February 2024 Caregiver News: Lower South

Tēnā koutou ngā Kaimanaaki katoa (Warm acknowledgements to all you caregivers)

Hope your Christmas and New Years were a wild mix of wonder and excitement! 🎉My whānau explored the North Island, and pretty much lived at the beach (see pics below).  Now it’s back to reality and I have turbo-driven our tamariki back to school (go, eagerness!), it’s high time to treat ourselves to a bit of personal TLC. Because, let’s face it, we all deserve it!

Here are some quirky and downright fun ideas to restore that balance and well-being just for YOU:

Dance Party for One:

Clear some space, crank up your favourite tunes, and have a solo dance party. Bonus points for funky dance moves!

Rock Your Pajamas All Day:

Embrace the cozy life and spend a whole day in your comfiest pyjamas. Bonus if you throw in some fuzzy socks!

Laugh Your Heart Out

Whether it’s a comedy show, a funny movie, or silly cat videos, indulge in something that makes you laugh until your belly hurts.

So, go ahead, treat yourself to a little whimsy and joy—it’s the perfect antidote to post-holiday blues. 🌈✨. Remember, self-care is a personal journey, and it’s essential to choose activities that resonate with you. Taking intentional steps to care for your well-being will help you start the new year with a refreshed and positive outlook ready for 2024.

Community Fun Days

What an incredible turnout at the Dunedin & Invercargill Community Fun Day! A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us for this fantastic event – your presence made it truly special! Huge shoutout to THE VOYCE team, Foster Hope Otago/Southland, and the Oranga Tamariki Care Teams for their unwavering support! I am already booking the next one for January 2025.

Some of the Feedback we received…

“Thanks so much for organizing the day out on Sunday afternoon, we had an absolute blast”

“The Invercargill community fun day was an absolutely amazing experience for myself and my whānau.”

“Some highlights were the pool, decorating your own cookie, the ice cream truck the bubbles the sausage sizzle and definitely the coffee cart.”

Training

Foundation for Attachment is coming in March to Mosgiel!

Specifically designed for caregivers of tamariki facing emotional connection challenges due to attachment issues, trauma, loss, and/or separation. Understanding their behaviour from a trauma-informed perspective is crucial for creating a healing environment. I have personally done this course and it changed how I parented my tamariki in care. There are limited spaces so please register ASAP!

Exciting Professional Training Event in Christchurch!

Tell your Social workers to mark their calendars for March 12, 2024, because we’re thrilled to bring you an exclusive training opportunity for professionals! Make sure to inform your social worker and encourage them to sign up for this invaluable training

Join Rob Surtees and Jared Paranihi from Caring Families Aotearoa as they introduce Dyadic Developmental Practice attitude (DDP) and the PACE (Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity, Empathy) – proven models of practice that Caring Families Aotearoa has successfully utilized and evaluated over the past four years.

This workshop is designed to empower social workers with the knowledge and skills to seamlessly integrate these models into their daily interactions, fostering a therapeutic approach. We believe in a full wrap-around service where everyone is on the same page, ensuring a collaborative effort to create safe and supportive placements for tamariki and rangatahi.

Don’t let your social worker miss out on this fantastic opportunity! Ask your social worker to register by emailing Dagmar at dagmarc@caringfamilies.org.nz.

events

Mark your calendars again for Foster Care Awareness Week!!!!

Foster Care Awareness week is an annual celebration held every March. It’s a special week that is all about celebrating YOU; our wonderful caregiver members!

Please see below the events that we have on in our region;

Cromwell – Dinner on Us!

Friday 8th March, 5:30-9:00PM

Enjoy a complimentary dinner on us and experience the culinary delights while connecting with the Central Otago and Queenstown/Lakes community. The venue, The Stoaker Room, promises an extraordinary dining experience with its unique New Zealand cuisine and the innovative barrel cooking method. Indulge in a taste of their incredible dishes, thoughtfully presented on oak boards at the center of the table, fostering a shared dining experience for caregivers.

Dunedin – Pamper and Pudding!

Saturday 9th March, 5:30-9:00PM

Get ready for the perfect combination of Pudding AND Pamper! Treat yourself to a soothing head and shoulder massage, followed by indulging in the finest sweets from Dunedin. Join us for this unmissable experience designed exclusively for the Dunedin community.

Invercargill – Meditation and mingle

Sunday 10th March, 5:30-9:00PM

Immerse yourself in tranquility as you partake in a one-hour guided meditation led by the local yogi, Rebecca Thomas-Squire. Allow the calming energies to rejuvenate your mind and spirit. Following the meditation session, join your fellow caregivers from Invercargill for a delightful conclusion – relish in a thoughtfully curated grazing table, sip on refreshing drinks, and engage in meaningful mingling. This event offers not only a serene meditation experience but also a wonderful opportunity to connect with and strengthen the bonds within your Invercargill caregiver community.

For more information on any of the above events, and to register, click below!

Support

Chats with Jared (NEW)

Facebook Live: Wednesday 7th February from 12.00pm -12.30pm on Facebook.

Come and join me, Jared, for our monthly Facebook Live event happening every first Wednesday of the month, starting at 12:00 pm and concluding at 12:30 pm. Each session will delve into a specific topic, and everyone following the Lower South Page will receive notifications when I go live. To participate, just tune in, watch the video, and engage by adding your questions—like commenting on a Facebook post. Looking forward to hearing from you!

Dunedin Support Group

• • Group contact: Andrea
  • Next Meeting: Join us for our upcoming meeting on the 27th of March at 10:00 am, where Jared will be in attendance. The gathering will take place at 120 School Rd, South Mosgiel. Your presence is vital as we work together to strengthen the Dunedin Caregiving community.
  • RSVP: faulksfamily@xtra.co.nz. Appreciate your contribution to our community-building efforts.

Southland Coffee & Cake

• • Group Contact: Rose
  • Next Meeting: Join us on Monday, March 11th, at 11 am at Buster Crabb, located at 326 Dee Street, Avenal, Invercargill with Jared. Come down and indulge in the best cake in Southland while mingling with me and our incredible Southland caregivers, who bring a wealth of caregiver knowledge.
  • RSVP: jeffnroserhind@gmail.com. We look forward to sharing delightful moments and valuable insights with you!

Gore Support Group (NEW)

• • Group Contact: Leanne
  • Next Meeting: On March 5th at 1 pm, I would like to invite everyone from Gore and the surrounding areas to come together for our new support group gathering at The Stables, located at 103 Main Street, Gore. Your presence would be greatly appreciated!
  • RSVP: leannehallam@xtra.co.nz to confirm your attendance. I look forward to seeing you there!

Oamaru Support Group (NEW Liaison)

• • Group Contact: Sarah
  • Next Meeting: On Wednesday 6th March at 10am, join us at Harbour Street Collective Café, located at 8 Harbour Street, South Hill, Oamaru. This is a fantastic opportunity to meet our NEW support group liaison, who is also a dedicated whānau caregiver!
  • RSVP: southsupport@caringfamilies.org.nz. We will provide the coffee and cake to celebrate Foster Care Awareness Week. We look forward to your presence.

Central Otago Support Group

• • Group Contact: Tracey
  • Next Meeting: There won’t be a support meeting until April, but I invite you to join us in celebrating Foster Care Awareness Week at the Dine with Us event. Please ensure your participation by registering HERE. Looking forward to having you with us!

Queenstown Support Group

• • Group Contact: Sally
  • Next Meeting: While there won’t be a support meeting until later this year, I extend a warm invitation for you to join us in celebrating Foster Care Awareness Week at the upcoming Dine with US event. Kindly register for the event HERE. Your participation is highly valued, and we look forward to sharing this special occasion with you.

Additionally, if you’re seeking virtual support and wish to be a part of our broader Lower South community, be sure to join our private Lower South Support Facebook Group.

Tiaki i a koutou anō, look after yourselves! 

Jared