Taking TIME Out
A big day of fun and excitement was in store for 29 children from the T.I.M.E. Out Sibling Program recently. The children aged between 8 and 18 years, all with brothers or sisters with a disability, travelled to Lysterfield Park for raft building, canoeing, team games, orienteering and cooking activities.
The event was made possible by a $2,000 Discover Parks Program grant from Parks Victoria, part of the Healthy Parks Healthy People initiative of the Victorian Government. The initiative aims to promote the health benefits of parks, encourage ‘at risk’ groups to access their state parks and develop interest and enjoyment for them to return in the future.
The day began cloudy and windy, but the excitement of the children drove the wild weather away and by midday most of the gang had been tipped out of canoes and were dripping wet! A sausage sizzle, cricket and footy games warmed everyone up again and the orienteering course was hotly contested - sending groups of kids to the far reaches of picnic grounds, the dam wall, and in and out of hiding places using compasses, creativity, team work and a little bit of common sense!
The day provided essential respite and connection with peers who are experiencing similar pressures and the constant strain of having someone in their family with a disability. The opportunity to spend time in a new environment based in a State Park was for many a unique educational and personally challenging experience.
Many of these children come from disadvantaged backgrounds, with cultural, financial and transport issues. These challenges, combined with the complications presented from having a family member with a disability, mean that a lot of these children do not take up many leisure or recreational opportunities which other children usually do during school holidays.
The T.I.M.E. Out Sibling Program stands for “This Is Me Everybody!” and it supports siblings and their families, when there is a child with a disability. Click here to find out more information about the T.I.M.E Out Sibling Program.
Melbourne Citymission
Melbourne Citymission works with people experiencing disadvantage across Melbourne and Victoria. Every week we help thousands of people build a clear pathway away from economic exclusion and social isolation.
Our services support:
- people to find a pathway out of homelessness
- people with a disability to get the resources and support they need to live the life they want
- people to break the cycle of poverty and abuse
- people to find jobs, or enter into education and training.
