MyTime supports parents and carers of children (under 18) with disabilities, chronic medical conditions and developmental delays.
The group of seven in Kyabram is hoping to expand its membership after recently celebrating the work of its carer support service network with a morning tea at Kyabram Fauna Park. This event was open to all unpaid carers in the community.
The Kyabram MyTime group includes parents and carers of children with autism, ADHD, epilepsy and even a rare genetic disorder.
Three organisations were involved with this special carers’ event organised by MyTime’s facilitator Theresa Heenan and Kyabram District Health Service’s Kerrie Reardon and Candy Fannin. Funding was contributed by Carers Victoria.
It was well attended and successful in raising awareness of what services are available while providing carers with a well-deserved break.
MyTime meets at the Kyabram Community and Learning Centre every Thursday during school term from 9.30am until 11am.
They occasionally have speakers, self-care activities and outings to other venues or places of interest depending on the needs of the group. It is a welcoming and safe environment respecting the privacy of all attendees.
Ms Heenan said the group had been going more than six years in Kyabram.
She is also a MyTime officer who supports other group facilitators in the north east and north west regions of Victoria, including Cobram, Shepparton, Seymour, Wangaratta, Bendigo, Mildura and quite a few in Melbourne.
Ms Heenan’s expertise in the health and care industries provides an apt support mechanism for the group. She is a former state enrolled nurse, works three days a week with Warramunda’s Home Care team and has disability support qualifications.
She also has experience working with children, having started with MyTime as a play leader caring for the pre-school aged children of participants in the program.
MyTime offers the opportunity for parents and carers to meet and access quality information and resources while sharing ideas.
One of the most frequent comments from members is “it is good to be with other like-minded people who understand and to be listened to without judgement’’.
The groups are free to join and don’t affect NDIS funding, with a trained facilitator helping group members to meet and access support services.
“We are also allocated a play leader who can care for pre-school aged children during the MyTime sessions,’” Ms Heenan said.
The Kyabram group’s discussions centre around how they can help one another navigate challenges.
But, according to Ms Heenan, there are several parents and carers in the region who are not utilising the group.
“One of the carers who came to the carers event had no idea about MyTime and said she wished she had known about it a couple of years ago,’’ she said..
“There will be a lot of people out there like that. I know I could have done with it when my now adult son was growing up.”
More information about the group is available from Theresa by contacting 0466 106143. Other points of contact for support include Candy (KDHS Disability Liaison Officer) on 0434 363167and Mikala (KDHS Home Care Co-ordinator) on 0428 443109.
