On Wednesday 25th August The Hon. Kristina Keneally will launch the Lifestart Play for Kids project at Luna Park’s My Clubhouse.

The Lifestart Play for Kids project will highlight the importance of play for connecting children with disabilities and their families and play for learning.  Play for Kids will also raise community awareness of how play creates conectedness in our community generally, builds bridges and about how children with disabilities and developmental delay and grow through play and fun.

The Premier will be joined by the Hon. Peter Primrose MLC, Minister for Disability Services, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteering, Minister for Disability and the Hon. Barbara Perry MP , Minister for Local Government, Minister Assisting the Minister for Planning, Minister Assisting the Minister for Health (Mental Health), Acting Minister for Juvenile Justice.

Lifestart families, Chairman Andrew Wilson, CEO Suzanne Becker and many Lifestart supporters are also attending.

August through to September 2010

An event for kids and the young at heart. Have fun with your family and friends. Come up with your own Play for Kids event idea or use an existing game or hobby for inspiration.

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The Cubes for Kids Project aims to secure the funding building blocks to establish a purpose built early childhood intervention centre for the Lifestart Eastern Sydney Branch. Over the next five months Lifestart’s goal is to raise $500,000.00. Lifestart appreciates your help along the way. To download a donation form please click the button.

For all you foodies out there, Lifestart Northern Beaches is selling the 2010 Entertainment Book. These books are real value and offer great savings across a range of food outlets, from fast food to fine dining. Editions for all areas of Sydney are available. Cost is $65 (plus postage if applicable) and can be ordered from Lifestart Northern Beaches on 9451 9564.

Lifestart Eastwood invites all familes and friends to a Family Walkathon & Fun Day during the July school holidays. As well as the walk there will be lots of other fun activities and a BBQ lunch (gold coin donation). Kids may also like to get sponsorship for walking and all donations are welcome. The event is being run with the assistance of volunteers from Goldman Sachs JBWere. For more details download Lifestart Eastwood Family Walkathon Invitation and Lifestart Eastwood Walkathon Sponsorship Form, or contact Lifestart Eastwood on 9868 5066.

Date: Friday 9 July            Time: 10am to 2pm
Address: Somerville Park Early Childhood Centre,
679 Blaxland Road, Eastwood.

Lifestart has opened its June Children’s Appeal to help everyone use up those end-of-financial-year tax dollars. All donations to the appeal over $2 are tax deductible. Funds raised from the June Children’s Appeal will go toward helping Lifestart address the unmet needs of families and children facing disability every day. To contribute, click here to be forwarded to our donations site. Facilities are there for both on- and off-line donations.

Lifestart Eastern Sydney staff members Jennifer Kemp (Occupational Therapist) and Lauren Egan (Area Manager) were recently invited to present a paper at the Early Childhood Intervention Australia 9th Biennial National Conference in Canberra. The theme of the conference was the importance of inclusion of all children in learning opportunities. Jennifer and Lauren presented on ‘Keeping it REAL: the RELATE, ENCOUNTER and LEARN model of Open Playgroup in early intervention.’ Open Playgroup has a unique role at the very core of Lifestart’s model of family centred practice. For more information contact Jennifer or Lauren on 9344 4081.