Help blow out the candles and celebrate the 30th birthday of a community support service.
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The staff at Bridges for Learning – a centre which specialises in multidisciplinary therapy and support services – are celebrating 30 years in the community.
The day will be full of fun and engaging activities for children, including a jumping castle, sea creature display, face painting and sausage sizzle.
Bridges for Learning manager Kathleen Hornery said they decided to share their milestone with the community because, since the beginning, the community has supported them.
“Since 1996, we have been the only non-government service in the Southern Highlands to provide families with the opportunity to access all their therapy services under the one roof,” she said.
“Our staff of therapists, speech therapists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, psychologist and early intervention teachers have many years of experience and expertise in working with children.”
Staff are currently providing therapy and support to more than 300 children and families in the Wingecarribee and surrounding local government areas.
Ms Hornery said children aged 0-15 could be helped through the service.
“Not all children who use our services have a diagnosed disability or additional need, some children may have speech or literacy issues, some may have difficulties in attending school or some may be late in crawling or walking,” she said.
“We have recently established a tutoring program to assist any child, (4 -15 years old), who is having difficulties with school or with areas that impact on school and learning, including study and organisational skills.”
Ms Hornery said more children in the community would be able to access their services because of the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
“Without centres such as Bridges for Learning many children and families would be not be able to access the assistance they require for their child,” she said.
“As NDIS rolls out, more children will be able to access therapy earlier, with research indicating that this results in better outcomes for children's development.
Some children, however, will not be eligible for the National Disability Insurance Scheme and their family's will not have the means to pay for private therapy. It is then that centres like ours will become even more important than they already are.”
Take part in the free Family Fun Day on October 30 at the Bowral Girl Guide Hall, 44 Boolwey Street, Bowral, from 10.30am to 2.30pm.
To RSVP, visit https://www.facebook.com/bridgesforlearning.