Screening on 6th April for Autism Awareness Month

The Children’s Hospital at Westmead is proud to announce a special movie screening for children with Autism and/or other sensory needs. In celebration of World Autism Awareness Day and World Autism Month 2013, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead in partnership with Event Cinemas Castle Hill will launch Autism and Friends at the Movies on Saturday 6th April, 2013 at 10:30am screening Wreck it Ralph.

Autism and Friends at the Movies is an inaugural event where the cinema environment is tailored to suit children with sensory needs. The movie stays the same but the environmental conditions are modified - the lights are left on low, the sound is turned down and its okay for children to get out of their seat and move around if they need to. Tickets are available for pre purchase in person at Event Cinemas Castle Hill. Unfortunately no tickets can be bought online.

For a detailed list of Frequently Asked Questions and A Social Story on Watching a Movie at a Cinema please visit our Autism and Friends at the Movies Webpage here.

If you would like more information please contact autism.schn@health.nsw.gov.au.

Justice & Forensic Mental Health Network School-Link Newsletter

The inaugural quarterly edition of the Justice & Forensic Mental Health Network (J&FMHN) School- Link Initiative Newsletter is now available.

The J&FMHN School-Link Initiative differs from other School-Link Initiatives in that their focus is directed towards the mental health of young people in contact with or at risk of coming into contact with the criminal justice system.

Mental health issues are a leading cause for concern amongst young people in contact with the criminal justice system highlighting the need to focus attention on this vulnerable population. Download the newsletter here.

School-Link Annual Check-up

We would like to invite you to complete our CHW School-Link Annual Check-Up or end of year survey. There are only 9 quick (mostly check-list) questions for you to complete. This will give us an idea for improvements to the newsletter and ideas for training in 2013. Thankyou!

Our Latest Newsletter

The December 2012 edition of The Children’s Hospital at Westmead’s School-Link newsletter on mental health and intellectual disability in children and adolescents is now available. 

Highlights include:

• Moving to Learn, Learning to Move: The importance of Motor Development in Mental Health and Intellectual Disability by Associate Professor Dr David Dossetor 

• Interview with Professor Eric Emerson

• The Medicine Cabinet: Mood Stabilisers by Judy Longworth

• Report on the School-Link Group Stepping Stones Triple P Pilot with ADHC and Special Education Schools. 

• Ruth Still’s reflections upon retirement

• Conference reviews, upcoming training and much more.

Study into Respiratory Problems

Do you care for someone with respiratory problems and using medication?

•15% of Australians with intellectual disability have asthma. 

• Do carers get the support they need to assist people with asthma?

• Researchers at Sydney University wish to interview family caregivers, direct healthcare workers and nurses who have cared for a person with intellectual disabilities who has asthma or uses inhalers.

Please see the flyer attached for further information or call Sharon Davis on 02 91141159 or 0411817299 for more information.