08 Jan 2024

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Admin

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We’re back from holidays!

Our office is now open!

Hoping that everyone had a safe and happy festive season. Just to let you know the team is back from their holiday. 

School holidays are a great time to review the good work from the previous year and start focusing on new therapy goals for the year ahead. 

Please give our office a call if you would like to book an appointment with your therapist on 9274 7062.

01 Dec 2023

BY: admin

Admin

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Appointments in January 2024

January is a quiet time of the year at the Centre with many of our families on holiday or just enjoying being out of the daily school routine.

This creates a space for new or returning clients wanting to get started with therapy or needing assessments completed.

For January we can offer appointments for our occupational therapy, psychology and speech pathology teams. This includes NDIS functional capacity, ADHD, autism and specific learning disability assessments.

Our team will be returning from holidays from the 8th January 2024 and we currently have appointment slots open.

That sounds like a long time away however by then we will all be on the big countdown to the start of the school term 🙂

Please call our Client Services Coordinator on 9274 7062 if you’d like to get started with therapy and assessments a little earlier next year.  

01 Dec 2023

BY: admin

Admin

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School Holiday Office Hours

The end of school term (and Christmas!) are drawing near. We’re all looking forward to the holidays.

Our offices in Midland and Bayswater will be open until Saturday 23 December (morning only). We then close for two weeks and will be back on board on Monday 08 January 2024.

Please note – phones, emails and text messages will not be monitored during this period.

Please have a chat with your individual consultants about their availability over the January period. Most will be available however a few will be taking extended leave.

Can’t wait until you see your consultant? Please feel free to chat to Reception on 9274 7062.

20 Jun 2023

BY: admin

Admin

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School Holiday – Therapy and Group Programs

School Holidays are a fantastic time for children to wind down after a busy term and have some family time.

We will still be providing regular therapy during the school holidays. Your therapists will be talking to you about their availability over the next few weeks. Therapy doesn’t have to stop because of the school holidays.

Our ABACAS team will be running a school holiday Dance and Movement program as an alternative to our regular one on one therapy.

School Holiday Dance and Movement Program

In this program, the children will learn to perform movements using their bodies, explore a range of music genres and brainstorm creative ways to express themselves. These sessions will involve various activities involving skills that each child would have been taught or able to learn. A few of which include:

·       Gross motor movements

·       Learning through modelling

·       Following instructions

·       Sequencing

·       Building social skills

Being in a safe and controlled environment, children will be allowed to express themselves appropriately through song and dance. This will also be an opportunity for each of them to build friendships while taking part in an activity they enjoy together.

Who is this program suitable for?

This program is intended for primary school aged children (mixed ages and ability levels) and will be facilitated by two staff members (Rachel and Lynette).

Program times and dates and fees

The program will be run on Wednesdays during school holidays from 10.30am-12pm at our Midland office in Stafford Street.

Sessions will cost $94 per session (NDIS funding can be used towards fees)

For further information please contact the Centre on 9274 7062.

06 Jul 2022

BY: admin

Psychologists

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Clear Skies: DBT Skills Group for Teens

Adolescence can be a challenging time for many teens.  However, some teens will struggle with intense emotions which can in turn impact on their relationships with family and peers and well-being.

There are many reasons why this can happen. The key though is early intervention.

This term the Child Wellbeing Centre will be running an intensive skills-based group program focused on learning skills to manage intense feelings and improving and repairing relationships. We will be using a specific therapy technique: Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT).

About the Group

This course is based on DBT for Adolescents with a mixture of psychoeducation and skills training in emotional regulation and interpersonal skills. This course will suit teens aged 14-18 years who have:

  • Fast and intense emotional reactions
  • Mood-dependent impulsive behaviours
  • Relational strain with peers or family, or difficulty maintaining healthy relationships

The course is also suitable for those diagnosed with or at risk of developing Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD).

If you or your teen is interested in attending this program please contact us to arrange an interview. The interview will help us to make sure that this is an appropriate intervention. And if the group isn’t the best option, we can discuss with you what might be a more appropriate therapy pathway.

Program Details

Date:                  The program starts on Wednesday 03 August and will run for 8 weeks

Time:                 5.15pm to 6.45pm

Location:           Child Wellbeing Centre, Bayswater (Unit 10/488 Walter Road)

Cost:                 $120 per session (Medicare Rebates apply)

Facilitators:        Sharon Jones (Principal Psychologist)

Co-Facilitators: Toni Schmitz (Registered Psychologist) and Hannah Mc Bride (Provisional Psychologist)

For more information

For more information or to book an initial interview, please contact our Client Support Coordinator on 9274 7062.

04 Jul 2022

BY: admin

Psychologists

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Social Skills Program for Teens

Surviving ‘2’ Thriving
A therapy group for teens aged 12 – 15 focusing on social skills development.

Navigating high school can be a confusing and challenging time. Teenagers begin to
form their identities and find out where they fit in the world, shifting away from
family and towards peers. That’s why establishing positive relationships is important
for their social development, self-esteem and mental health.

About the Group

The purpose of the group is to help teens develop their social skills and self-esteem so they
have the confidence to build meaningful connections with peers. The learning program focuses on different topics each week around socialisation, such as: reading social cues; having conversations; and understanding social anxiety.

The group is an opportunity for teens to meet friendly people their age who face similar challenges while creating a safe space to learn together.

The group has been developed especially for teens with (or suspected of) autism spectrum
disorder and is a safe space for LGBTIQ+ people.

Program Details

Date:         The program starts on Thursday 04 August and will run for 8 weeks 

Time:         4pm to 5pm

Location:   Child Wellbeing Centre, Bayswater (Unit 10/488 Walter Road)

Cost:          $65 per session (eligible for NDIS funding)

For more information or to enroll, please contact our Client Support Coordinator on 9274 7062.

23 Jun 2022

BY: admin

Admin

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Friendship Club – Group Social Skills Programs, Term 3

Our Friendship Club group social skills (Amazing Amigos and Best Buddies) are back on for Term Three!

Sessions will be run by Kate Hyde and Natalie Nguyen, Provisional Psychologists this term.  Both will be working hard to make sessions fun and motivating while teaching the important skills needed to make and keep friends.

In each group, the team employs a four-part training approach using modelling, role-playing, performance feedback, and generalisation to teach essential pro-social skills to children.  Programs are tailored to meet the needs of the children participating in groups.

Amazing Amigos

Our Amazing Amigos program provides an opportunity for young ones to learn important social skills, such as: listening to others; greeting; asking for help; joining in; taking turns; and sharing.

Who is suited:     Children aged 4-6 years of age who need help with making or keeping friends.

Where:                 Child Wellbeing Centre, 5 Brockman Road, Midland
When:                  Monday afternoons 4.00pm -5.00pm during Term Three.

Cost:                    $66.81 per session

Best Buddies

Our “Best Buddies” program will help to build confidence in your child for making and keeping friends. We will be using modelling, and role-playing to build on current skills and learn new ones. Some of the skills focused on include: how to introduce yourself; starting (and joining in) conversations; being a good winner and loser; and working in groups.

Who is suited:     Children aged 7-9 years of age who need help with making or keeping friends.
Where:                 Venue (Midland) to be confirmed
When:                  Tuesday afternoons 4.00pm -5.00pm during Term Three.

Cost:                    $66.81 per session

How to enrol in our group social skills program?

Please call our Client Services Coordinator on 9274 7062 for more information and to register your interest. Email: csc@childwellbeingcentre.net.au

Kate or Natalie will then be in touch to schedule an initial appointment with you to find out more about your child and their needs.

21 Jun 2022

BY: admin

ABACAS Team

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Westmead Feelings Program 2, Term Three

As part of our Term Three group therapy program, our ABACAS team will be running the Westmead Feelings Program.

Program Outline

The Westmead Feelings Program teaches children to better express and understand their feelings and the feelings of others. It also teaches social skills, problem-solving methods and coping skills. It has been developed especially for children with (or suspected of) autism spectrum disorder.

The group will include students aged between 8 and 14 years. An information and training session will be held at the beginning and end of each term for the parents and the teachers of the children in the group (6 sessions altogether plus a booster session). Teachers and parents will learn what the children are being taught and will be trained in how to be an ‘emotion coach’ for the children so that they are helped to practice new skills at home and at school.

You can learn more about the Westmead Feelings Program here:

https://www.schn.health.nsw.gov.au/professionals/learn/wfp

Program Facilitators

Rachel Puan, Program Manager and Lynette Tan, Case Manager from our ABACAS team will be running this program.  Both Rachel and Lynette have years of experience developing Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) skills programs for children. As part of their roles they also provide behavioural consultancy services to families and schools alike.  It just so happens that both are also working on the BCBA credentials via post-graduate study too.

Program Details

Day and Time:    Every Tuesday starting 26 July 2022, 3.30-5.00pm

Session Length:  90-minutes sessions weekly

Number of participants: 6

Cost: $90 per session

Resources:

Parents will need to purchase the following materials to support the program. This can be done through the centre.

  • $54.95 – children’s materials
  • $39.95 – parent materials

For more information please contact our Client Support Coordinator on 9274 7062 or email – csc@childwellbeingcentre.net.au

21 Jun 2022

BY: admin

ABACAS Team

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RUBI Parent Training Program, Term Three

As part of our Term Three group therapy program, our ABACAS team will be running  parent and carer training for our families with children on the autism spectrum.

Program Outline

The parent group will be based on the RUBI curriculum. RUBI is an evidence-based parent training program designed to support parents and caregivers of Autistic children ages 3-12. The focus of this program is on how to reduce challenging behaviours, including tantrums, aggression, and noncompliance.

Parents and carers will have the chance to learn new skills.  Core skills will include prevention strategies, reinforcement strategies, compliance training, functional communication skills and equipping children with daily living skills. 

This group training program will help parents and carers support their children’s therapy goals.

Program Facilitators

Rachel Puan, Program Manager and Lynette Tan, Case Manager from our ABACAS team will be running this program.  Both Rachel and Lynette have years of experience developing Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) skills programs for children. As part of their roles they also provide behavioural consultancy services to families and schools alike.  It just so happens that both are also working on the BCBA credentials via post-graduate study too.

Program Details

Day and Time:                Every Thursday starting 28 July 2022, 4.00-5.30pm

Session Length:              90-minute sessions weekly for 13 weeks

Number of participants: 8

Cost:                               $90 per session;

                                       $44.95 USD for the parent workbook (which the centre will order for you)

For more information please contact our Client Support Coordinator on 9274 7062 or email – csc@childwellbeingcentre.net.au

 

learning assessments 26 May 2022

BY: admin

Psychologists

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Learning about Learning Assessments

One of the services that the psychology team offers is learning assessments. A learning assessment can be a useful option to consider when children aren’t achieving their learning potential. Literacy (reading, understanding and writing) is an area that children experience difficulty with and sometimes, numeracy may also be a concern.

An assessment can help identify the barriers to learning for children.  Assessments may be helpful as they can give greater insight into why difficulties are occurring, highlight supports that children need, and help with decisions about schooling options.

Learning assessments may also help identify whether there are any attention or emotional issues that are preventing the child from making progress.

What do learning assessments involve?

To start with our psychologists will want to talk to you and find out about your child’s developmental, school, social and emotional history. This appointment is with the parent/carer (s) only as this gives you the opportunity to talk freely about your concerns.

From this, the psychologist will be able to work out which standardised tests may be helpful.  They will want to schedule 1-2 sessions with you and your child. These assessments may include a cognitive assessment (looking at learning potential) and an academic assessment (looking at literacy and/or numeracy). Other assessments may also be suggested.

When our team sees children, we work hard to put them at their ease so we can see them at their best. The first session in particular may involve rapport-building strategies.

The psychologist may want to talk to the teacher too. While school reports have a lot of useful information, our team can learn quite a bit from talking to the teacher. Sometimes we may even arrange an observation of the child in the class to find out more about how their behaviour may be impacting learning.

Sometimes they are also going to want to talk to other therapists about their assessments and therapy progress.

What happens after the learning assessment is completed?

The psychologist will meet with you to give feedback on what the assessment has revealed and their recommendations for how to move forward.  They will also provide you with a written report which you may choose to share with the school and other therapists. The aim of this session is to answer your questions and to help you as a parent/carer plan the next steps in supporting your child.

You are more than welcome to contact Reception on 9274 7062 to find out information about any of our services. For more information about our psychology services in general, please click here:

https://www.childwellbeingcentre.net.au/services/psychological-services/

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