By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
Springvale Park Special Developmental will receive an additional $107,740 as part of the Federal Government’s Outside School Hours Care for Teenagers with Disability program.
Federal Member for Bruce, Alan Griffin MP, said the program gave local teenagers with a disability a chance to join in a range of social and recreational activities, as well as provided support for their parents.
“This program allows teenagers with disability to participate in fun activities that they might not otherwise experience, such as cooking classes, shopping trips, bowling, fishing, hip hop dancing, swimming, and horse riding,” he said.
“Feedback on the program has been positive, with parents and carers saying they have seen a real difference in their children, and have enjoyed seeing them blossom and grow developmentally and socially.”
The Springvale Park announcement comes as the Federal Government injects more than $7.23 million into the program, extending it until June 2014 and delivering more than 1000 places across Australia.
The program began in January 2008, and currently provides care for more than 1800 participants from 64 locations across Australia.
“The program recognises that teenagers with disability often still require care or supervision due to their disability, and that it can be difficult and costly to find age-appropriate care as traditional outside school hours care services usually cater only for primary school children,” Mr Griffin said.
“This extra time off helps reduce the stress and difficulties that families can experience during the busy school holiday periods.”
