We hope you had a nice Easter and enjoyed the school holidays!

Congratulations and thanks to the following Carers on their First Anniversary of caring.

Vicki Gould                                                                   2^nd March

Jessica & Tasha Kristensen                                       18^th March

Taneisha Alsleben                                                       30^th March

Sarah Trant                                                                    8^th April

Belinda Gannon                                                            5^th May

Debbie & Brian Barron                                                6^th May

Bradley Webb & Paul Craven                                     24^th May

Helen & Kendall Wills                                                  31^st May

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Allambi Care Online Learning - What can I learn about?

Module 1: Therapeutic Crisis Intervention for Families                      Presented by Ben Jones, Manager of Learning and Development. In this module we explain techniques to care for children who have had traumatic experiences.

Module 2: Circle of Security                                                                      Presented by Sunet Russouw, Social Worker. This brief module will help you
improve the bond with the young people under your care by focusing on their emotional needs.

Module 3: Functional Living Skills Pt 1.                                                      Presented by Seher Suhail, Lead Behaviour Specialist. Join Seher for7 minutes as she explains why functional skills are so important for the people we care for.

Module 4: Functional Living Skills Pt 2.                                                        Presented by Tiffany Walsh, Autism Support. Tiffany continues from where Seher left off with training that’s based around functional life skills, increasing independence, and using prompting to teach new skills to children with autism and children that have cognitive disabilities.

Module 5: Applied Behaviour Analysis                                                    Presented by Seher Suhail, Lead Behaviour Specialist, and Trisha Hanrahan, Behaviour Specialist. Applied Behaviour Analysis is founded in research and science. It is one of the most effective approach for kids with autism in particular but also for kids without it. ABA empowers you by demonstrating that the variables responsible for a person’s behaviour are found in the environment and that if we change the environment, we can change behaviour. Therefore your responses can influence the young person’s behaviour, in turn effecting his/her learning and growth.

Module 6: Managing Hyperactive Behaviour                                            Presented by James Bellman, Senior Psychologist. James takes us through easy-to-understand and practical content that explains what can cause hyperactivity, what strategies we can use to manage this in children and how self-regulation can play an important role.

Module 7: Foster Care Cultural Training                                                Presented by Cultural Support Officers, Barry McGrady and Cassandra McCarthy. This session takes us through the factors that impact the wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families today and how Allambi Care can support the needs of Aboriginal children and young people in our care.

Module 8: What is Bipolar Disorder?                                                              Presented by Ina McKracken, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, and
Rhys Common, Psychologist. This session covers what it is to have Bipolar Disorder, what age group is more likely to be diagnosed with it and how it differs from mood swings.

Module 9: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder                                          Presented by Trisha and Cassandra, Behaviour Specialists at Allambi Clinical. In this module Trisha and Cassandra explain what Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is and provide strategies to help manage this disorder.

Not sure about how to access the training platform? If you need help we are happy to walk you through it.
Follow this link: https://lms.allambicare.org.au/lms-signin

15 Lake Macquarie walks to do with kids and young people

1. Warners Bay Sculpture Walk 

Enjoy Lake Macquarie views and a variety of art sculptures in a 2 km walk from the Eleebana boat ramp to Warners Bay foreshore.       

2. Fernleigh Track           

A former rail line with a tunnel, the 15 km Fernleigh Track is a popular walking and cycling path connecting Lake Macquarie and Newcastle. It has multiple entry and exit points, which means you can tackle as little or as much as you like. 

Toilets: the only toilets on the track are at Redhead. But LMCC and NCC have Fernleigh Track Maps that highlight all facilities including toilets within 600m of the track.

3. Yuerlarbah Walk at Glenrock Lagoon

Part of the Great North Walk, the Yuerlarbah Walk in Glenrock State Conservation Area takes you along bridges, past waterfalls and through beautiful rainforest to Glenrock Lagoon. At just under 3.4 km each way, this bushwalk is perfect for kids and those with varying levels of fitness. The first part of the walk is a wheelchair accessible and stroller-friendly raised boardwalk.                                                                                                                   

4. Ken & Audrey Owens Walk

This is a flat, family-friendly coastal walk that includes a network of paths alongside Redhead Beach through coastal vegetation and wetlands. It's about 2.5km return.

Toilets: can be found at Webb Park Playground.

5. The 5km Awabakal Walk 

This walk features spectacular views and adventuresome trails in the Awabakal Nature Reserve between Dudley and Redhead.

Toilets: there are toilets at Redhead SLSC.

6. The Belmont Lagoon Reserve Walk 

Located in Lake Macquarie, this walk has it all as well as being an interesting 4.3km family walk around the lagoon. Connected to Lake Macquarie via Cold Tea Creek, Belmont Lagoon sits halfway between the lake and the ocean, and is great to explore with kids. It also has cultural significance to Indigenous Australians as it is located at the end of a song line or dreaming track. To the Awabakal people, it is known as The Teardrop of the Moon, formed the night the moon cried.

Toilets: are located at Ken Lambkin reserve.

7. Belmont Wetlands State Park

Short, family-friendly bushwalks through beautiful coastal bushland and wetlands. Dogs can come along but must be on leash, well behaved and avoid native wildlife.There are many walking trails through the park including two short walks that are suitable for younger children. Find more information on the Belmont Wetlands State Park website.

8. Green Point Walk 

Connects Belmont and Valentine and has a variety of different routes to see and places to go. There are dirt tracks and concrete pathways. This walk is stroller-friendly, wheelchair friendly and good for kids on bikes or scooters. 

Toilets: are located at Shores Way park entrance and in Sea Eagle Park in Belmont. In Valentine, there are amenities at Bennett Park on Dilkera Avenue in Valentine. There are bubblers along the shared pathway.

9. Glendale to Wallsend Tramway Track 

This is a former steam tram route. The Tramway Track is a 3.9km off-road walk and cycleway connecting Glendale in Lake Macquarie to Wallsend. It’s a bit hilly but good for kids with some endurance.

Toilets: there are no toilets along this track.

10. Munibung Hill Walk 

Offers great views of Lake Macquarie. A good place to start is at Lucilla Ridge in Macquarie Hills but there are other access points in Speers Point and Lakelands.

Toilets: there are no amenities on these walks.

11. Galgabba Point Walk

This easy 3.2km walk in a nature reserve has lake views and mangroves. The path is mostly flat and can be navigated with prams or strollers.

Toilets: no toilets but there are picnic tables.

12. Kilaben Bay Nature Walk

The 3km return walk winds through beautiful bush along a wide fire trail and boardwalks and starts/finishes at the lake’s edge at Kilaben Bay – the perfect spot for a picnic and a play by the water.

Toilets: no toilets available at the walk. Closest public toilets are at Kilaben Bay Park.

13. Cooranbong Swing Bridge Walk

Tucked away in the backstreets of suburban Cooranbong is a historic swing bridge. Once you cross the bridge, there is a large picnic area that leads to the Sandy Creek Walk ,which is a 3km return walk.

Toilets: no toilets but you can stop at Dora Creek or Morisset public toilets on the way.

14. Boarding House Dam Walk

The Boarding House Dam picnic area is the start of a walk that is filled with waterfalls, creeks, and natural wildlife. The entire circuit spans only 700m in total, making it a perfect nature walk for all ages, particularly those on a family walk with little kids. 

Toilets: there are toilets, shaded picnic table and BBQs at the picnic area.

15. Gap Creek Falls Walk

This is a challenging walk for adventuresome kids with a hike down to the waterfall. It starts with the 20 minute, flat Gap Creek Walking track which is 20 minutes return if you want something easy.

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Why are Connections to culture important for our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children & young people?

These short videos show the powerful connections between our Aboriginal
children and young people to Kin, culture and Country.

The Bridge‘The Bridge’ shares the experience of an Aboriginal young person in out-of-home care. It explores his yearning to know his family and how reconnecting with them in turn strengthened his sense of identity and belonging.

Click here to watch.

Building Bridges‘Building Bridges’ shares the perspectives of Aboriginal caseworkers about the vital role they play in fostering children’s connections to Kin, culture and Country. They offer practice tips to other caseworkers, including the need to actively listen to the perspectives of children and young people, and ask respectful, curious questions to build relationships with families.

Click here to watch. 

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Who made the first ANZAC Biscuits?

The first ANZAC biscuit recipe was printed in a 1917 Australian publication called the War Chest Cookery Book, but it was nothing like today’s recipe as it used eggs and it sandwiched the biscuits together with jam & cream. Interestingly, it was a South Australian housewife’s small notebook that helped find the original recipe. The book was also used to record egg and butter sales, and the ANZAC biscuit recipe was the second last entry dated about 1919. Coconut didn’t appear in recipes until 1924, in the 1924 Anchor Ann cookbook. The biscuits were used as a form of fundraising for the war effort and quickly became a popular food to send to Australia's overseas forces, due to their accessible ingredients, easy cooking method, and lack of eggs, which meant the biscuits kept well. Below is the pre-1920's recipe to try.

Carole Moore's pre-1920s family recipe Anzac biscuit

INGREDIENTS: 

• 2 level cups / 200g / 6 oz rolled oats
• 1 extra generous Tbsp golden syrup
• 1 level cup / 125g / 4 1/2 oz plain flour
• 1 tsp. bicarbonate of soda
• 1/2 cup / 105g / 3 1/2 oz granulated sugar
• 2 tbsp. boiling water
• 125g / 4 1/2 oz butter

METHOD:

1. Pre-set oven 170F/150C, and line two baking trays with baking paper.
2. Put the oats, flour and sugar into a large bowl and mix well.
3. Melt the butter in a large pan over medium heat, dip tablespoon in hot water and then use to measure the golden syrup, stir till dissolved and just coming to the boil - remove from heat source (but don't allow it to cool).
4. Stir the bicarbonate of soda with the measured boiling water until it has dissolved, then add to the pan of hot melted butter and golden syrup.
5. Stir until it 'froths up'- immediately add to the dry ingredients and mix all together.
6. Use a teaspoon or a flat dessert spoon to scoop the mixture - place it in your hand, bring together by rolling into a ball, place 5 cm apart on the baking sheet (they will spread).
7. The biscuits need to be flattened slightly - use the base of a glass or press down with a fork dipped in a little flour (this will stop it sticking).
8. Place the trays in a pre-heated oven for 15 - 18 minutes until golden (they will still be soft).
9. Leave the biscuits on the trays for 5 minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack. Once the biscuits are cold, store them in an airtight tin.

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Online Safety

Online safety for children and young people in today’s constantly evolving tech world is a topic that most parents and carers have concerns about. The eSafety Commissioner has a website that can help navigate the big issues, with information that you can access to learn skills and get advice whatever age your child or young person is.

Click here to visit the eSafety website. 

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Looking for your next read? Check out the book review for this month

One word review for Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life would be, WOW!

We live in a very connected world where everything is constantly vying for our attention. Modern technology is designed to prey upon the weaknesses of the human psychological condition to keep our attention and Nir Eyal should know. Nir wrote the bestselling HOOKED: How to Build Habit-Forming Products, that tech companies such as Facebook (META) and Google (ALPHABET), just to name two companies, use as one of their holy texts. 

Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life is an amazing book designed to give the reader easy hacks to fight back and regain control of where we focus our attention, all based upon solid research.

But what about the children? Yes he covers that as well. Look out social media, look out work, look out life! At the end of each chapter are takeaways and near the end of the book, all the chapter takeaways are consolidated together. This book is even designed for those of us who want to start a book club with a discussion guide. 

If you want to make changes to what you are doing or want to guide the next generation to successfully manage our brave new world, you may want to put this on your reading list. It is more expensive than your average book unless you go hunting for it cheaply online. Or thankfully Lake Macquarie library has it for loan so with a little patience you can read it for free.    

Reviewed by Scott Handlin.  

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Key dates and events

APR 27 – 10am Gosford: When good intentions are not enough
Let's take a deep dive into reducing the level of conflict, defensiveness and withdrawal that tends to be present in the lives of abused children. 

MAY 3 – 10am Online: Top tips for responding to disclosures      Supporting a child who has disclosed abuse can be challenging and it can feel difficult to know how to respond or what actions to take after the initial disclosure. 

MAY 10 – 10am Online: Understanding Foetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder                                                                                                                Learn more about FAS-D, which is the diagnosis of lifelong physical or neuro-developmental abnormalities that result from foetal alcohol exposure.  

MAY 17 – 10am Online: Facilitating family visits                                          Exploring a variety of approaches to prepare for and reduce stress during family visits.

MAY 24 – 10am Online: Participating in family group conferences                What to expect and how to effectively participate in family group conferences.

JUN 7 – 10am Online: Understanding Emotional Regulation                          Assisted regulation, previously known as co-regulation, allows children to learn how to effectively self-regulate independently. 

For more information please contact:  http://www.myforeverfamily.org.au/events

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Active Kids Voucher  

Have you applied for your Active Kids vouchers yet? Not sure which activities you can use them for? Here’s how to apply for and redeem vouchers. There are four simple steps:

1. Visit sport.nsw.gov.au/activekids. Read the Guidelines and Fact Sheets to learn about the program. 
2. Visit service.nsw.gov.au and create or login to your MyServiceNSW Account. 
3. Fill in an application for each child, through your MyServiceNSW Account. You will receive a voucher with a unique ID number for each child you register (available to download, print and email). 
4. Redeem your voucher. Take your child’s voucher to a registered activity provider; or log onto your provider’s website to enrol and enter the voucher ID number.

When your child commences their chosen sport or activity, your online account will show the status of the voucher change from ‘Active’ to ‘Redeemed’.

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Easy No Bake Bunny Biscuits   

INGREDIENTS:

• 250g packet milk arrowroot biscuits
• 150g melted milk chocolate
• 150g melted white chocolate
• 1/3 cup bright strands or sprinkles
• 1/2 300g packet Cadbury Clinkers, halved

MEHOD:

1. Line 2 baking trays with baking paper. Place biscuits on prepared trays. Spread biscuits with melted milk or white chocolate. Scatter with sprinkles/strands
2. Dip ends of Clinker halves into the matching melted chocolate. Stick 2 Clinkers onto each biscuit to form ears. Refrigerate 15 minutes or until chocolate is set. 
3. Serve & enjoy!