New policy: Strengthening care for children with a life-threatening condition.
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| New policy launched at Very Special Kids during National Palliative Care Week, May 2008.
| Care and support for children and teens with life-threatening conditions will be improved under a Brumby Government commitment to strengthen and better co-ordinate palliative car services.
Launching National Palliative Care Week and releasing the Brumby Government’s paediatric palliative care policy, Health Minister Daniel Andrews said it was vital that supports were put in place for children with life-threatening conditions and their families, particularly in the last stages of a terminal illness.
The new policy, Strengthening care for children with a life-threatening condition, which sets out actions for health, palliative care, disability, children’s services and community care agencies for the next seven years, was launched at Very Special Kids in Malvern.
| Click here to download a copy of the policy.
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New book: There's No Such Thing As A Silly Question
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| Dr Sally Cockburn launches book at Very Special Kids on 15 May.
| "You wouldnt visit a foreign country without a travel guide and phrase book would you? "There's no such thing as a silly question" is just such a book for the foreign world that families enter when a child gets diagnosed with a serious medical condition. " Dr Sally Cockburn
| There’s No Such Thing As A Silly Question is a practical guide for families living with a child with chronic illness, disability, mental illness or a life-threatening condition. It provides valuable insights into what other families have learnt, felt or found helpful in their experience of caring for a child with additional needs.
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Produced by InterACT and published by Very Special Kids in partnership with the Gandel Charitable Trust, There’s No Such Thing As a Silly Question includes sections such as: ‘Where do I begin?’, ‘Going into Hospital’, ‘Who Will Help Us in the Community’, and ‘How to Give Life Balance’. There is also a handy glossary and lists of publications, resources and services in the back of the book.
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Click here for a lo-resolution pdf of the book (1MB)
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Click here for an information sheet on the book.
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If you are registered with Very Special Kids you will receive a copy of the book shortly.
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For a free copy of the book, send your details to:
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InterACT Secretary PO Box 2527 Ringwood North Victoria 3134
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Remembering Our Children Garden at Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show
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| | The silver-award winning Remembering our Children Garden was especially designed by award-winning duo Vivid Design and Semken Landscaping with the aim of creating an inspiring space to embrace the powerful memories of children who have died from illness.
| Over 200 very special kids names were engraved on river stones throughout the beautiful garden of deep and resonant colours. The garden also included a life-size sculpture of a small girl, a reflection pond and stone pathway with the sound of children’s voices and giggles in the background.
| The families whose children were remembered in the garden, continue to access Very Special Kids Bereavement Support Program. These families will receive the river stone with their child’s name to take home and put in their own garden.
| Very Special Kids would like to thank everyone involved in making this garden a wonderful success.
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Model of Care Review
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For 21 years Very Special Kids has provided support for families caring for children with life-threatening illnesses. Over this time we have regularly reviewed the care and programs (the Model of Care) offered to families - in consultation with families - to ensure the service is relevant and effective.
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In 2005 Very Special Kids decided to implement a comprehensive review of its Model of Care. This initiative provides an opportunity to evaluate current practices, to build on our strengths and ultimately improve the quality of the service to families. The project aim is to establish a model of care that is evidence-based, sustainable and accountable.
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The project will have three distinct phases: 1) analysis, 2) design and 3) implementation. Phases 2 and 3 will be built on the findings of Phase 1.
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Phase 1 and 2 is now complete which included widespread consultation including input obtained from
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- Family Support Team and Hospice Team members
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- healthcare professionals and
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After much analysis of the services we provide to families in Phase 1 and 2, we have begun to plan the implementation strategies of a strengths-based, family-centred approach of working with families. This approach has come out of the recommendations made by the Nucleus Group from the analysis and findings of Phase 1 and 2 of the Review and is endorsed by our Board of Directors. It will see Very Special Kids further develop a Model of Care that is evidence-based and sustainable building on the strengths of the past 21 years.
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2007 will see a focus on the Implementation Phase.
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All Very Special Kids’ services will operate as usual during the Model of Care Review.
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We will be updating this page as we move through the project to keep you informed of our findings and developments. Thank you to everyone who is participating and if you have any queries regarding this project please email us on mail@vsk.org.au.
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