Group Based Support

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CATS Inc provides opportunities for young people to access a range of group based learning environments and activities. The focus on these specific group based activities is the ongoing development of key skills and abilities in the journey to adulthood, towards greater independence and in promoting and complimenting each individual’s participation in community life.   Such programs have the benefit of enhancing individual confidence, self esteem, decision making and choice skills and abilities, and social networks and friendships.

Group based developmental activities include:

 

Me, Myself and Ipswich Life Skills Course

It has been a long term vision of CATS Inc to provide and implement a Life Skills Course that is complimentary and supportive of the young people’s individual goals and activities.  This vision is now made possible through the acquisition of suitable premises, and the design of a course that meets a range of common educational needs that will enhance the young person’s ability to participate in, and access their community.

• A Structured Life Skills Course conducted in a small, group based, adult learning environment.
• A course that is designed specifically for young people with disabilities making the transition from school to adult life, a course that had each of the CATS young people in mind.
• A course that is individualised and outcomes-based, covering a range of topics that affect young people as they transition into adulthood.
• A course that has been designed in collaboration with a Registered Training Organisation.
• A course that has drawn on the Special Education qualifications of the Service Co-ordinator and experience in working directly with young adults with disabilities in post school and community based activities.
• A course that includes the transference of skills from the learning environment to the community in which the young people participate. To facilitate this, the course includes the implementation of experiential learning, and practical exercises to be undertaken in their individual sessions with the assistance of their Lifestyle Support Worker.
• A course that has been broken down into modules with the criteria and outcomes linked directly to the Queensland Disability Service Standards.
• A course that will be delivered using state-of-the-art communications technology, interactive computer programs and learning resources.

The Me, Myself and Ipswich project is committed to engaging young people in the program so that they are able to make informed choices about self care, health, first aid, personal safety, road safety, budgeting, money handling, life & living, sexuality, relationships, the ways to speak, feel, look and touch and much, much more for the rest of their lives.  It is a preventative life skills resource that aims to empower young people to make better lifestyle choices, engage with community health issues, become better informed citizens, and access their community more appropriately.

It is strongly encouraged that all young people receiving service support from CATS access this course, as it provides the educational framework, and building blocks to facilitate skills development and community participation.

COURSE MODULES

 

CATS Players Drama Group

CATS holds drama workshops that prepare for performances held in front of an audience of CATS’ workers, family members, community and supporters.

The performance is based on the various key issues effecting young people with disabilities – specifically in developing skills and abilities in various aspects of the Disability Service Standards, and providing a forum in which to make the Disability Service Standards meaningful to them through the use of Drama.

The drama workshops and performances have provided young people with disabilities the required skills to give effective feedback, provide an understanding of how to speak up for themselves and greater ability to participate in their broader community.

 

Client Feedback Group

The purpose of the group is to enable CATS’ clients to meet and talk about how the services they received could be changed or enhanced to directly meet their needs. This ensures that young people have meaningful participation in planning and decision making at an organisational and individual service delivery level. The clients learn skills in self expression, decision making, group work, and self esteem. The Client Feedback Group facilitates the development of such skills in a safe and supportive environment.

The overall aims of the group are:

• To have meaningful participation and contribution in the planning of activities of CATS
• To empower young people with disabilities to make decisions, develop self esteem, and speak up for themselves
• To support and educate young people with disabilities who access CATS to express their needs, wants, and levels of satisfaction with the services they receive
• To act as a reference group to the organisation through the provision of feedback on organisational performance through the expression of suggestions, concerns and issues
• To empower young people with disabilities to increase and develop their participation and connectedness to their wider community

It is the aim of the group to provide young people with disabilities with training that will enhance individual ability to express needs and wants, evaluate their level of satisfaction with service delivery, and the ability to communicate this to service providers, including those in their broader community life.

The group has undertaken a range of community initiative projects including:

• Recycling cans to raise over $1,000 which has been donated to various charities such as the RSPCA, Ipswich Children’s Hospital, Salvation Army, Lifeline and Meals on Wheels
• Participation in “The Big Cuppa” which raises money and profile for Queensland Cancer Foundation
• Adopting a family at Christmas time and supplying perishable and non-perishable items
• Cooking and making cookie gift bags to give to male Meals on Wheels recipients on Fathers Day
• Buying toys to donate to the Children’s’ Ward of the Ipswich Hospital

Successful outcomes of the Client Feedback Group:

• The group is becoming largely self-determining and managing in terms of content, with assistance through group facilitators and support according to individual needs. This support extends to facilitating group processes, facilitating communication, assisting with administrative tasks (e.g. assisting the group secretary to compile agendas and minutes of meetings)
• The group underwent nominations and voting for executive positions in the Client Feedback Group (chairperson, secretary, treasurer), with training about each role
• The responsibility undertaken by the group to choose and organise the services quarterly ‘holiday activities’
• The responsibility undertaken by the group to choose the venue and entertainment for the organisations’ Christmas party
• Observed increase in young peoples’ communication in their broader community activities, a direct link between the training in ‘Speak Up For Yourself’
• The initiative and decision made by the group to undertake the following community projects: recycling project to raise funds for a local community charity group, participation in Clean Up Australia Day, participation in the Big Cuppa, and the gift giving on Fathers Day of Anzac Biscuits to male recipients of Meals on Wheels

 

Scoping Opportunities

We are committed to building community connections and partnerships and are always scoping opportunities of mutual benefit. It is our aim to provide opportunities for young peoples’ personal growth, skills  development and friendships through engaging, productive and collaborative ventures.

Watch this space for more information as projects unfold.