Publications Riverina Murray

The Riverina Murray Respite Services team have been involved in many different programs. Click on the following link to view the article.

Carers Week- High Tea

Riverina Murray Groups

The Riverina Murray Respite Services team have been running many groups through out the area for nearly a year; they have groups in areas such as Temora, Cootamundra, Tumut and Wagga. These groups include Carer and Consumer groups and focus on a range of topics including self esteem, job skills, physical health and social contact. In addition to these established groups this month the Riverina Murray team have also arranged and transported a group of carers to see Inside Out play in Albury. Respite Services has also worked helping consumer access the holiday program and are currently assisting consumers in the Temora, Cootamundra, Junee and Tumut to attend a consumer holiday in Jindabyne. They have also been a part of a Schizophrenia Awareness Week activity on the 20th may provide staff at the event and transporting carers and consumers from Tumut and Temora.

“Time Out For Kids”

The Riverina Murray Respite Services team have been running a program called “Time Out for Kids” which is an activity based school holiday program for children who have parents or family members with a mental illness. It is designed to support families affected by mental illness by giving young carers a well-deserved break from their caring role.

The program is designed for children aged 8-14 and takes place twice a week throughout the month of January. The goals of “Time Out for Kids” are to provide respite to children of parents / family members with a mental illness, as well as improve the well-being of children and their family members.

The program includes exciting and fun activities including sports, art, board games, cooking, movies and dancing, just to name a few.

So far the outcomes of the program have been overwhelmingly positive, and there are plans to implement the program in future school holidays, as well as in other areas across Riverina Murray region.
The “Time Out for Kids” project is an initiative of Riverina Murray Respite Services, in collaboration with the Commonwealth Respite and Carerlink Centre, and Carer Assist.

“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Day”
  Our Respite - Caring for our Mob.

The Riverina Murray Respite Services team led by Jasmine Williams held a Mental Health awareness raising day in Tolland on March 5, 2009. The event aimed to raise awareness of mental health issues, carers and the caring role within Indigenous communities.

Respite Services staff from all areas attended the event along with the entire Riverina Murray team, other SFNSW staff from Wagga Wagga attended including staff from D2DL, PHAMS, RSP and the CDO. There were information stalls set up by 12 different community services including St Johns Ambulance, Health, NSW Police, Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre and the local government member Kevin Wales attended, as well as special guest Ernie Dingo. Ernie Dingo attended on the day addressed the community as well as the local media. Ernie was presented with the gift of a locally made didgeridoo as a thank you for his contribution on the day.

Approximately 150 people from the local community attended the event and participated in the activities which included boomerang painting, bubble blowing, a barbeque, bush tucker, Auskick football session, spray painting and beat boxing.

One of the outcomes of this event is the establishment of a weekly educational and support group that will be supported by Respite Services Riverina Murray through facilitation and Education.