Montrose mural makeover
The interior walls of AnglicareSA’s Montrose disability respite centre for children were recently treated to a mural makeover. In January, talented University of South Australia media arts graduate Olivia Mitchell took on the project. The children and staff love how it has brightened up the space. Montrose has provided respite for children for more than 30 years. Previously situated at Netherby, the service moved to a new purpose-built house in Oaklands Park in 2015. The short-term accommodation house is designed specifically for children and young people with a disability. It provides opportunities for them to have a break from the family home, make new friends and develop life and independent living skills – all within a supportive, family-friendly environment.
Among many features, Montrose has wide hallways for wheelchairs, accessible bedrooms and bathrooms, a sensory room, a secure garden area specially designed to engage children in learning and play, and an accessible kitchen to allow children to assist in meal preparation.
Montrose supports children aged six to 17 years to access community- based programs and can accommodate up to five children for overnight stays. The service is staffed 24 hours per day and supports are individualised to meet each child’s needs.
Preparing for school AnglicareSA’s HIPPY program is gearing up to take on a new cohort of parents and children to help them prepare for their first day at school.
A mother of a four-year-old boy who recently enrolled in the program is very grateful for how HIPPY has transformed her and her son’s life. Before starting HIPPY, she was struggling to find ways to engage her son in learning and playing – he was very nervous and biting his nails to the point of injury. Through the HIPPY program, the mother was provided with the activities, encouragement and advice she needed. She has since learned how to approach her son in different ways and to ask questions that encourages his learning and sense of self.
HIPPY (Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters) is a two- year, home-based early learning and parenting program for families with young children. From the age of four, children and parents work through weekly or fortnightly packs of play-based educational activities. The program also provides employment opportunities to parents, with those participating in HIPPY with their child sometimes being employed and trained as home tutors.
She has seen a huge improvement in her son’s behaviours as he has become more outgoing and is no longer biting his nails. Each year, AnglicareSA works with up to 130 families in the Onkaparinga and Playford council areas of Adelaide, to help encourage a love of learning, increase the likelihood of their children doing well at school, and improve their relationships with their children.
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