BUSHkids Annual Report 2019-20

ANNUAL REPORT 2019–2020 SECTION TOPIC 48 BUNDABERG LOCATIONS Although this was broadly successful, some families were unable to engage with us due to their circumstances, lack of internet coverage and access to appropriate equipment. However, once we reopened the Centre we were able to prioritise these families and make suitable arrangements for them to receive our support. Next year we will be piloting a single place- based team in Bundaberg. This will mean that, whilst we will continue to deliver on two funding contracts, our local staff will amalgamate into a single team with one team leader. It is anticipated that this will create efficiencies in our service delivery and enable us to be more responsive to our local community. Bundaberg volunteer • Kathy Kelly “After retiring and moving to Bundaberg for a more relaxed lifestyle in 2017, I was looking to volunteer with an organisation involving children and my interest in craft. It wasn’t until I visited the BUSHkids website that I realised how many children and families needed support. I knew this was an organisation I wanted to be associated with. “I became a volunteer with the Bundaberg Centre in March 2018 and enjoy helping such a dedicated, friendly team. I do a range of tasks from making and providing resources, assisting with group activities and anything else required, thus giving the team more time to prepare and focus on the needs of the children and families. “I have a lot of fun decorating the children’s achievement certificates with a little something extra. Seeing their excited, proud faces when they receive them is rewarding. “This has been a difficult year for many families. I believe it is more important than ever to help our children and families understand their emotions and provide help and support where possible. I look forward to continuing volunteering with BUSHkids and hope the year ahead is a more positive and happier year for everyone.” Bundaberg staff • Ingrid Fourie Ingrid is one of our OTs in Bundaberg. She joined our CAHS team at the start of the year, bringing a wealth of knowledge from her time in New Zealand where she worked with vulnerable and disadvantaged children and families. As a result, she understands the importance of engaging and supporting the community, working with local primary schools to deliver self-regulation and fine motor skills groups. She is also currently piloting a LEGO ® Therapy Social Skills Group, a program she trained in during her time in New Zealand where it was run in schools with learning support staff. This is an evidence-based program targeting children’s social skills and builds on their natural interest in play. It was designed to particularly help kids with ASD, but it is suitable for all children aged five and older. As well as developing social skills, the program incorporates the development of fine motor, communication, problem-solving skills and negotiation. Ingrid has already introduced the LEGO ® social skills program in a Bundaberg school, also using it with children in the local Family and Community Engagement (FaCE) program— a program for children that have been excluded from school — with great success. Ingrid attends the FaCE program twice a week to engage with the children and teaching staff. Her focus has been to get to know the participants and develop their skills in relation to social and emotional concerns and to target issues such as conflict resolution and problem solving. Our SP has joined Ingrid in supporting the communication needs of this group of children. She also undertakes capacity building with teachers to increase their understanding of the impacts of environmental and social issues.. Ingrid has a natural ability to engage children and families, loves being creative and can always find an innovative and motivating way to help kids overcome their challenges. She is truly passionate about helping children and families reach their potential and we are delighted to have her as part of our team in Bundaberg. Bundaberg • ECEI There were significant fires in the Woodgate area of our region in November 2019. The BUSHkids Bundaberg team stepped up and supported families in the area to access accommodation, food hamper deliveries and other ‘wraparound’ services. As part of a community response, the team was able to help families to connect to services such as St Vincent De Paul , the Childers Neighbourhood Centre and the Angels Community Group to access support as required. Bundaberg’s community organisations have always rallied together in times of need– and the pandemic has been no exception. The team has also worked hard to develop stronger connections with the Queensland Children’s Hospital , to offer a seamless support service to families who have had to access supports for their newborn babies. The team is restarting the targeted playgroups that specifically help those who have children with additional needs. Bundaberg • ECEI–CAHS group work Throughout the year both Bundaberg teams have been working with children, parents and early educators, targeting all areas of child development and parent or educator capacity-building. Particularly exciting has been the progress of OT Ingrid’s trial of the LEGO ® group, which has seen encouraging outcomes with children engaging positively with others, practising self-control and developing the skills already mentioned, and which has led to identification of other areas where kids may need support. One teacher reported that she ‘likes how the LEGO group is working on lots of skills while the children think they are just playing.’ Our OT has also facilitated a twice-weekly ‘Fine Motor Group’ to a local daycare centre. This group supports children to build their trunk and shoulder stability, development of bilateral co-ordination and visual motor during fine motor tasks, development of fine grasp-and-release patterns and has assisted the children to develop specific pencil and scissor skills. There has been full engagement from the children and early educators have worked closely with our OT to identify those children who may require further support from the BUSHkids teams. Our SPs presented a family information session ‘BUSHkids Babble and Beyond’ to the local HIPPY service (a two-year, home-based, early learning and parenting program for families with young children). Babble and Beyond provides parents with information about age-appropriate communication in a child’s early years development and when to identify ‘red flags’ that need to be addressed. The team also gave parents speech and language strategies that can be implemented as part of daily activities to expose their children to positive language. Following a number of referrals for children with similar concerns from the same school our SPs delivered 10 sessions of Read3 to a local prep class. This program helps develop children’s foundational skills that are essential for early learning and has proved very successful in helping the children’s development Bundaberg • Friends of BUSHkids Although only small in numbers, FoBk Bundaberg is a dedicated and committed group enthusiastically championing the services delivered by our BUSHkids staff. FoBk Bundaberg ended 2019 in true traditional fashion with Tom Curtain’s “We’re still here” tour complete with horseback riding tricks and good country singalongs. We partnered with Gooburrum State School to fundraise, providing food and drinks to the fans. A great community response throughout the night extended our contacts network and FoBk members and BUSHkids staff donned their denim and Akubras and joined in the fun. Fundingraising for the sensory garden continued, allowing us to renovate the adjoining area to a space where families can sit while the children play in the garden.