BUSHkids Annual Report 2018-2019

Training

Training and professional development a continuing focus for our skilled workforce BUSHkids veteran Pat Carlin once obverved to a group of new staff, justifiably proud of their tertiary credentials after many years’ study, that the real learning process was only just beginning for them, and her keen insight remains as true today as we strive to add accreditations and valuable staff learning experiences.

We work hard to ensure appropriate professional guidance is in place for our expanding teams, and our line managers, supervisors and Professional Leads continually update the handbooks and operations manuals needed to ensure staff working with kids and families have the resources and support they need to do their job well. BUSHkids is accredited to provide in-house training to staff across a suite of internal and external programs focusing on playing, socialising, learning and building both resilience and skills, including our own ASS2S.

CASE STUDY: HERVEY BAY Down Syndrome learnings through water play The first of four StepUP! for Down Syndrome events in October 2019 by Down Syndrome Australia was held in Hervey Bay and local BUSHkids staff Christine Batt (pictured opposite) and Rachael Gillen were among those attending to learn more about the skills, abilities and talents of people with Down Syndrome. While local families and kids were enjoying the petting zoo, jumping castle, face-painting and the day’s other fun activities, Christine and Rachael were paying particular attention to some younger visitors whose were focused on several 36 litre tubs of water full of interesting bits-and-pieces they could see, touch, lift out, move underwater or blow bubbles around, through a straw … Water play like this has a demonstrated range of benefits for kids with different abilities such as: • developing their fine motor skills and hand-eye co-ordination through actions like pouring, squirting, scrubbing, stirring and squeezing • developing their communication and language skills, engaging with questions, answers and conversation about ripples and bubbles • helping their social and emotional growth, through calming reflections or invigorating splashing, focus on one activity and sharing space • stimulating their problem-solving skills, exploring a substance and making discoveries about it, above and behind, wet and dry • building foundations for understanding meaningful concepts, such as ‘full’ and ‘empty’ and ‘half’ and ‘less’ in volumes and observing motion. These 36-litre tubs are now making an appearance at many BUSHkids Centres and playgroups, filled with interesting little household items and toys and are proving to be a great hit as well as an absorbing learning activity!

141

3,000+

1,510

33

BUSHkids staff successfully completed program training

hours of staff Professional Development

sessions delivered across principal suite of programs

22

7

32

sessions not applicable

443

46

653

PALS Social Skills Program

26

392

30

A N N UA L R E P O R T

2 0 1 8 – 2 0 1 9