Our Cognitive Stimulation Therapy training is now in full swing with the proposed workshops up on the website. Check out the list at http://diversionaltherapy.org.au/Event-Calendar for the workshop that works best for you. We are limiting numbers so register early and as members you get the first opportunity to attend and learn this evidence based practice that benefits not only our residents and clients with mild to moderate dementia but looks at the benefits for everyone of staying cognitively and socially active. You can also continue to register your interest by going through the DRTA website, clicking on the CST Training tab and completing your details.
If you have several DT’s, Leisure and Lifestyle staff, RAOs or assistants across your facility or facilities that may like to learn this therapy and its implementation to people with Mild to Moderate dementia then we also have facility rates available for up to 18 people at each training. While the training is based on diversional therapy principles staff from other departments of your facility may benefit from attending making the discount a substantial reduction. Contact the DRTA office or email me directly at stephania@diversionaltherapy.org.au to discuss bringing the training to your workplace.
This past month saw a workshop in the beautiful far north Queensland town of Townsville. See the right up below. Taking advantage of being in the general location we also ran a CST training in the Lower Burdekin Home for the Aged in Ayr where not only the dedicated Lifestyle staff but facility managers, care staff and some catering staff attended providing some fantastic team building and education on the importance of a Leisure and Lifestyle program. Thanks, and welcome to our two newest members who signed up at the workshop- you know who you are!! (I could mention their names however having not asked permission I will let them introduce themselves once they have settled in. It was great to see the passion and talent for our profession so strong in FNQ (and the great temperatures this time of year were not bad either!!).
Coming Workshops
Our Wollongong/ Woonona workshop on the 30th June will probably be done and dusted as you read this newsletter however there still may be time to register for the 7th July CST Training in Brisbane. Please note the change in the Shepparton CST Training to the Thursday 13th July followed by the Melbourne workshop on Friday 14th July at the Skills Training Australia training rooms in Little Collins St, Melbourne. Register on line now for any of these as well as Adelaide SA on the 4th of August and Hamilton VIC on Monday the 28th of August.
Workshop Write Ups
Townsville Workshop
The balmy tropical air was a relief even if some locals were wearing beanies. Providing essential and often missed opportunities to network with others working in the same or similar roles as yourself, was a key motivator to holding a workshop for our members and supporters in Far North Queensland. The opportunity to combine training with a warm holiday destination may have been the other. Participants came from as far as across the seas as Thursday Island to an hour drive north from Ayr or two hours south from Cairns and the Atherton Table lands. All had travelled to enjoy a day of networking, professional development, reconnecting with some old friends and acquaintances with the opportunities to make new friendships and professional connections.
Our first presenter was our DRTA Board member for Queensland David Mas. Unable to attend in person, with the power of technology he was larger than life on our screens at the Quality Hotel. His Skype presentation looked at assessing our own values and how professionally not to impose them on others while providing person centred care to people whose values and beliefs may be different to our own. An interactive and reflective presentation provoking quite a bit of discussion- thanks David for being available even if we didn’t get to enjoy your company in person. Our other presenter on the day, Desley Quinton from MIFNQ, is passionate about mental health and wellness. She has had extensive experience in the field of disabilities supporting people through the deinstitutionalisation process and recently she developed the Mental Health Court Liaison role in NT and worked for a number of years in the remote Aboriginal Communities in NT and Cape York Peninsular where she gained valuable experience, knowledge and a definite love for the communities. She has worked with Queensland Health and taught at Queensland TAFE and brings a wealth of life experiences to her passion of destigmatising mental health in all sectors of society. Desley stayed to enjoy some of the other training on the day including some practical art engagement through drawing our own interpretation of the Mona Lisa portrait to the music of Nat King Cole and a Yoga for Seniors and people with a Disability session that gave some pointers on how you can include some of the principles of Yoga in your gentle exercise program and how it can benefit you and your residents and clients. Desley was decidedly comfortable in having to take her shoes off for Yoga and declared that when “she is in the nursing home she doesn’t want to have to wear shoes- ever!- it was great meeting you Desley and thanks for your valuable time attending the workshop.
A presentation exploring how Diversional therapy might look in the future and the role that Lifestyle can have on the quality of your life (including a YouTube video of technology in the form of a robot that almost does all the roles that you don’t want to, allowing for extra time and opportunities for quality interactions with people in a social context. Our session on Making Your Own Resources -keeping it economical and person centred inspired by Lauretta Kaldor was topped off by some great information on the Namaste program- via the LED Talk by Joyce Simard.
It was great to meet everyone and to enjoy the beautiful weather in that part of the world, added bonus that it is also out of the deadly octopus season so I even got a short snorkel in.
For those of you who may be interested the Origin football decider is in good hands with my husband Rob (who joined me for this short winters getaway), putting in a few good words for NSW to the Townsville local Jonathon Thurston- the all-round nice guy who Rob meet at the airport on the way home. Thanks Townsville and FNQ-it was great meeting and catching up again with all you great gals -DRTA will see you again next winter!! Let us know if you’d like a workshop near you and I can organise the speakers and presentations from your local services and we’d love to come to you.
Remember DRTA also has available on request Leisure and Lifestyle in Practice workshops where training can be made to your specific needs providing general training and inspiring sessions. Contact enquiries@diversionaltherapy.org.au or myself directly for further information.
I’ll leave you with an oldie but a goodie:
“It’s nice to be important but it’s more important to be nice”. -Unknown
Till next month
Steph Bejma
DTA National Education Coordinator