Autumn 2011

Although I’ve been part of the ‘Time

for Kids’ Carer’s Services team since

2010, my involvement with the

organisation goes back much earlier.

When I was seven-years-old, my

mum reached out to Time for Kids

(then known as SOS) when she

needed support for herself and, most

importantly, for me. My parents,

both refugees from Poland, split up

when I was five months old. From

then on, my mum was my sole carer.

It was just the two of us, without a

single family member to help.

Mum knew I needed a support

network around me so I didn’t feel

isolated or alone in the country

where I was born, but where I had no

family or cultural connection. Mum

did her research and found Time for

Kids – a South Australian

organisation offering respite care to

children from disadvantaged

households. Mum knew this would

be a perfect fit for us, as it would give

her a chance to rest and recharge, as

well as offering me the community

and social experiences I’d otherwise

miss.

My experience with my carer was of

a sense of safety and belonging from

the moment we met. I always

remember chatting with her about

everything over hot chocolates. We

would go swimming at the beach,

borrow books from the library and

watch movies. I felt really valued and

special. My carer’s family became my

family, and her activities became our

activities.

When I was 11 my carer had a

daughter of her own, who I consider

my sister. We do the same things any

other siblings do, and are even told

that we look alike. This has enriched

my life in a whole different way, as I

now have a sibling for life who I

would never have had without Time

for Kids.

Because of my early involvement

with Time for Kids I realise what an

important thing my mum did for me.

She resourced a support in the

community that enabled me to feel

wanted, guided, supported and, most

of all, loved. There has never been a

milestone in my life where my

mother, my carer, her daughter and

her parents, whom I consider to be

my grandparents, haven’t been

involved.

Our Christmases are always spent

together as a big family, and are just

as dysfunctional and humorous as

any other family’s. We share

celebrations such as birthdays,

sporting events, family dinners and

more recently, my wedding ,where

my carer made the ‘father of the

bride’ speech.

I feel blessed to have been given the

opportunity to have a family who

were there by my side cheering me

on throughout my entire life. I

consider my family very special as it

is not blood that bonds us, but our

bond is through our hearts. We are

all in each other’s lives not because

we have to, but because we want to

be.

A unique perspective:

Karolina Carr — Carer Services team member and ‘Time for Kids’ kid

Continued on page 2

Members of the Fern Village Resident’s Association recently visited the Time for Kids office to present us with a cheque for $400. This generous donation was from the sale of wooden toys made by members of the Residents Association ‘Men’s Workshop’. The six Workshop members – Malcolm Bacchus, Carl Barber, Tony Laishley, Michael Muras, Garry Fisher and Bob Croxton – meet each week to make toys, which are sold to raise money for charity. The group began around two years ago, when they decided to make use of the workshop in their village. The workshop, provided by “Lifestyle” (Gordon Pickard Group) in each of their villages, was previously being used as a storeroom. The group built benches and, with financial assistance from their Residents Association and some donated equipment, set up the workshop. They now hold the ‘Mens Workshop’ each Monday morning. Their recent sale day, held in conjunction with a sausage sizzle put on by the Residents Association, raised $650 for charity. It was a delight to meet Bob and Garry when they visited the Time for Kids office to present us with the proceeds of their hard work, and we look forward to working with them in the future.

I imagine that caring for me has enriched my carer’s life

in ways that I’ll only really be able to understand when I

have my own children. She has helped raise me with my

mum since I was so young and now, 20 years later, feels

that she is a mother to two children. This makes me feel

special as I realise I have had an impact on her life, just

as she has had on mine.

For my mother, the support enabled her to rest and be

the best mum she could be, knowing that her child was

safe and loved, and knowing that I was just as happy to

be with my carer every fourth weekend, as I was to be

with my mum every day.

Because I have a first-hand understanding of the

incredible impact being matched with a caring volunteer

can have on a child’s life, I am very passionate about

Time for Kids and about my role as part of the Carers

Services team. I am so grateful to be able to still be

involved with Time for Kids. In a small way, I feel I am

now able to give back to the organisation that has given

so much me.

The children currently involved with Time for Kids

benefit by the simple sharing of time. This creates a

powerful effect in children’s lives by showing them

support and guidance, and by offering life lessons which

their own households may be unable or ill-equipped to

teach. Just letting a child know that they are important

enough for someone to want to ‘give them a break’ by

offering them their time, can change a child’s life. Just

like it did for me.

David, one of our wonderful volunteer carers, recently called the Time for Kids office to share this lovely little story about the four-year-old girl he and his wife, Liz, regularly share time with. During a recent weekend together, David, a keen musician, was singing ACDC’s ‘Highway to Hell’ with his band. You know the one … ‘I’m on the Highway to Hell …’ About 30 minutes later, Liz was singing the song softly to herself while doing housework when the little girl suddenly came belting down to David, bursting with excitement. ‘Hey David,’ she announced.

‘Liz is going to the same place

you are!’

Time for Kids staff with representatives from the ‘Men’s Workshop’: Julie Hill, Bob Croxton, Jo Wickes, Lucy Seppelt, Garry Fisher and Karolina Carr.

Continued from front page

Making toys to make a difference: The Fern Village ‘Men’s Workshop’

Diarmid Lee brings a wealth of talent and experience to the Time for Kids Management Board. After working as a commercial lawyer in Adelaide for a number of years, Diarmid moved to London where he worked as a management consultant. In 2010 he returned to Australia and founded Leed Consulting. Diarmid works with clients as an organisational development consultant, facilitator and coach. ‘I am very pleased and excited to join the board of Time for Kids’, said Diarmid. ‘In the short time since I have joined the Time for Kids team, I’ve been struck by the passion with which people speak about the fantastic work we do. ‘Whether it is other Board members, Time for Kids staff or our wonderful carers, everybody I meet clearly feels a sense of pride at being involved with an organisation that is doing such valuable and meaningful work, work which makes a real difference in children's lives. ‘I look forward to meeting more of you over the next months and years and helping to be a part or the future growth and development of Time for Kids.’ Diarmid joins a committed and talented team of Board members, who volunteer their time and expertise to provide advice, guidance and governance.

Many of the children referred to Time for Kids are under the fulltime care of their grandparents. These families can face special challenges, including feelings of isolation or a lack of access to support and resources. Thanks to the generosity of Parenting SA and Community Benefit SA, Time for Kids has been able to establish the Time for Kids ‘Grandparents Support Network’ to help link grandparents with supportive networks and with each other. Earlier this year, a grandparent get-together was held at Hazelwood Park. As well as enjoying a fun morning with their grandchildren, grandparents were invited to offer suggestions about the sort of support and functions they would find most helpful.

In response to their ideas, a ‘Relaxation Morning’ was recently held at the Time for Kids office. This gave grandparents the opportunity to share tips about taking care of themselves, so that they are better able to care for and enjoy their grandchildren. There are also a range of fun activities planned throughout the year that grandparents and their grandchildren can enjoy together. Grandparents also now have access to a comprehensive library of resources, and can be referred to specialist agencies if required. Time for Kids is grateful to our generous community partners and to our wonderful volunteers, whose financial and practical support enables us to find innovative ways to help those who undertake this important role.

Diarmid Lee joins Time for Kids

Management Board

Georgina with her grandchildren at the Hazelwood Park ‘Grandparent Support Network’ get-together.

Supporting grandparents and their grandchildren: The Time for Kids Grandparent Support Network

Time for Kids Ambassador, Erik Thomson with Channel Seven’s Rosanna Mangiarelli at the sixth annual ‘Fabulous Women in Property’ lunch held at the Adelaide Convention Centre on Friday 15th April. The lunch, organised by Edge Recruitment, was attended by more than 300 women and featured guest speakers Erik Thomson, Karolina Carr and Rosanna Mangiarelli. Proceeds from the event were generously donated to Time for Kids.

Find us on Facebook

Time for Kids 72 Fullarton Rd Norwood SA 5067 PO Box 932 Kent Town SA 5071 P: 08 8362 6311 F: 08 8362 6711 E: info@timeforkids.com.au www.timeforkids.com.au Our office is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm. Give us a call or call in—we’d love to see you!

This year’s National Volunteer Week is extra special, as 2011 is the 10th Anniversary of the UN International Year of Volunteers. At Time for Kids, we’re fortunate to have the assistance of hundreds of committed volunteers who contribute thousands of hours each year to support children and families in South Australia. As well as directly caring for children, our volunteers work in a diversity of areas. From governance to gardening and everything in between, our volunteers are the heart and soul of Time for Kids. As Time for Kids embarks on its 51st year, more than 4600 children have been matched with caring volunteers. This is a remarkable achievement, enabled by the goodwill and generosity of an army of remarkable individuals. On behalf of the staff and, most especially, of the children and families whose lives are changed by our volunteers’ generosity, we’d like to say thank you. Thank you for sharing time and changing lives. Thank you for making a difference.

Easter treats at Time for Kids

Thanks to the generosity of our community partners, it was an extra-special Easter for some lucky Time for Kids children this year.

Minter Ellison Foundation collected an impressive haul of Easter eggs and Variety, the Children’s Charity, provided us with fluffy bunnies and treats for a number of children involved with Time for Kids. Thanks to Time for Kids being recommended by the SA Ladies of Variety, KPMG chose us as a beneficiary of their corporate citizenship

program. KPMG staff built and donated bikes to two especially lucky children, who couldn’t wait to try out their new wheels at the recent presentation. Contributions such as these are absolutely invaluable for children and families involved in our services, enabling them to participate in all of the events and activities that take place in the community and not be excluded.

Hamish and Cameron enjoying their Easter treats with Children’s Services worker, Julie Hill