Community Services Funding 2009

The Luke Priddis Foundation offers Community Services Funding, on an annual basis, to services in the community which assist children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) and other Special Needs.

We are thrilled to announce that the 2009 Community Services Funding recipients have recently been selected and that in  2009, the Foundation will be granting funding to 5 services, operating in Western Sydney, to assist them with the educational services they provide to these wonderful children.

Autism & Aspergers Support Group Inc, Inner West

The Autism and Aspergers Support Group Inc, Inner West, is a voluntary organisation with a philosophy of supporting people and families who have children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).  The aim of the organisation is to provide support for families and carer givers, through facilitation of regular meetings to provide members and non members with information in relation to ASD, the services available and engaging the community through education and  access to resources and support for their children.  The group supports children and families in a number of geographical areas, including Burwood, Ashfield, Strathfield, Canada Bay and Sydney City.

The group run a program one morning a fortnight, which is facilitated by a student Speech Therapist and which caters for school aged children with ASD.  The program aims to develop their social skills, by providing an avenue for them to participate in planned / structured activities, whilst practicing relating to other children and this is done in a safe and friendly community setting.  Approximately 25 children currently access this program.

The Luke Priddis Foundation had the pleasure of granting a total of $6,010 to the Autism and Aspergers Support Group Inc, Inner West, from the 2009 Community Services Funding grants.  $4,510 of this money will be used to employ a student Speech Therapist again in 2010 to continue to run the program and some of this money will also be used to pay for 10 of the children to attend 4 music therapy sessions.  The remaining $1,500 will be used to purchase resources for the support groups parent library.

The cheque was presented by Jane Price, Karen Townsend and Shonagh Bennett from the Luke Priddis Foundation, to Michael Cross, Chairperson of the group, on Sunday, 29th November 2009, in a presentation attended by some of the children and parents who will benefit.

St Anthony’s Family Care, Croydon

The Luke Priddis Foundation had the pleasure of granting St Anthony’s Family Care at Croydon, $960 to assist in the purchase a development assessment tool, which measures motor function skills, performance and participation, in children aged 2 to 7 years.  This tool will allow for standardized motor function assessment of all 58 children who currently access their Early Intervention Services.

The cheque was presented by Luke Priddis and Shonagh Bennett from the Luke Priddis Foundation, to Joanna Najdzion, Deputy CEO and the management team of St Anthony’s Family Care, on Tuesday, 3rd of November 2009, in a presentation attended by some of the children who attend their Early Intervention service.

Pendle Hill Public School’s Early Intervention Class

In 2009, Pendle Hill Public School’s Early Intervention Class have 15 children accessing their class sessions and 10 children being resourced in their preschools and all of these children have Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and/or other special needs.  The Luke Priddis Foundation had the pleasure of granting Pendle Hill Public School’s Early Intervention Class some funding through their 2008 Community Services Funding Grant program and have done so again in 2009.

This year $1,000 was granted, for the purpose of purchasing a laptop and software, to assist the children to learn some basic literacy and numeracy skills and to assist to teach some social skills and fine motor skills.

The cheque was presented by Karen Townsend and Shonagh Bennett from the Luke Priddis Foundation, to School Principal Gabrielle Buczynski and Early Intervention Teacher Cathy O’Gorman Hughes, on Monday, 9th November 2009, in a presentation attended by some of the children who will benefit, their parents and staff.

Windsor South Public School’s Early Intervention Class

Windsor South Public School’s Early Intervention Class, caters for children from 3yrs to 5yrs old, who have a diagnosed disability.  In 2009, 16 children attend the intensive classroom sessions each week and 10 other children are visited once a fortnight in their preschool setting.  All of these children are provided with support from the Early Intervention Teacher, to assist with their skill development in all developmental areas and to also support children and families in the transition to school.  Of the 26 children assessing their services in 2009, 80% of these children have an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

The Luke Priddis Foundation had the pleasure of granting Windsor South Public School’s Early Intervention Class $5,000 through the 2009 Community Services Funding Grant program, for the purpose of purchasing sensory equipment for their sensory room.  Many of the children who currently access the service have sensory issues and giving them the sensory experiences, will assist them to be able to better focus on their class activities and to more positively interact with teachers and their peers.

The cheque was presented by Holly Priddis and Emma Husar from the Luke Priddis Foundation, to Early Intervention Teacher, Deborah Wallin, on Tuesday, 10th November 2009, in a presentation attended by some of the children who will benefit and some of the staff.

KU Starting Points Playgroup, Penrith

KU Starting Points Playgroup at Penrith, provides early intervention and family support services, to families of young children with disabilities, developmental delay or risk of delay.  The program is run at Glenmore Park on a Wednesday morning and Kingswood on a Thursday morning and in 2009, is being accessed by approximately 20 children/families.   Of these, 10 children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) currently attend the program.

The Luke Priddis Foundation had the pleasure of granting $3,200 to KU Starting Points Penrith, from the 2009 Community Services Funding grants, for the purpose of employing an additional Child Care Worker, for 4 hours per week, to run parent information and support sessions, which are specific to the particular challenges and issues the families are facing.

The cheque was presented by Luke Priddis and Shonagh Bennett from the Luke Priddis Foundation, to Bernadette Mitchell, Playgroup Co-ordinator and Liz Lees, Acting Family Program’s Manager,  on Wednesday, 11th November 2009, in a presentation attended by some of the children and parents who will benefit.