Learning Support
& Enrichment
New location for the LSE Department
- The LSE Department has a new home
- Touch Typing & Handwriting Skills Courses at SPX
- Free Parent Seminars
- Research Opportunities
The Learning Support and Enrichment (LSE) Department has a new home in the Admin block.
As many will recall, LSE at St Pius X has been undergoing change during 2016. Not only did the department increase its staff to form a larger team, to broaden its scope to support students and work with teachers across Year 5 to Year 12, it has been given a new collaborative office space to work in. We also have a new shared meeting room next door, so we look forward to holding our CPMs (collaborative planning meetings) with students, parents and staff there in the coming year.
And what good timing for Mrs Carla Leonardi, who has returned from her long service leave, to join us in our new spacious LSE office space in the Student Support Centre, alongside the Counselling Team. Welcome back Mrs Leonardi, we missed you!
Touch Typing & Handwriting Skills Courses at SPX
Term 1 OT courses in Handwriting Skills, and Touch Typing Skills at SPX – Limited places still available, but be quick!
Do you want to improve your son’s performance in exams and assessments in 2017? St Pius X offers the handwriting and Touch Typing Skills courses that can fuel the change he needs.
Please see the flyers below for our 2017 courses, open to all students from Years 5-9, and contact Anna Orchard for an enrolment form. Anna will also advise and make private therapy arrangements for interested students in Years 10-12.
Each of the two programs runs one afternoon per week, over 8 consecutive weeks, starting from Week 2 of term, with makeup classes offered in Week 10 if required.
The time for each of the 8 sessions in Handwriting Skills or Touch Typing Skills is: 3.20pm – 4.30pm, and the venue will be LC2.
Free Parent Seminars
Free Parent Seminars and opportunities to be involved in research for parents and carers of students with support needs:
Seminar 1: NDIS Information Session by NDIA
What? This information session is designed to help people with disability, as well as their families and carers, get ready for the National Disability Insurance Scheme that started in your area on 1 July 2016. The session will cover topics like: What is the NDIS and how does it work? Am I eligible for the NDIS? What will happen if I am made eligible? What kind of support can I access through the NDIS? When and Where?
Auslan interpreter available at all sessions.
- Lane Cove Library, Library Walk, Lane Cove NSW 2066 - Tuesday 22 February 10:30am–12:30pm
- Lane Cove Library, Library Walk, Lane Cove NSW 2066 - Monday 27 February 6pm-8pm
RSVP? Ensure a space by emailing NSWSydneyengagement@ndis.gov.au with any accessibility requirements at least one day before the event in each location. Limited spaces available.
Seminar 2: Don’t Make it Worse
What? This 8 week DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) integrated skills training helps carers of someone with a mental illness to acquire effective skills to manage themselves in overwhelming situations. Three areas of DBT skills being focused on in this program: Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance, Emotion Regulation.
Commitment to participate in all 8 weeks sessions is essential. An individual interview will be conducted in order to assess suitability prior to the program.
When? Starts Tuesday 21 February, 10.30am-1pm (for 8 consecutive Tuesdays to 11 March)
Where? The Kirribilli Centre, 16-18 Fitzroy Street, Kirribilli 2061.
RSVP? For registration and enquiry, contact the Bradfield Park Carers Program on 8920 0675 or bradfieldpark@kirribilli.org.au. Registration closes Friday 3 February at 5pm.
Research Opportunities
Research opportunity 1: New Mental Health Carer Experience Survey Tool
The Fourth National Mental Health Plan recognised the role of carers in mental health service provision and the need for carers and families to receive information, within the bounds of privacy and confidentiality, about the treatment and care provided to the consumer. A national project was undertaken to develop a tool to support mental health services to monitor and improve carer engagement as part of an evidence-informed quality improvement program. The Australian Mental Health Outcomes and Classification Network (AMHOCN) has now developed this tool for use across the sector.
It aims to measure carers’ experiences of the mental health sector. Find information about the tool and how to access and use at www.amhocn.org/special-projects/mental-health-carer-experience-survey
Research opportunity 2: Seeking Carer Input on Education Program by Department of Developmental Disability UNSW
Comments are sought from carers of an adult friend or family member who has an intellectual disability or mental health problem. The online education program about intellectual disability and mental health will be free at:
Before its publication, the Department needs carers to review it to create high quality
education for other carers. Reviewing a module would take about an hour of your time. There is no payment. For information or to participate, contact Thea Kremser, Department of Developmental Disability Neuropsychiatry, UNSW on 9385 2580 or t.kremser@unsw.edu.au.
Ms J Raheb-Mol - LSE Coordinator