15
BUNDABERG
families and kids have overcome a
sometimes wobbly start and given
it their best shot, meeting some of
their goals. Whether it involved
realising their unique skills and
strengths, gaining confidence,
overcoming fears of NAPLAN,
learning to
STOP, THINK, DO
(
so difficult for those with ADHD),
or learning to gain control over
the Mad Max within, they have
all enjoyed some successes.
My first year has been rewarding
and productive: my waitlist has
become manageable and has finally
re-opened (the local paediatricians
are making sure it’s getting a good
work-out once again!). A close
observation of local needs has
identified two gaps that I am keen
to address. These are:
•
an initial screening service within
childcare centres/kindergartens,
and/or presentations to increase
awareness, education and the
identification of the presenting
signs/symptoms along the Autism
Spectrum – before school start; and
•
the paucity of groups promoting
the practical application of social
skills opportunities for boys 8-12.
We currently provide social skills
development groups, a learning
function. However these boys
would benefit significantly from the
opportunity to practice their skills,
with the support of a mentor and
within a group environment. I look
forward to investigating and then
developing a group program that
will assist these young boys to take
the next step with their social skills.
I also had the opportunity to attend
a professional development course
(
which in hindsight could be called
‘
Boot camp for Psychs’!) It was a
very intense learning experience
that challenged me and took me
way outside my comfort zone. But I
survived intact and was sufficiently
motivated to pursue the assessment
of a young man who returned an
amazing IQ score placing him in
the 99.7 percentile rating. Nine
years old going on 19 … yes, that
can help explain some of those
behavioural issues.
Words that reflect my initiation into
BUSHkids would be:
Wow, good
grief, really amazing, rewarding,
and
yes, I’m loving it!
I look forward with anticipation
to the challenges and rewards that
responding to community needs
will bring, and savour those little
moments of personal satisfaction
when I can assist a child or family
to move ahead with confidence.
SLP – reflections by Laura Back
August 2012 was an exciting
change and opportunity for me,
relocating from Brisbane and
starting as Speech-Language
Pathologist for BUSHkids. I am
very much looking forward to
being a part of the team here and
providing services and support for
the local community as part of the
BUSHkids organisation.
I have a passion for helping and
working with children and their
families and with each year that I
work as a SLP I find that it grows
even more. I am excited about
the new opportunities my role
at BUSHkids will bring and the
chance that it will provide to grow
both professionally and personally.
Having been here a short while,
I feel I am learning the ropes and,
hopefully, asking fewer questions
of the others, who have been very
welcoming and supportive and
great in helping me to settle in.
In taking over from Tanya Kozlova,
I also have to say a big thank you
for making my transition into the
role as smooth as possible, and
look forward to continuing the
great work that she did here in
Bundaberg.
I am thoroughly enjoying meeting
and working individually with
children and their families. I have
been lucky enough to provide
services to local community groups
through a child health talk which
was a great opportunity and I look
forward to continuing to form
these relationships and liaising
more with local professionals,
community groups, child cares
and kindergartens. I am keen to
continue with the PAL lit
eracy
groups that Tanya began, along
with school readiness groups and
other groups to best support the
children on my caseload.
I am looking forward to 2013 and
the challenges and opportunities
BUSHkids will bring.
OT – reflections by
Claire Muller
2012
has been yet another busy
year, filled again with its fair share
of challenges in complex, ‘tricky’
cases, but not to be outdone by
many fun, rewarding experiences.
Referrals for OT have flooded in
throughout the year and this is
keeping me on my toes, making
sure that I am providing the best
services that I can for our clients.
The completion of our new outdoor
play area with shade sail in late
2011
has proven a wonderful space
for doing gross motor work and
I have thoroughly enjoyed being
able to take my therapy out of the
office and into some natural light
and fresh air – I think the kids have
loved this too! The space is the
perfect size for obstacle courses and
scooter board work, and I must say
my activities have become more
creative with such a useable space!
For professional development, I
crossed the Tasman to attend a
course in Auckland. I attended the
basic training of the same course in
2011,
and absolutely jumped at the
chance to attend two more days of