Lifestart is a listed service provider for the Early Intervention Service Provider Panel, for the Helping Children with Autism package funded by the Australian Government through Departments of Families, Housing, learning Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA). The first course run under this program is the parent program More Than Words. ® An orientation night for the program is being held at Lifestart Eastwood Centre at at 7pm on Tuesday 10 March. Enquiries phone 9868 5066.

Former dual Olympic kayaker and World Champion in surf ski and outrigger canoeing Shelley Oates-Wilding has thrown her support behind Lifestart’s Kayak for Kids. Shelley will paddle the event with her son Kai,  who is following in his parents footsteps and at 11 is already a state gold medallist. Shelley, a mother of two, is a highly sought-after sports trainer and motivational speaker. When asked if she was concerned about sharks on the paddle, Shelley replied: “I have paddled Sydney Harbour for 20 years and have never seen a shark. And the safety conditions under which this paddle is being conducted both in time of day and patrol craft make it very safe - and the kayaks we will be using are very hard to fall out of.” (See www.kayakforkids.com.au for full event details.)

Lifestart Eastern Sydney mother Margaret-Anne Otton has once again appeared on the ABC’s Q & A program to question federal government equity in the provision of early intervention services. Ms Otton first appeared on the program last September when Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilites Bill Shorten drew a round of applause for saying that Ms Otton’s daughter Sophia, who has a mix of developmental disabilities, was still a child and deserved the same government support as other children with more easily defined developmental problems.

Five months on and Ms Otton has challenged Mr Shorten that, despite the introduction of the $190 million dollar autism package, nothing has changed, because this is a condition specific package therefore is of no use to her daughter. Mr Shorten replied that the autism package was only a start and the government was looking at ways to improve access to early intervention assistance across the board.

Lifestart is a listed service provider for the Early Intervention Service Provider Panel, for the Helping Children with Autism package funded by the Australian Government through Departments of Families, Housing, learning Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA). Click here for more details.