Koorana’s Family Services team assist families to navigate the disability service system and find the financial support, services and resources relevant to their needs.  The team is available to provide a range of services to families including Case Management, Early Diagnosis Support and General Family Support to carers and other family members of young children with a disability and/or developmental delay within the Inner West, Canterbury and Bankstown areas.

All services offered are family-focused and strength-based.  The Family Services team is able to assist families in making referrals to appropriate services, to advocate on behalf of their child, in the transition to school process, the provision of parent/family support and educational opportunities, access to information and resources, and individual support and counseling. Programs and services include the following:

Supported Playgroups
Canterbury Park and Play Bus Program
Family Support Services
Sibs Club
Case Management
Early Start Diagnosis Support

Supported Playgroups
Koorana runs 14 Supported Playgroups each week across Canterbury and Bankstown, including 4 parks (see Canterbury Park and Play Bus Program below) , staffed by experienced Early Childhood Educators and Family Workers.  The playgroups provide a range of age-appropriate play and learning activities for babies, toddlers and young children up to school age.  Parents and carers can meet and share information and ideas in a relaxed and friendly environment.

The Supported Playgroup program is referral based, and priority is given to families who may be experiencing one or more of the following circumstances:

• Families who are new to the area and/or have recently emigrated to Australia and are socially isolated and have very limited or no support from family and friends
• Families where a child is approaching school age, does not attend a pre-school and has had little or no access to a formal child care setting
• Families experiencing economic hardship, a family breakdown and/or other stressful circumstances
• Families who have a child with additional needs

In addition to the above, Koorana also operates two specialist Supported Playgroups for young parents under the age of 25.

The Supported Playgroup program provides the opportunity for parents to participate in discussions and information in areas that may include healthy eating, behaviour management, positive parenting practices, road Safety, self care, etc.

Canterbury Park and Play Bus Program
Koorana’s Families NSW funded mobile playgroup runs out of local parks in the Canterbury area and is open to all families with children aged between 0 and 6 years. Qualified and experienced Early Childhood Educators provide a range of fun play activities to support children’s learning and development. Koorana operates 4 Park & Playbus sessions a week during the school term time.

The Park and Play Bus Project is an opportunity for families and children in the Canterbury area to laugh, learn and play together in a social environment.  Children can develop a positive attitude towards learning, choose from a variety of fun activities that facilitate and support their learning and development and experience being part of a group (a great preparation for preschool or school). Carers and parents can meet each other in a relaxed and friendly environment, share information & ideas and find out about child development and parenting.

BACK TO TOP

Family Support Services
Family Workers/Counsellors are assigned to a range of Koorana’s children’s services and are available to provide information and support to families who access those services. 

In addition to supporting families on an individual basis there are opportunities for families to attend a range of group activities.  These group activities enable parents and carers to meet and get together in a supportive environment, to share their knowledge and experiences, to obtain information, gain new skills, to take some time for themselves, and whenever possible have fun.

My Time
A number of the group activities are funded under the national ‘My Time’ program which is aimed at anyone caring for children with a disability, developmental delay or chronic medical condition.  My Time is a nationally managed support program, facilitated in Bankstown by Koorana’s Family Workers.   It is designed to give support and respite to the parents, siblings and grandparents of children with a developmental delay or disability.   Child care is available for most meetings.

Parent Training
In response to the needs of families enrolled in Koorana’s programs, the Family Services team offer a range of training opportunities covering such issues as positive behaviour support, toilet training, schooling options and more.

Transition to School Support
Family Workers assist parents/carers to explore their schooling options. They will provide relevant information and accompany them on visits, helping them to make appropriate choices.

Adult Group Programs
Opportunities for parents and carers to develop supportive social networks are offered through specific group programs. A range of activities are provided to cater for individual and group needs, for example, self care workshops and fathers’ groups.

BACK TO TOP

Sibs Club
Sibs Club is a recreational program for primary school aged children who have a brother or sister with a disability and/or developmental delay. Available during term time, experienced staff provide the children with fun activities while providing subtle supports to help cope with a variety of situations.

Case Management
Koorana’s Case Management program aims to help families to ‘fill the gaps’ in the services they receive, and to ensure that different services work together in a co-ordinated way. It is funded by the NSW Human Services - Ageing, Disability and Home Care to support families in Sydney’s Inner West who have a child with a disability, developmental delay or challenging behaviour.

Services available to families include:

• Providing information relevant to family concerns, which may encompass child development, disability, family and personal issues, health, education, intervention options, respite options, community resources and service systems;
  
• Referral to services which families wish to access;
  
• Advocacy and support for families in accessing and negotiating with services;
  
• Co-ordination of services and the development of an Individual Family Service Plan;
  
• Providing some specialist assessment, intervention and counselling services in response to family needs, where this is within the program’s resource capabilities;
  
• Supporting families through periods of transition between services.

The program is available to families who:

• have a child aged 0 to 18 years who has a disability (cognitive, physical, behavioural and/or sensory) or challenging behaviour; or have a child aged 0 to 6 years who is at risk of not reaching developmental milestones  without intervention; live in Ashfield, Burwood, Canada Bay, Canterbury, Leichhardt, Marrickville or Strathfield Local Government Areas; do not already receive case management support through the NSW Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care, or other case management services.

BACK TO TOP

EarlyStart Diagnosis Support
EarlyStart Diagnosis Support is offered to families at the time that a child receives a diagnosis of a disability and/or developmental delay, which can be very confusing and emotionally overwhelming for parents and their families.  This program is available for children up to the age of 6 years.
The program supports families by providing an opportunity to understand their child’s disability and its impact on their whole family and to help them look at their own needs, hopes, fears and coping abilities. The Family Counsellor will be able to support the family in a number of ways including:

• Dealing  with the diagnosis
• Understanding the diagnosis / disability
• Navigating through the disability service system
• Referring families to priority services

BACK TO TOP