It's about the children

Over the past three years, Communities for Children has overseen the delivery of hundreds of activities in the Onkaparinga area for children, their parents and families.

A typical comment from one of the parents was after a drumming workshop. One of the mums had a toddler described as "a tornado coming from one distraction to the next". After the workshop she said "my son plays with his drum all the time, he will drum by himself and sing along, he also loves it when I drum along with him. I feel like I am battling less with him now."

Anglicare SA and UnitingCare Wesley Adelaide are the facilitating partners for the Communities for Children Onkaparinga Initiative.

Click here to view the February 2012 Communities For Children newsletter.

The Initiative

The Initiative is funded by the Commonwealth Government under the Family Support Program, and is grounded in community development, building strong partnerships and collaborative action and making use of strong evidence of what works in early intervention and prevention. The activities build on the strengths of the community and the existing infrastructure of organisations, networks and resources.

Who is it for?

Communities for Children addresses the needs of children 0-12 years, and their families, to give children the best possible start in life. It directly helps children, but also influences their environments: their family, their community and the broader social, economic and cultural context.

Area

The Onkaparinga site consists of the suburbs of Hackham, Hackham West, Christie Downs, Morphett Vale, Lonsdale, Aldinga, Aldinga Beach and Sellicks Beach.

Strategic plan

A community strategic plan has been prepared, based on community consultation by the Communities for Children Onkaparinga committee.

The Communities for Children Onkaparinga committee is a representative group of community members, non-government service providers, experts in early childhood development, the business community and Commonwealth, State and Local governments. The committee has been set up to work with Anglicare SA and UnitingCare Wesley Adelaide on community consultation, developing the community strategic plan and supporting activities over the life of the initiative.

To view the Communities for Children Onkaparinga Strategic Plan (PDF format), click here

Activities

Activities aim to build partnerships between key stakeholders including community leaders and members, family and community service providers, business and government, to build a common goal of improved outcomes for children aged 0-12 years.

Current Activities

Linking families and services

Southern Family Links

Connecting families and services;
Contact Kathy, Southern Junction Community Services, 8326 2955

Mobile Family Resource Facility

Mobile Family Connections

Provides isolated families with a range of support services and play and learn experiences at a street level.
Contact Olga, Centacare, 8234 9180

Child Friendly Charter

Facilitating Partner

To create and promote a Child Friendly Charter that ensures all early childhood services, businesses and the recreation and leisure sector provide child/family friendly environments that meet the needs of young children and their families. Click here for more information or contact Tracey on 8392 3176.

Child Friendly Charter Business Directory

Let's Do It Together

Star Club — Centacare

Supporting children and their mothers who have been subjected to domestic violence to work on attachment and relationship building within a trauma response framework focusing on strengthening the parent child relationship by engaging in safe activities.
For more info please call Sally 8557 9050

Transition to Morphett Vale Primary School — The Smith Family

To support the transition process of John Morphett Primary School and Morphett Vale West Primary School to form Morphett Vale Primary School in 2012.
For more info please call on 8186 2093

Grow Together Learning Club — The Smith Family

A weekly after school activity where children will be able to come along and prepare, sow and grow fresh produce. The produce will then be used in a variety of ways.
For more info please call Tammy on 8186 2093

Active Learning Club  — The Smith Family

Weekly learning Club during school term to develop students' confidence, skills and enthusiasm for their health and wellbeing through healthy eating and active play.
For more info please call Leeann on 8382 7587

Kinda Dance Program — Stepping Stone Christie Downs

Classes are designed to create movement, multi-cultural dance, gymnastics, music, drama, healthy heart education and relaxation techniques.
For more info please call Erica 8186 3555

Building Emotional Understanding and Tantrum Training —  Community Transformations

Community Transformations Inc, in partnership with ABC Hackham, will deliver a free Parenting by Connection course to families in the local community.
For more info please call Ann on 8270 7783.

The Importance of Child led Play  —  Community Transformations

To provide information, insight and demonstrations to parents of a fresh approach to parenting. The seminar will bring to parents information in a down-to-earth, accessible way, that parents can relate to. It will give them some practical skills in child-led play listening and Special Time through the use of Video Clips.
For more info please call Ann on 8270 7783.

My Neighbourhood —  Aldinga Community Centre

The program will assist families to create links with, and access, local services that support families and their children. The schedule will include activities and events that are currently offered in the community (e.g. /- storytime at the library, playgroups and programs at the community centre) as well as new sessions that will be based on topics requested by parents.
For more info please call Pam 8556 5940

After Hours activities

Family Express — Hackham West Community Centre

Provide a range of learning experiences in a supportive social environment whereby families can build independence and apply learning in a community context.
For more info please call Julia on 8384 1065

A Taste of Fun — Southern Adelaide Domestic Violence Service

Providing children with an opportunity to experience or get a taste of different leisure activities that they may not have had a chance to experience otherwise.
For more info please call Tiffany on 8382 0066

After Hours Kids' Club  —  Southern Junction Community Service

Providing a broad range of activities for children 8-12 and their families.
For more info please call Kathy on 8186 6944

Peer Mentor Program  Autism SA

Offering individuals diagnosed with ASD an opportunity to interact with mentors who also have an ASD diagnosis and participate in activities which due to their disability are otherwise not suitable or available to them.
For more info please call Lisa on 84620615

Recreation & Leisure

Adelaide Zoo & Scrapbooking Sessions — Coolock House/Centacare

To support young mothers and their children.
For more info please call Cathy on 8382 6699

Dads and Kids — Hackham West Children's Centre

A fortnightly after school fun Dads and Kids program delivered during school term. Most sessions will involve fathers and children making or creating something specific during the session.
For more info please call Tracy on 8382 6161

Down South Xpression Sessions — City of Onkaparinga

A series of free high quality dance workshops and performing art experiences targeted at young people aged 8-12 living within Aldinga, Aldinga Beach and Sellicks Beach areas.
For more info please call Pam on 8301 7274

Girls on Track — Girl Guides

Girls on Track for Life for girls aged between 7 and 11 years. The program is targeted at girls from vulnerable families, to give them life skills, self confidence and self esteem.
For more info please call on Margie on 8418 0900

Working with PALS Program — Christie Downs Community House

Participate And learn Skills (PALS)   —  School Holiday Program. The program will be offered in the April, July and October school year in 2011 with a variety of sessions being offered in each of the following areas: art, dance, sport and drama.
For more info please call Allison on 8384 6894

Recreation & Life Skills Program

The Smith Family
Recreation and life skills after school program
Tammy — 8186 2093

We're H'vn A Baby!

Coolock House
Cathy Araki — 8382 6699

Child/Family Friendly Business Awards

Southern Success Business Enterprise Centre
Established to recognise businesses that provide child and family friendly work or business environments.

Yvonne Baillie — 8326 6511

Conditions apply. For more information and registration click here.

Click here for the list of award winners for July 2011.

Child/Family Friendly Business Incentives

Southern Success Business Enterprise Centre
Small cash incentives up to $500 are available to make your business more child/family friendly.

Yvonne Baillie — 8326 6511

Conditions apply. For more information and registration click here.