help add a cocoon-like calming effect and assist with defining spatial boundaries. Most children can get in the pod themselves to apply deep, even pressure to many sensitive areas of the body.

Introducing Novita Kids Physio

Network with us

Did you know Novita is on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, and now Instagram and LinkedIn? Like and follow our pages to stay up-to-date on all things Novita.

www.facebook.com/novitachildrensservices

www.twitter.com/novitastar

www.youtube.com/novitacs

www.pinterest.com/novitacs

www.instagram.com/novitastar

www.linkedin.com/company/ novita-children’s-services

Novita Children’s Services171 Days Road, Regency Park SA 5010PO Box 2438 Regency Park SA 5942T 1300 NOVITA (1300 668 482) F 8243 8361enquiries@novita.org.auwww.novita.org.au

Central ServiceRegency Park Office171 Days Road, Regency Park SA 5010T 8243 8311 F 8243 8377

Northern ServiceParafield Gardens Office422 Salisbury Highway,Parafield Gardens SA 5170T 8182 1000 F 8182 1010

Southern ServiceSt Marys Office15-31 Ayliffes Road, St Marys SA 5042T 8172 9200 F 8172 9201

Regional Services 171 Days Road, Regency Park SA 5010T 8243 8343 F 8243 8344regionalservices@novita.org.auwww.novita.org.au/regionalservices

Acquired Brain Injury 171 Days Road, Regency Park SA 5010T 8243 8311 F 8243 8377

Assistive Technology Service 171 Days Road, Regency Park SA 5010T 8243 8261 F 8243 8208

Novita Library171 Days Road, Regency Park SA 5010T 8243 8316

Community Options SA171 Days Road, Regency Park SA 5010T 8243 8243F 8243 8361

Online catalogue:novita.intersearch.com.au

Editor: Emma Schreiber T: 08 8243 8222

E: emma.schreiber@novita.org.auOpinions expressed in Nexus which are those of individu-als do not necessarily reflect the views of Novita Children’s Services. While every care has been taken in the prepara-tion of Nexus, the information contained within is of a general nature only and does not constitute advice.

Articles from Nexus may be reproduced in other forums, provided the information is produced in full, with written acknowledgement of its source.

Privacy Statement: Novita Children’s Services uses your personal information for the purpose of distributing Nexus to you each term. Your information is strictly confidential and will not be disclosed to any external party. If you no longer wish to receive Nexus, please contact Novita Marketing on (08) 8243 8243.

ABN: 53 137 537 636

DIARy DATES Please visit www.novita.org.au/events or contact the Novita Marketing Department on 8243 8243 for more information aboutany of the following events.

Convoy for KidsSunday 18 October 2015CMV Truck Sales,100 Port Wakefield Road,Cavan

Celebrate on the SquareInternational Day of People with Disability (IDPwD)Thursday 3 December 201511:30am to 2:30pmVictoria Square,Adelaide

Which number should you call for general enquiries about Novita?

1300 NOVITA (1300 668 482)

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