The Association for Children with a Disability provides information, support and advocacy to families with a child or young adult with any type of disability or developmental delay across Victoria. Services include a free telephone support service and information resources including the booklet Helping You and Your Family.

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The Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors (AIPC) specializes in providing high quality counsellor education , with a particular focus on external and distance education. AIPC is the largest provider of counselling courses with over sixteen years experience in delivering counsellor education programs. Institute courses are recognised by the Australian Counselling Association, a peak national association of counsellors and psychotherapists.

47 Baxter Street, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006
Locked Bag 15, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006
Ph: (07) 3112 2000 Fax: (07) 3257 7195
Email: racy@aipc.net.au
Web: www.aipc.net.au

http://www.aipc.net.au/lz > Learn to be a Counsellor
http://www.aipc.net.au/articles > Visit the AIPC Article Library
http://www.aipc.net.au/eZine > Subscribe to counselling's most popular Online Newsletter

Bayside Plastic Surgery, VIC
Offers the most innovative and advanced surgical procedures for congenital hand differences
http://www.baysideplasticsurgery.com.au/html/about.html

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Carers Victoria
Carers Victoria offers a range of workshops and talks aimed at improving the quality of life and meeting the needs of carers. Key topics cover carers and self-care, coping with transitions, self-advocacy and the ability to communicate effectively in group situations. Sessions are tailored to meet the needs of carer groups and vary in length from 30 minutes to 2 hours. Programs are also available for carer support group facilitators. Topics and talks available to carer support groups include the following: Access to appropriate services; Looking after yourself; Grief and loss; Dealing with change and transition; Having your say. For further information on workshops and talks for carers contact the Education and Training staff at Carers Victoria.

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Occupational Therapy
http://www.chw.edu.au/prof/services/occupational_therapy/
Limb Deficiency
http://www.chw.edu.au/site/directory/entries/limbdef.htm
+612 9845 2230 or +612 9845 2231

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In Home Child Care (provided by FaCS)
Families with children with disabilities are eligible for child care where children can be cared for in a familiar environment by an approved carer. Children may be involved in a full range of activities including arts and crafts, stories and outdoor activities and games. If you have a child with additional support needs that cannot be accommodated at an existing child care service, you may be eligible for in-home care.

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Emergency Assistance After Hours (EARS)
If you need help on the weekend because you’ve been up all night with a sick child and you’re too exhausted to care for your children’s special needs without a break, you can call 1800 72 72 80. Someone will assess your problem and can provide respite or whatever else is needed to tide you over. If you need help to cope after hours, just call EARS.

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Functional Assessment & Behavioural Interventions Clinic (FABIC)
Functional Assessment & Behavioural Interventions Clinic (FABIC) has been designed to respond to the increasing demand by the community for professionals to work with children, adolescents and adults who are experiencing behavioural challenges and difficulties effectively managing the demands of their day-to-day life.

FABIC'S goals are to assist clients, their families and carers to develop effective skills (e.g., new appropriate behaviours) to allow individuals to function successfully in their day-to-day life. All programmes are designed to assist individual people to learn appropriate behaviours to replace their current use of inappropriate behaviours in situations they perceive as challenging.

FABIC recognises a behavioural principle that ‘All behaviour serves a purpose'. Thus, Functional Assessment of a client's problem behaviour is a fundamental component of FABIC'S therapy (i.e., investigating the reasons why individual behaviours are occurring). As a result, all services developed are needs based, practical and individualised. FABIC is also aware that challenging behaviours are generally a result of a person responding to events occurring within their environment. Therefore programmes offered at FABIC may also focus on teaching carers, parents, teachers and other professionals to advance their skills to effectively manage challenging behaviour.

Further Information
phone: (07) 5330 5099 or 0412 615 798
web: http://www.fabic.com.au/

SIBS (Sisters Individuals Brothers)
Sibs often develop a range of admirable personal qualities and feel enriched by the experience of growing up in their family.  Some Sibs are more tolerant and understanding of individual differences, take great pride in their brother or sister's achievements, and go on to work in helping professions.  On the other hand, Sibs also face a range of extra challenges, and many report feeling guilty about being able to do things their brother or sister can't, being embarrassed at other's reactions to their brother or sister, or being angry about receiving less attention that their brother or sister.
 Sibs also need the chance to feel that there are others out there in a similar situation. 
 It can be invaluable for Sibs to meet other Sibs face to face at sibling groups or camps, or link up with other Sibs through one of the many sibling websites.
www.siblingsaustralia.org.au
www.carersaustralia.com.au
www.acd.org.au
www.yourshout.org.au offers support for adolescent sibs

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Sydney's Children's Hospital, NSW
http://www.sch.edu.au/services/services.asp?id=27
Contact: kingsleya@sesahs.nsw.gov.au
+612 9382 1073

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The Victorian Hand Surgery Associates is a group of independent specialist surgeons dedicated to the excellence in care of the hand.
http://www.vhsa.com.au/

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http://cywhs.sa.gov.au/Default.aspx?p=98
Contact: cywhs.cdusec@cywhs.ca.gov.au
+618 8161 7287 

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USA

American Society of Surgery of the Hand
Comprehensive online resource for hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder information
Contact: info@assh.org
 
Birth Defects Research for Children
Supports families with children with birth defects, matching them up with families of similar situation
https://www.birthdefects.org/FamilyServices/freeinfo.asp
Contact: staff@birthdefects.org
  
Cedars-Sinai Orthopaedic Centre
Hand Surgeons at the Cedars-Sinai Orthopaedic Centre Program are specially trained and highly experiences not only in the delicate techniques required for surgery, but also in working with infants and young children
http://www.cedars-sinai.edu/Patients/Programs-and-Services/
Orthopaedic-Center/Hand-Surgery-Program/ 

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