Koorie Kids with Special Needs

Koorie Kids with Special Needs Magazine- First Edition - Victorian Aboriginal Indigenous Education Association Incorporated (VAEAI)

VAEAI has just released their first magazine focusing completely on the support available for Koorie children and young people with a disability and/or special needs. This is a magazine for families, for community members and for anyone who is interested in finding out more about the programs, services and assistance available.

In 2014, with funding from the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, VAEAI began looking at developing resources to support Koorie families who have children with special needs.

With the help of a steering committee of Koorie parents/caregivers, and the advice of representatives from organisations working in the field of disability, VAEAI developed a radio show which airs fortnightly on 3KND, called Koorie Kids with Special Needs. The radio show features parents/caregivers talking about their experiences and what works for them, as well as organisations talking about programs and supported. The radio show has been a great success and will continue to air on 3KND in 2015/2016. What was discovered is there is a need to promote the assistance available to Koorie communities because there is help available, but not everyone knows about how to access that help.

So complement what VAEAI is doing with the radio show, they created the first Koorie Kids with Special Needs magazine. VAEAI hope to promote the great work that Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal organisations are doing to support Koorie Kids with Special Needs and also hope that the parent/caregiver stories featured in the magazine will give confidence to other parents who may be starting out in seeking support for their child. Being a parent is challenging work, and having a child with special needs adds some extra challenges, but with the right assistance your child can thrive and achieve the best education outcomes possible.

For information about the magazine and to order some copies please visit: www.vaeai.org.au or contact your local Wurreker Broker.

Koorie Kids with Special Needs RADIO SHOW!

Every Thursday 12-1 pm

In September 2014, VAEAI began broadcasting the Koorie Kids with Special Needs Radio Program from 1503 AM 3KND....

What they are doing is talking to parents and caregivers of Koorie Children who have special needs. They are talking about their experiences and how they accessed support for their kids. The show also talks to people working in the field of disability about the range of programs that are on offer for kids with special needs.

3KND broadcaster Garry Hansen hosts the program.

The show is very appreciative of all Koorie parents and disability support professionals who come in to share their knowledge. They hope that other families listening in will get useful advice and know that there is support available for their child.

TUNE IN EVERY THURSDAY 12 PM - 1503 AM 3KND STREAMING RADIO!

Visit online at: www.3knd.org.au

If you are a parent/caregiver of a Koorie child who has special needs and would like to share your story VAEAI would love to hear from you.

Please get in touch with Vaso Elefsiniotis at VAEAI on 03 9481 0800 or email vaso@vaeai.org.au You can also contact VAEAI on Facebook at www.facebook.com/vaeai

Remember: Support is available....

Data suggests that Koorie people are under-using disability support services that are available in Victoria, in comparison to non-Koorie people.

There are a number of possible reasons for this:

Cultural reasons: Koorie people rely on family support, rather than support services
Not being comfortable/familiar with accessing services
Underdiagnosis/misdiagnosis of disability and additional needs

It is important for Koorie families to know that they have a right to access services that are welcoming and culturally appropriate. There are a number of guiding documents that set down the rights of people with disability, some of them are: