HIGH NEEDS CHILDREN
These weekend camps provide respite for children with High Needs (HN) and / or children with rare disorders (some of whom are terminally ill) and their families (parents and siblings). We work in partnership with Northern Sydney Central Coast Area Health which provide the pediatric nurses to care for the HN children.
KEY OBJECTIVES:
- To give the High Needs child a chance to mix with other children in a similar situation
- To provide an environment where these families can enjoy a holiday together
- To give the siblings of High Needs children an opportunity to talk with other siblings in a similar situation
- To create an atmosphere where parents feel comfortable to discuss their situation with parents in a similar position. This then often leads to the establishment of a support network, that continues long after these camps end
- To pamper the parents and allow ‘parents only’ time, whilst providing entertainment for the HN child and their siblings. Caring for a HN child can be very demanding and often parents are burnt-out.‘Parents only’ time aims to recharge their batteries and give them some much needed time to themselves
- To create opportunities for volunteers to make a meaningful contribution to their community
Children’s activities include - craft, sports, mini Olympics, karaoke and a wide range of games.
Our HN parents enjoy a dinner dance, massages, Mum’s pampering sessions, Dad's golf chipping and volley ball games, live entertainment, plus plenty of time to relax.
We are currently holding 2 High Needs camps each year. Our volunteers contribute more than 1000 hours at each of these camps.
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