Westmead Feelings Program Scholarships Now Open

The Children’s Hospital at Westmead is seeking applicants for the Westmead Feelings Program  (WFP) Facilitator scholarships round, with the aim of supporting the mental health of children with autism and intellectual disabilities in NSW and to help us evaluate the WFP online facilitator learning platform.

Twelve scholarships will be awarded to professionals in NSW to complete an online facilitator certification course in 2021 with delivery of the program in 2022. The course will equip professionals with the knowledge and skills necessary to deliver WFP to children with autism with and without mild intellectual disability, as well as their parents and teachers.                                                   

Included in the scholarships will be the WFP  therapeutic kit and WFP therapeutic manuals for up to five children, their parents and teachers.                                           

Scholarships will be awarded for either:

- Westmead Feelings Program 1 - for children with autism and a mild intellectual disability. Westmead Feelings Program 1 is aimed at verbal children, who may or may not read, can draw simple pictures or write a few key words and can pay attention for at least a few minutes at a time.

- Westmead Feelings Program 2 - for children with autism and no intellectual disability. Westmead Feelings Program 2 is aimed at children who have fluent speech, and who are able to read and write.           

The twelve scholars will be supported via various mentoring opportunities throughout 2022. Each scholarship is valued at over $2,500.

It is essential to read the WFP Facilitator Scholarships Information Form prior to completing the online application form here.                                                                                                                             

All applications must be received on or before Monday 3 May 2021. Good luck!

Free Webinar by David Dossetor

Are we nearly there? Caring for a child with intellectual or developmental disabilities: a roadmap from a developmental psychiatrist by David Dossetor

The Hunter New England and Central Coast Primary Health Network invite you to join their online presentation aiming to educate and inform health professionals to support building a partnership with consumers through an informed person-centred approach.

WHO: Health Practitioners, Clinicians, Practice Nurses & Educators

WHEN: Monday 15th March 2021, 7.00 pm start – 8.30 pm close

WHERE: Livestream RSVP: Here

Read the full flyer here

Launch of Adult & Child IDMH Hubs

The Mental Health Branch of the NSW Ministry of Health are pleased to announce that the two statewide Intellectual Disability Mental Health Hubs, hosted by Sydney Local Health District and Sydney Children’s Hospital Network, are operational and were formally launched by the Hon. Bronnie Taylor, Minister for Mental Health, Women and Regional Youth on Wednesday 24 February.   

                           

The launch provided information on the expanded services and resources to support mental health services to care for people with intellectual disability. Services include : The Sydney Intellectual Disability Mental Health Network for adults, and the Sydney Children's Hospital Network Mental Health and Intellectual Disability Hub for children under 18 years. 

Launch of new easy read resources providing information about public mental health services in NSW

The Department of Developmental Disability Neuropsychiatry (3DN), UNSW Sydney, with support from the Social Policy Research Centre, UNSW Sydney and the NSW Ministry of Health, has developed a series of new easy read resources providing information about accessing and navigating mental health services available within NSW. They are for people with intellectual disability and for those who prefer simple written information.

People with intellectual disability and other cognitive disorders can experience communication difficulties that prevent them from accessing and participating in mental health care. Accessible information is important to promote the best health outcomes for these individuals. Easy read materials adapt standard information into a briefer copy using simple language and pictures. Scoping work identified gaps in the availability of easy read versions of key documents within NSW mental health services. Following consultation with people with intellectual disability and their families and support persons, and using a co-design approach, 3DN has developed easy read resources on:

1. Navigating the mental health service sector and questions to ask
2. The Mental Health Act
3. Statement of Rights for voluntary and involuntary patients and individuals with community treatment orders
4. Introduction to inpatient mental health services (this resource is provided as a template for inpatient mental health services to develop information sheets for people accessing their services)

A Toolkit is also available providing information around how to support individuals to use these easy read resources and make information accessible.

Consumers and health professionals can access these resources from www.3dn.unsw.edu.au/projects/easyread.

For further information, please contact Claire Eagleson at 3DN, UNSW Sydney c.eagleson@unsw.edu.au.

CBT for Children with ASD webinar recording now available

We have now uploaded Phil Ray's MHID Hub Kids Webinar presentation:  

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for Children with Autism

• Context of CBT for autism 
• Habilitation/Skills intervention – Pre CBT Therapy
• CBT for children with autism 

Look here to view other webinar topics for mental health professionals or here for our school webinars