MOUNT ISA
Due to extenuating circumstances,
individual therapy sessions have
been conducted in the schools to
ensure that each child has access
to the necessary services.
Schools around the district have
continued to be very supportive of
the work we do at BUSHkids and
have, at times, been able to bring
children to the centre for their
therapy sessions. BUSHkids Mount
Isa continues to be an extremely
sought-after service and we have
received huge support from the
community over the past year.
From FHSW JaneWallace
Fun Friends
and
Friends For Life
have been very popular programs,
with 10 groups running each term
at various schools in town. We have
run at least two
PALS
programs too.
Our core programs continue as they
have for many years.
We will continue to monitor any
changes in the trend for services/
programs, new programs needed to
meet requirements, and any extra/
different services required to meet
community needs.
From Psychologist James
Evans-McLeod
Wow, what an extensive and varied
workload – some assessment, other
short/long term intervention, new
presentations, reports to go the
paediatrician, and so on. It’s good
to see our school groups seem to be
in a lot of year-round demand.
Relative to the profession the lo-
cal hospital has more permanent
staff – paediatrician/psychiatrist –
whereas in the past they were only
in temporary positions. As usual,
I attend the monthly mental health
network meetings, and recently I’ve
also attended the Mental Health
Week planning meetings as well as
the Mental Health Week family fun
day (after our conference).
IN OUR COMMUNITY
There is a constant demand for
all services in our community,
causing big waiting lists. Among
the events and activities we have
been involved in, highlights are:
•
NAIDOC Week
•
Moving together
•
Early Childhood network
•
Deadly ears launch
•
Medicare Local launch
•
SLP journal club
•
Communities For Children
(
C4C) meetings
•
Dr Seuss-themed
‘
mega playgroup
The decision was made to not hold
a Ball this year, and its absence
from the Mount Isa social calendar
has triggered great interest in what
might be in store in 2013!
Tash hosted fundraisers during the
Rodeo Queen Quest, including a
Mother’s Day Breakfast, Paint-
balling event, Boots and Bling Ball,
Christmas in July, and a ‘Nitelife’
tour.
We have visited schools in the
area as a team to meet with staff
and parents to raise awareness
of BUSHkids and our programs.
HOGS donated a cheque to cover
the cost of some project blocks for
the centre.
IN OUR OFFICE
It’s been really good to see the solar
panels up, as an enviro-friendly
idea and a long term savings goal.
New resources we have received
during the year include:
•
Updated PLS 5
•
new relaxation CDs
•
project blocks
•
visual learning for life
•
various new books
•
Bear Cards
As noted elsewhere in this report,
our computers are ageing and the
slowness of their processing is
reducing work efficiency. It is not
stretching the truth too far to say
that the printer is on its last legs (its
drawer will not close properly even
after a service) and the scanner is
not working very well.
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