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Find a Learning Hub
| Hosted by: | Child and Family Services, Chisholm St Centre | | Location: | Ballarat | | Convenor's name: | Pennie Mathieson | Convenor's contact details: | | Phone: | (03) 5331 7556 | | Email: | pmathieson@cafs.org.au | | Address: | 515 Chisholm St
Ballarat VIC 3350 |
Organisations represented by Hub members:
Description of activities of Hub:
The Eureka learning hub currently has eleven members from a variety of agencies in the Ballarat area who meet bi-monthly. The Eureka learning hub has developed a resource box for sharing information among members, new resources and information is added to the hub box regularly.
The learning hub has developed collaborative relationships between agencies and individuals working with parents with learning difficulties in the Ballarat area.
Individuals from local services have attended hub meetings, to discuss programs and services available to parents with a learning difficulty. This has assisted the hub to collate information about local services and resources for parents with learning difficulties.
The convenor reports back relevant information from Healthy Start meetings.
The learning hub has began to identify gaps in service provision in the Ballarat area to support parents with learning difficulties and will continue to identify gaps, build on and enhance the capacity of services in the future. |
Findings or Discoveries of Hub:
| It has been exciting that such a diverse group of skilled professionals were eager to join together, share information and also ready to proactively support parents with learning difficulties collaboratively, and advocate as necessary on their behalf. |
What worked well for our Hub:
The Eureka Learning hub has successfully developed collaborative relationships between individuals and agencies, with members representing several different fields of practice, including; Family Support Services from two key Community Agencies; Maternal and Child Health; Disability- DHS Outreach, McCallum House a support program for people with a disability, and Pinarc a community and disability service for infants through to adults; Ballarat Health Service- domiciliary care, midwifery and social work departments. The DHS Child Protection Service has an interest in joining the group.
The learning hub has developed a resource box to assist members to share information and strategies for supporting parents with learning difficulties. |
What did not work well for our Hub:
| Time limits, staff changes and developing relationships has delayed responding to our action plan goal of identifying gaps in service delivery however 2008 is looking to be a productive year. |
What can others learn from our experience:
| Not rushing to” fix” the community gaps in service delivery has allowed for development of a strong, diverse and passionate group of members. This then has the potential to contribute positively to the community with meaningful outcomes for parents with learning difficulties. |
What is the plan for the future for our Hub:
The Eureka learning hub plans to continue working towards the goals in the local area action plan, and will continue to meet bi-monthly. An enthusiastic group of members met for the December meeting identifying some community gaps they wish to address in 2008 e.g., knowledge base of medical professionals, lack of specialised parenting programs. The New Year meeting will build on these, prioritise and develop time lines.
Learning hub members will continue to share information and ideas, and add new resources to the hub resource box that are then readily available to members.
The benefit of guest speakers was realised and will continue as part of group meetings. |
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