MyTime - Supporting parents of children with Disabilities

If you are parent, grandparents or anyone caring for a child up to 16 years of age with a disability, developmental delay or chronic medical condition, then MyTime is a wonderful program designed to help and support you. These peer support groups provide the opportunity for participants to make time for themselves, to socialise, hear from others in similar circumstance, and share ideas and information with others who understand the rewards and intensity of caring for a child with special needs. The program also has a strong parent education component. It is intended that the program will build skills, foster shared responsibilities and strengthen the capacity of the whole community to support parents of children with disabilities.

Facilitators, who are highly skilled in ensuring that parents lead the way, guide and support each group. They help set up the group, bring parents together and help them choose topics and activities to discuss and encourage them to support each other. If there are young children attending, there is a Play Helper to look after them while they play.

Information and skills development can be accessed with the help of the facilitator and guest speakers. Topics might include: taking care of yourself, getting the right support, and your child’s development. Fun, laughter and relaxation are always on the agenda.

Parents thrive on catching up with others and sharing stories. This kind of peer support is even more critical for those who have a more intensive role of caring for a child with a disability, developmental delay or chronic medical illness.

MyTime is a major achievement in helping families and the community raise, healthy, happy children and is the first nationally-funded program of its kind in the world.

The Parenting Research Centre is the national coordinator of MyTime on behalf of the Australian Government Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. Playgroup Qld delivers MyTime program for Parents of children with special needs to 32 groups throughout the state.

For the list of the MyTime sites throughout Qld please clip on attachment.

To locate your closest MyTime group, click on the link below:

MyTime groups in Queensland - Google Maps

To find out more about MyTime programs, please click on the links below:

MyTime - Supporting Parents of Children with Disabilities

The Right Time - Making time for parents of children with a disability

If your organisation would like to discuss a MyTime partnership with Playgroup Queensland, please contact Anne Gooley - State Coordinator MyTime on 1800 171 882 or by email.