Appeals

Baptcare relies on the generosity of its donors.

Without your financial support, we are unable to extend our programs to new areas of need and to more clients seeking assistance. Your contribution is an investment into our community, which means we all benefit from it.

Christmas Appeal 2009: Family Services

Donate now: help us support families who need a helping hand

“Hi, my name is Karene. I am 46 years old and I have three beautiful daughters – Stephanie 19, Sarah 17 and Natasha 14. Sarah is my daughter with a disability, pictured here with me. Photo of Karene and her daughter Sarah

“Sarah has an intellectual disability and some medical issues. She didn’t walk until she was four, didn’t talk until she was eight and wasn’t toilet trained during the day until about 14.”

“As a person Sarah is a cheeky girl with a sense of humour. She loves routine and she loves being social. On the other side of the coin Sarah is demanding in that she needs constant stimulation, attention, supervision and conversation…

“This is all compounded by the fact that I am a single mother, work full-time, have two teenage daughters with different commitments and don’t have anyone to share the load with.”

Can you imagine what it’s like to manage day-to-day life in Karene’s situation? Thankfully for Karene, Sarah and her sisters, Baptcare has a program to assist.

“When the Respite Activity Program (RAP) came into our lives, I was certain that no-one could look after Sarah as well as I could, and she is so precious to me. However, I very nervously handed Sarah over to the RAP team to take her on an outing. The RAP program is run on a Saturday once a month from 10am till about 3 or 3.30 so for me… about five hours of freedom!”

Karene and Sarah have been enjoying the RAP program ever since Sarah was five years old. Over 12 years later, the program is still proving to be invaluable.

“The time that Sarah is at RAP is very important for me. To do things with Stephanie and Natasha without having to compete with Sarah for my time and attention, is priceless.”

Parents across Victoria and Tasmania in similar situations to Karene find it hard to make time for themselves. They are dedicated to their children, yet to be able to have a break is refreshing for both parent and child.

RAP is just one of many programs that Baptcare provides. Since 1981, Baptcare’s family services division (formerly known as Abercare Family Services) has provided innovative quality services to individuals, children and families who have complex social and emotional needs. People like Karene and Sarah, who are getting on with life in difficult circumstances and just need a helping hand.

“Sarah really looks forward to going out with RAP. The staff and volunteers who go out with the children are doing something so important. It is a big issue for many parents to hand their child over to someone else’s care and responsibility, so the way they care for the children is something that every family really, really appreciates.”

Many of the people we help and support every day are like Karene – they look at their lives and see their cup half full. They just get on with it. But we can help make life a little easier for them, and with your help can continue to provide the various programs that our family services division delivers, not just at Christmas time, but every day of the year.

Last year Baptcare’s family services team provided 35,000 hours of direct support to over 1,650 families, children, and people with a disability.

Please help us to continue the key programs we provide to support those in our community who need a helping hand, by making a donation today.

Donate now: help us support families who need a helping hand

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