Koorana’s Family Workers • Case Management • Family Library & Group Programs • Contact details
Koorana’s Family Workers
What
is a Family Worker?
A family worker’s job is to assist families to make decisions, meet
their needs and reach their goals, by proving information and linking
families to resources within the community. Depending on the qualifications
and experience of the person concerned, they may also offer counselling.
At Koorana, family workers are involved in all the projects. A family
worker attends each
Supported Playgroup. Family Workers are
available to families participating in the
Early Childhood Intervention services and preschools.
What
can I talk to a Family Worker about?
You can talk to a family worker about anything that effects your family.
You might want specific information, or you might want to talk through
an issue that is worrying you. Here are some examples of issues and concerns
that family workers often work through with families:
• Concerns
about housing – for example, how to apply for public housing.
• Understanding
the financial supports available to families.
• Coping
with change or loss.
• Overcoming
loneliness and isolation.
• Concerns
about a child’s development.
• Accessing
services, where a child has a developmental delay or disability.
• How
to choose a preschool, childcare centre or school.
• Different
options for child care.
• Ways
to guide children’s behaviour.
• Affordable
outings for children and families.
• Resolving
disagreements within the family about child rearing.
• Where
to seek help when domestic violence occurs.
• Stress
management.
• Sharing
achievements and successes.
• …..
and lots more.
Services
for Koorana Families
Families participating in Koorana services are welcome to contact the
family workers directly, or to ask another member of staff to organise
a meeting.
Morning
Teas
The Family Workers organise informal morning teas at each preschool, several
times a term, to which all families are welcome. The family workers may
present some information on a specific topic, but the main purpose is
for families to have an opportunity to meet and get to know each other.
Families can also chat informally with the family workers over morning
tea.
Chat
Club
Chat Club is a regular gathering especially for parents of children who
have an additional need. Part of the two hour session may be taken up
with a discussion, or a guest speaker. The family worker organises these
activities in response to family input. There is always time for information
mingling and talking. Children are welcome
Koorana families can also be referred, or can self refer, to the Case
Management team.
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 Department of 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.
Koorana’s Family Library Program
This is an opportunity for families who have a child with a disability
or delay living in the Inner West, to access a range of resources to support
themselves and their children.
Current resources include:
• Parent
library – books, videos and DVD’s on family issues, disability
and
•
children’s development can be borrowed;
books in community languages are also available
•
Computer with internet access
•
Board-maker program for developing visual
resources
•
Sensory toys and ideas
•
Information sheets on a range of topics
•
Information / brochures regarding services
These
resources are available at our Cleary Avenue, Belmore office.
Access to these resources will be provided free to families who have a
child with a disability or delay up to 18 years old and who live in the
Inner West – ie. Ashfield, Burwood, Canada Bay, Canterbury, Leichhardt,
Marrickville or Strathfield LGA. A small cost will apply for materials
used, such as printing and laminating.
Our Family Support Workers will be available at scheduled times to support
families in finding relevant resources, providing information on other
services and organisations, discussing general concerns, and using the
computer and other equipment.
For more information on this or other Koorana programs, please contact
a member of the family services team on Ph. 9758 2666.
For more information about the Case Management program, please phone (02)
9758-2666, or email familyservices@koorana.org.au
Click here for links to similar or related
services in other parts of Sydney and New South Wales.
