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Camp To Belong
Siblings may not have the opportunity to read bedtime stories together at night have breakfast together, cheer for each other at school functions or share precious holidays – all the things that typical siblings get to do each day. Siblings are often taken for granted. Yet, the sibling relationship can be our longest relationship in life.
Our primary goal is to provide a sense of belonging to youth as individuals, and as siblings, giving them opportunities to share childhood memories together and among other youth in the same situations. CTB is not about finding a brother or sister. It is about reuniting siblings that may live in the same town, maybe even go to the same school, but live in separate homes.
Lifestyle Solutions will run Camp To Belong as part of its time limited targeted wrap around support services. Camp to Belong will form part of the case planning process for children and young people living in out of home care and will have a focus on the development and ongoing promotion of Life Story Work for children and young people living in out of home care.
Lifestyle Solutions Camp To Belong Program will focus on a number of areas that promote family relationships.
These include but are not limited to;
• Positive family contact between siblings in a safe and nurturing environment
• Positive family contact between children and young people living in out of home care and their birth parents through our ‘connection day’ during the CTB program.
• Facilitation and ongoing development of Life Story Work for individual children and siblings. Children and young people who attend Camp to Belong will have the opportunity to participate in a range of activities that promote independence, resilience, team work and family relationships. These activities include but are not limited to outdoor adventure activities, sports programs.
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6 Print Page | You are here: Home > Our Services
Our Services
Acquired Brain Injury
Attendant Care Services
Camp Care
Camp to Belong
Community Participation Program
Crisis Care Support
Foster Care Services
Hunter Accommodation Support Services
In House Support Services
Professional and Consultancy Services
Professional Development
Residential Services for Young People
Self Managed Support Services
Sydney Accommodation Support Services
Training and Support Centre
Transition to Work Program
Acquired Brain Injury
Specialised support services in the community for people with Acquired Brain Injury is provided in a Group Home setting which assists client to greater involvement and independence in the community.
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Attendant Care Services
This service provides in home support to clients who are seeking to remain living in their own home. A person centred approach allows Lifestyle Solutions to cater to the individual needs of clients.
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Camp Care
Camp Care specialises in facilitating school holiday camps for children and young people who have behaviour and emotional problems and are not readily accepted by mainstream camping organisations such as the NSW Department of Sport and Recreation.
Children and young people who are referred to Camp Care have a range of complex needs including but not limited to:
• Physical Disability
• Intellectual Disability
• Attention Deficit Disorder
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
• Conduct Disorder
• Oppositional Defiance Disorder
• Trust issues
• Low self esteem
• Low self confidence
• Anger Management Issues
• Difficulty with socialisation
• Violent outbursts
• Sexualised behaviour.
Camps are held during every school holiday period. Holiday camps are held during the April, July and October holidays, and six camps are held during the Christmas School holidays.
The camps run for three days and two nights. Our experience has shown us that this length of time allows children and young people who have complex needs to have a great camp experience without causing too much interruption to their stable routines at home.
Lifestyle Solutions Camp Care school holiday camps operates camps in small groups with a staff ratio of one camp carer to four young people Children and young people are given the opportunity to:
• Develop their social skills and behaviour management skills
• Work as part of a team
• Form positive relationships with other children and camp carers;
• Participate in a wide range of recreational and educational activities.
There is a great deal of research that demonstrates that outdoor recreation programs, including camps, assist in developing social and living skills, and in particular assist children and young people who may have challenging behaviour to self manage.
Lifestyle Solutions Camp Care program accepts referrals from within Lifestyle Solutions as well from NSW DoCS and other non government organisations who provide services to children and young people in out of home care.
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Camp to Belong
Siblings may not have the opportunity to read bedtime stories together at night have breakfast together, cheer for each other at school functions or share precious holidays – all the things that typical siblings get to do each day. Siblings are often taken for granted. Yet, the sibling relationship can be our longest relationship in life.
Our primary goal is to provide a sense of belonging to youth as individuals, and as siblings, giving them opportunities to share childhood memories together and among other youth in the same situations. CTB is not about finding a brother or sister. It is about reuniting siblings that may live in the same town, maybe even go to the same school, but live in separate homes.
Lifestyle Solutions will run Camp To Belong as part of its time limited targeted wrap around support services. Camp to Belong will form part of the case planning process for children and young people living in out of home care and will have a focus on the development and ongoing promotion of Life Story Work for children and young people living in out of home care.
Lifestyle Solutions Camp To Belong Program will focus on a number of areas that promote family relationships.
These include but are not limited to;
• Positive family contact between siblings in a safe and nurturing environment
• Positive family contact between children and young people living in out of home care and their birth parents through our ‘connection day’ during the CTB program.
• Facilitation and ongoing development of Life Story Work for individual children and siblings. Children and young people who attend Camp to Belong will have the opportunity to participate in a range of activities that promote independence, resilience, team work and family relationships. These activities include but are not limited to outdoor adventure activities, sports programs.
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Community Participation Program
This program provides centred based activities, along with community access, for young people with a disability who have recently left school. For the most part these young people are not able to enter the work place and need support to develop living, social and personal skills. All the programs are individually based and seek to support the clients to gain greater independence in all areas of life. Service outlets are in the Central Coast, Newcastle, Hunter North Coast and Port Stephens areas.
Download our Community Participation Program Brochure
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Crisis Care Support
At different times people with a disability will find themselves requiring crisis accommodation support and in conjunction with DADHC Lifestyle Solutions seeks to support people in these time. As part of this placement Individual Service Plans can be developed to assist in future planning and placement.
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Foster Care Services
Lifestyle Solutions is currently seeking accreditation from the Office of Children’s Guardian to provide Foster Care Placements.
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Hunter Accommodation Support Services
Lifestyle Solutions provides accommodation to 46 residents in the Newcastle area. The accommodation provided ranges from 24 hour care to drop in support and seeks to support residents in the community.
Download our Accommodation Support Services Brochure
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In House Support Services
It is important that people with a disability are able to remain in their own home as long as possible. Lifestyle Solutions is committed to developing in home support models to meet the unique needs of individuals requiring support.
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Professional and Consultancy Services
Lifestyle Solutions is also developing a wide range of consulting services to provide education services in the Hunter region. In providing these services the company both seeks to share expertise and learn from other organisations in the service sector. Whether it be policy and procedure, organisational systems development, quality assurance or issues related to the complex nature of disabilities, Lifestyle Solutions can provide comprehensive guidance and support.
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Professional Development
Lifestyle Solutions is currently developing a professional development and training program to strengthen and build capacity in the disability sector. A wide spectrum of courses will be made available and through consultation and negotiation will be tailored to meet the needs of the organisation requiring this service.
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Residential Services for Young People
Lifestyle Solutions has recently been awarded a three year contract from the NSW Department of Community Services (DoCS) to provide out of home care placements to children and young people with disabilities and complex needs in the Sydney area.
Lifestyle Solutions out of home care program has six residential care homes situated throughout metropolitan Sydney. Community support workers are supported by a multidisciplinary team which includes community support managers, future planners, psychologists and programmers.
Lifestyle Solutions residential care program focuses on ensuring that children and young people are provided with the highest levels of quality care that meets standards of best practice in out of home care. Future planners work closely with children, young people and their families to ensure that case work focuses on permanency planning and empowers each young person to achieve their goals.
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Self Managed Services
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Sydney Accommodation Support Services
These accommodation services support 10 individuals in unique settings in Northern Sydney. Services seek to provide a quality life to individuals based on their particular support needs.
Download our Accommodation Support Services Brochure
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Training and Support Centre
Lifestyle Solutions Training and Support Centre offers a broad range of activities and programs that are focused on strengthening skills, building capacity and promoting independence and self reliance. This program is facilitated through our Community Builder initiative with additional goals being to develop community networks and optimizing community integration for residents living in Lifestyle Solutions accommodation services.
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Transition to Work Program
The focus of the Lifestyle Solutions Transition to Work (TTW) program revolves around a person centred approach and the development of a range of short and medium goals to secure employment or other vocational options. Initially a platform is provided to build upon the successes and achievements that the student has experience at school. Through a range of diverse and flexible pathways the service user may enter the program at any level with the focus being to strengthen and maintain skills and provide opportunities to address areas of need. The ultimate goal of this program is to provide young school leavers with disabilities with the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities to gain and maintain meaningful and rewarding employment. Lifestyle Solutions Transition to Work services operate in Newcastle, North Coast and Port Stephens areas.
Download our Transition to Work Program Brochure
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6 Print Page | You are here: Home > About Us > Our People
Our People
Over the last five years Lifestyle Solutions have built a committed team of people who are able to bring a range of skills and experience to the organisation as well provide leadership and support across all our services.
Board of Directors
Warren Fischer
Chairman of the Board
Warren is an Accountant who has his own financial planning business in Taree.
David Hogg
Managing Director
David has extensive experience in the welfare and disabilities sector, as well as management and leadership experience.
Capree Gaul
Vice Chairperson.
Capree is an accomplished musician and lectures at Newcastle University.
Paul Jordan
Paul has training in psychiatric nursing and has more than 20 years experience in the disabilities and youth work sectors.
Rob Cooper
With training in education, Rob has diverse experience in youth work, employment training and public relations. He is now employed as the Communications Manager for Macquarie Generation.
Adam Heeney
Adam has made a transition from a rural industry and trade background to the disabilities sector where he has proven field experience. His current role is as a Community Liaison Officer with a Mining Company in the Hunter Valley.
Tony Ross
Tony is currently the Manager of the Hunter Volunteer Service in Newcastle. He has a background in Employment related businesses and other welfare services.
Stewart Perry
Stewart is an Anglican Priest from St Johns church in Cooks Hill. He is an Accountant by profession and has many years experience working in the community sector.
Rob Russell
Rob is the Aboriginal Education Consultant with the Department of Education and Training and brings many years of experience in supporting Aboriginal people and provides Lifestyle Solutions with expert and personal advice around issues of service delivery.
Steve Pollard
Steve hails from Queensland where he is a Financial Planner and manages his own company in Brisbane. His background prior to this area was in youth work and brings to the Board a broad experience in supporting youth.
Senior Management Team
David Hogg
Managing Director
David is an experienced and proven leader in the welfare and disabilities sectors having been the Northern NSW Regional Manager of Mission Australia for eleven years, before commencing Lifestyle Solutions. David was the first Northern NSW Mission Australia employee and was instrumental in establishing and developing the work of Mission Australia in the Hunter and Northern Region of NSW. David's professional background also includes work in the Juvenile Justice system and youth work in a variety of settings. He has always had an active involvement in the local community and has a heart for people on the margins of society, valuing compassion, equity, advocacy and acceptance.
Gary Christensen
General Manager Operations
Gary has been working with children and young people who have disabilities and or complex needs for the past 15 years. Prior to commencing at Lifestyle Solutions, Gary has worked in a range of settings including residential care services, the NSW Department of Juvenile Justice, the Margaret Jurd learning centres (SSP), camps and has worked on a contractual basis for the NSW Department of Community Services. Gary has a strong focus on quality service delivery and is passionate about assisting service users to reach their potential.
Rob Dawson
General Manager Business Development and Corporate Services.
Rob has worked in a range of management positions in both government and non government sector in the areas of Child protection, Out of Home Care and Disability services for over 25 years. Rob is also an active director of several private companies
Rob has developed considerable expertise in the development, design and delivery of services for people who have complex needs. Rob Joined the Lifestyle Solutions team in the role of Business Development and Corporate Partnerships
Gloria Antonio
General Manager Disability Services Planning and Strategy.
Gloria has a background in Health and Disability Services both in the Government and Non Government Sector, especially in the area of Quality Assurance and Service delivery. Gloria provides leadership and strategic direction to our disability services across NSW.
Richard Hardy
General Manager Finance
Richard is a qualified Accountant with many years of experience in the Community Sector. He manages our Finance Department and provides financial advice and planning across all our services.
Michelle Bates
Manager Family and Self Governed Services
Michelle has worked for many years in varied roles in support of children, young people and adults with disability and their families. Her experience includes direct support, working alongside families, planning and coordination, advocacy and management. Michelle has completed study in the areas of Sociology, Education, and Rehabilitation and Disability Studies.
Michelle is the manager of Lifestyle Solutions’ NSW state wide program for Self-Management & Family Governed Service Arrangements. Michelle applies her personal philosophy to people supported by Lifestyle Solutions, believing that a persons’ individual skills, gifts and personality warrant support by relevant, person -focussed planning to create opportunities for participation and role development whilst striving for genuine inclusive opportunities.
Kylie Francis
Manager Human Resources and Executive Services
Kylie has worked in a variety of administrative roles over the past 20 years. Her experience ranges from general administrative positions to high level Executive Assistant roles in both the private and public sectors. Kylie has a number of years experience working in the Disability Services sector through her current role as Executive Assistant at Lifestyle Solutions and also at Mission Australia where she was employed at the Executive Assistant/Office Manager for 6 years. Kylie also has 3 years experience at working at TAFE Hunter Institute as a Commercial Program Coordinator. Kylie’s role at Lifestyle Solutions has now expanded to include HR functions that will build on her HR experience and qualifications.
Naomi James
Regional Manager Northern
With over eight years of diverse experiences working within the community and welfare sector; Naomi initially entered the field supporting children with disability in childcare centres across the Hunter. Naomi continues to enhance her professionalism and experiences through education and taking on new challenges within the Lifestyle Solutions Senior Management Team.
Naomi is innovative and committed to supporting the rights and dignity of all, regardless of disability; ensuring people are given the opportunity to integrate and participate within the community. Solution focussed and outcome driven, Naomi is dedicated to ensuring Lifestyle Solutions continues to create opportunities for people with disability and their family following flexible and strength based approaches to service delivery.
Mathew Hibbert
Regional Manager Disability Services Sydney
Mathew has worked within the government human services sector for 13 years. Mathew has held positions and led teams in the field of Financial / Administration and Monitoring / Funding. These positions have covered the Hunter, Central Coast and Metropolitan Sydney areas. Mathew has also performed Executive Assistant and Project Officer roles. In November 2007 Mathew joined Lifestyle Solutions and took his first private sector position. Mathew brings many skills and a wealth of government knowledge and is enjoying the challenges of his current position. Mathew is personable, approachable and willing to assist those in need.
Kerrie Orth
Regional Manager Out of Home Care Services Sydney
Kerrie has worked in OHC Services with non Government Agencies for many years and brings this experience and skills to bear in managing our Out of Home Care services in the Sydney Region.
Bill Storrie
Manager Quality Assurance and Development
Bill has many years of experience in the Community Services field having held the positions of Operations Manager and then Regional Manager in Mission Australia’s Northern region. He has also worked as a Community Services Consultant for a number of years where he developed policies and training resources and delivered training in NSW, Queensland and Western Australia. Bill’s professional background includes working with homeless people, youth and people with a disability and has a strong focus on social justice.
Kath Davey
Manager Compliance and Training
Kathy has a history of working in disability services with DADHC and DOCS for 30 years in direct care roles, management and staff training. She has worked in the non government sector the last 8 years in both disability and OOHC areas in residential services and foster care.
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