COMMUNITY SERVICES
St Giles provides the following Community Services to children with disabilities:
Respite
Respite is a great way to have a 'break' away from the demanding pressures of caring for a child with a disability.
Respite gives brothers and sisters the opportunity to spend time with you by themselves, or do a special activity that they may not otherwise be able to do.
Children love coming to Respite. It gives them the opportunity to make new friends, be one of the group and relax.
Launceston Respite Centre
Our Launceston Respite Centre offers "out of home" accommodation support 7 days per week across the year outside of school hours. The service closes for three weeks over the Christmas and New Year period.
The service usually supports up to 8 children between the ages of 5 to 17 years of age.
The Launceston Centre does not provide a day service during school term.
Hobart Respite Centre
Our Hobart Respite Centre offers "out of home" accommodation support across 7 days of the week all year round.
The service supports up to 4 children at any one time from ages 5 to 17 years of age.
The Centre does not provide a day service during school term.
In Home Respite
In Home Respite provides personal support to a child with a disability, in the family home allowing the family the time to undertake other activities.
This service is available Monday to Friday across all hours of the day but does not operate weekends or public holidays.
After School Programme
The "Smile and Play" programme is offered on school days from 3.00pm to 6.00pm and operates from our Launceston Respite Centre.
Skill and Social Development Programmes are offered.
Holiday/Recreation Programme
Our holiday and recreation programmes are provided to school age children during school holidays and operate from our Launceston Respite Centre.
This includes our summer holiday "Fun in the Sun" programme.
We offer centre based and community activities designed as educational and fun.
The service is available weekdays from 9.00am to 4.45pm.
There are many wonderful resources on the internet. Below is a selection that you may find of interest.
Children’s development and parenting sites
Beyond Blue - Great information on depression
Brainwave.org.au - Comprehensive information on paediatric brain illnesses
Downloadable brochure on child car restraint rules
Playgroup Tasmania - includes toy library information
Aust Government Family Assistance Office
Livewire – supportive, safe, on line communities with entertainment, chat, music and games for kids and young people living with a serious illness or disability and their parents.
Royal Children’s Hospital (Melbourne)
CCCH Centre for Community Child Health
Children’s Hospital Westmead (Sydney)
Independent Living Centre Tasmania
Australian Human Rights Commission
Mad as Hell Parent Disability Lobbying Website
Association for Children with a Disability
Association for Children with Disability, Tasmania
Canchild Centre for Childhood Disability Research (Canada)
Novitatech - Assistive technology for people with disability
Australian Paediatric Research Network
Prem baby sites
Miracle Babies - This website is based in NSW and was started by parents of prem babies. Good resources for parents.
Downloadable booklet produced by the Victorian Govt - Caring for your very premature infant
Information for parents who have a premature baby
Victorian website on prematurity
Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral Palsy League Queensland
www.cpregister-aus.com.au Cerebral Palsy Register
Aus ACPDM - Australasian Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Departmental Medicine
Novita Children’s Service and technology service, South Australia
Autism
Autism Association of Western Australia
FaHCSIA (Aust Govt) - Helping Children With Autism program and funding
ASPECT – Autism Spectrum Australia (NSW)
Autism information for parents dealing with new diagnosis
Down Syndrome
Down Syndrome Association of Tasmania
Down Syndrome Society of South Australia
Allied Health Professional websites
Australian Physiotherapy Association