Emma

BOOK A PRINCESS TO YOUR DOOR THANKS TO STAR ACADEMY!

BOOK A PRINCESS TO YOUR DOOR! Little party people rejoice because Star Academy is helping with your birthday happily ever after! It’s as easy as: Select a Princess/Character Select a time Princess will ring the doorbell and sing a special happy birthday to the birthday girl and boy (of course with social distaning in mind) Character will interact with the birthday girl/boy learn something in relation to the character – ie. a little dance or some superhero moves, they will have opportunity to take photos of the characters before they leave.  Star Academy is now also offering themed parties online via zoom with a character of your choice. The 50 minute parties are jam packed with dancing, singing, games, photos and more! The best part? They also come with Party Bags delivered to the Host Family to distribute to friends! You can also add cupcakes and or a personalised balloon delivered to your door. If you want to be even more extra, they are even offering party grazing boxes (party food delivered to your door)! Iso Kids Party Boxes You can also add an ISO PARTY BOX to your party (or they can send these on their own) – a themed box filled with everything you need to host a mini party at home – themed cups, plates, cups, decorations and little favours. Send to a friend – or to your child!  Choose from the following themes – Frozen – Ballerina – Disney Princess – Unicorn (my fave) – Moana – Superhero – Disco (also my fave) These boxes can be added to the virtual parties OR can be sent on their own OR.. can be delivered by a PRINCESS/CHARACTER… adelaidevirtualparties.com.au

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AGSA DELIVERS ONLINE EXPERIENCES, ARTMAKING AND EVENTS

AGSA delivers online experiences, artmaking and events The Art Gallery of South Australia is responding to its temporary closure with enhanced digital experiences for audiences to engage with its collection, exhibitions and their own artmaking online. AGSA now offers extensive resources and online workshops for educators, activities for children of all ages, online events, curators’ tours and podcasts online. AGSA Director, Rhana Devenport ONZM, says, ‘The Gallery is physically closed yet digitally open. People look to artists and cultural institutions for a sense of community, learning, wonder and to find solace. AGSA remains deeply committed to connecting people through art. Our free and newly enhanced digital experiences have been created for audiences of all ages to meaningfully connect with art, no matter where they are in the world.’ Each week, via its website and social media, AGSA will release new video episodes, podcasts, interviews with artists, and curator talks and tours of the 2020 Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art: Monster Theatres. Audiences can also remotely operate and live-stream Stelarc’s Reclining Stickman as part of Monster Theatres, an artwork that is fully operational during our closure. On Saturday 25 April, AGSA will deliver the Monstrous Neo Digital Teen Takeover online and live-streamed. Neo is the Gallery’s dedicated program for teens, programmed by teens. This first online Neo will deliver new and imaginative activities including live bands, artist talks, online games, TikTok dance challenges and much more. Over 90 education resources and art activities are available online with online workshops for educators, and daily activities for students and children, as well as Start at Home and Start Online: Monster Sounds, an audio- sensory experience on Monster Theatres. Visit AGSA’s website for updates on digital experiences, resources, events. AGSA’s digital offerings Online Collection AGSA is focusing efforts on delivering content around its 45,000 collection records to view read and listen to online. Virtual Tours AGSA will visualise the 2020 Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art: Monster Theatres through virtual tours, artist video interviews. Live Streaming Stelarc’s Reclining Stickman, a nine-metre robot is streaming live from the Gallery and can be operated remotely from wherever you are! Monstrous Neo Digital Teen Takeover Saturday 25 April | 6pm | Free | Ages 13–17 Neo, AGSA’s dedicated program for teens, is shape shifting into a digital space with Monstrous Neo Digital Teen Takeover. An exclusive online program will launch on the Neo home page becoming a portal for teens to engage with new and imaginative activities relating to Monster Theatres. Start at the Gallery Free | Ages 3-12 | Start at Home Activities and Start Online: Monster Sounds Start at the Gallery continues to introduce children to art with Start at Home activities, including an exclusive April program for the 2020 Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art, Start Online: Monster Sounds. Education Free | Learning resources for primary and high school aged students AGSA’s resources prompt students to examine, explore and respond to works of art and the concepts they evoke. Podcasts & Video Weekly Tuesday Lunchtime Talks, other artist podcasts and videos will be regularly updated here. Also available on AGSA’s SoundCloud and videos on AGSA’s Vimeo.   @agsa.adelaide | #agsaadelaide 

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AGSA DELIVERS ONLINE EXPERIENCES, ARTMAKING AND EVENTS

The Art Gallery of South Australia is responding to its temporary closure with enhanced digital experiences for audiences to engage with its collection, exhibitions and their own artmaking online. AGSA now offers extensive resources and online workshops for educators, activities for children of all ages, online events, curators’ tours and podcasts online. AGSA Director, Rhana Devenport ONZM, says, ‘The Gallery is physically closed yet digitally open. People look to artists and cultural institutions for a sense of community, learning, wonder and to find solace. AGSA remains deeply committed to connecting people through art. Our free and newly enhanced digital experiences have been created for audiences of all ages to meaningfully connect with art, no matter where they are in the world.’ Each week, via its website and social media, AGSA will release new video episodes, podcasts, interviews with artists, and curator talks and tours of the 2020 Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art: Monster Theatres. Audiences can also remotely operate and live-stream Stelarc’s Reclining Stickman as part of Monster Theatres, an artwork that is fully operational during our closure. On Saturday 25 April, AGSA will deliver the Monstrous Neo Digital Teen Takeover online and live-streamed. Neo is the Gallery’s dedicated program for teens, programmed by teens. This first online Neo will deliver new and imaginative activities including live bands, artist talks, online games, TikTok dance challenges and much more. Over 90 education resources and art activities are available online with online workshops for educators, and daily activities for students and children, as well as Start at Home and Start Online: Monster Sounds, an audio- sensory experience on Monster Theatres. Visit AGSA’s website for updates on digital experiences, resources, events. AGSA’s digital offerings Online CollectionAGSA is focusing efforts on delivering content around its 45,000 collection records to view read and listen toonline. Virtual ToursAGSA will visualise the 2020 Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art: Monster Theatres through virtual tours, artist video interviews. Live StreamingStelarc’s Reclining Stickman, a nine-metre robot is streaming live from the Gallery and can be operated remotely from wherever you are! Monstrous Neo Digital Teen TakeoverSaturday 25 April | 6pm | Free | Ages 13–17Neo, AGSA’s dedicated program for teens, is shape shifting into a digital space with Monstrous Neo Digital Teen Takeover. An exclusive online program will launch on the Neo home page becoming a portal for teens to engage with new and imaginative activities relating to Monster Theatres. Start at the GalleryFree | Ages 3-12 | Start at Home Activities and Start Online: Monster SoundsStart at the Gallery continues to introduce children to art with Start at Home activities, including an exclusive April program for the 2020 Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art, Start Online: Monster Sounds. EducationFree | Learning resources for primary and high school aged studentsAGSA’s resources prompt students to examine, explore and respond to works of art and the concepts they evoke. Podcasts & VideoWeekly Tuesday Lunchtime Talks, other artist podcasts and videos will be regularly updated here. Also available on AGSA’s SoundCloud and videos on AGSA’s Vimeo. @agsa.adelaide | #agsaadelaide 

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A MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF EDUCATION – SCHOOLS OPENING FOR TERM 2

The Department for Education has been in lockstep with our senior health officials from the outset of this COVID-19 pandemic. We have, and will continue to follow their advice when making decisions that affect our schools, preschools and early childhood settings. The health and wellbeing of our staff and students is our top priority. Advice from SA Health and Australia’s expert health body, AHPPC, remains unchanged. Schools, preschools and early childhood facilities are low risk environments for COVID-19, and should remain open. With the current low rates of infection in South Australia, we are encouraging students to return to school for term 2. Parents and carers can choose to send their children to school, preschool or childcare, and feel confident that they are not placing their children at increased risk of COVID-19. South Australia’s Chief Public Health Officer, Professor Nicola Spurrier, has taken the time to write to you and to the parents of your students. She asked me to ensure you all receive this letter from her – please see attached. Leaders, please pass the parent letter and accompanying infographic onto parents as soon as possible, also attached. Of course, we will continue to respect the preferences of parents. If they don’t feel comfortable sending their children to school or preschool for whatever reason, they won’t be obliged to. Please continue your remote learning offering for students learning from home during this time. This will be particularly important for children and young people with medical conditions who may be more vulnerable to COVID-19. As we begin the transition from more students learning at home to more students learning in the classroom, I know there will be a period of adjustment. We had planned for the opposite. The start of term 2 won’t be seamless and that’s ok. All of you – our leaders, teachers, early years educators and school support staff will, as always, handle the situation superbly and continue to guide our students through these changes. I have every confidence in you and your teams. You are doing brilliantly through this very difficult time. While schools are low risk environments for COVID-19, there are measures we will continue to take to further reduce the risk of transmission. The department will maintain increased cleaning schedules at all sites, and will centrally source hygiene products such as hand soap, sanitiser and tissues for those sites who can’t source supplies through their usual means. Thank you again for your continued professionalism during such a difficult time, and for your agility as we quickly adjust against the settings of this pandemic to support our students. You’re doing a brilliant job. Best,Rick

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DESIGN A MINI FLOAT COMPETITION FOR THE NATIONAL PHARMACIES CHRISTMAS PAGEANT – ENTRIES NOW OPEN!

ENTRIES NOW OPEN 2020 DESIGN A MINI FLOAT COMPETITION Entries are now open in the 2020 National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant Design a Mini Float competition. Children aged from 5 to 16 years of age are encouraged to put pen to paper and draw their ultimate Pageant design. The winning mini float will be built and take part in the 2020 National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant to be held on Saturday 14 November 2020. First introduced in 2007, the Design a Mini Float competition calls upon students to enter a world of fun and fantasy with a Christmas theme. Since 2007 the competition has had thousands of designs submitted. Brian Gilbertson, Pageant Director, National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant, said children are invited to let their imaginations run wild and take inspiration from the world around them. “Be inspired by fantasy, fairy tales and magic all with a look and feel for Christmas,” said Mr Gilbertson. “We’re looking for an original mini float that will bring a new theme or story to the Pageant, something that is unique from everything else already on display.” A mini float is a small mobile set that is light enough to be pushed or pulled along the Pageant route. Each entry will be viewed by a panel of judges and the lucky winner will receive a prize of $500 thanks to National Pharmacies and a reserved space for their family, friends or classmates to see their mini float debut on Pageant day. They will also experience a unique behind-the-scenes tour of Stardust Castle, the home of the Pageant where their design will come to life. Vito Borrello, Chief Executive Officer, National Pharmacies, said this is an outstanding opportunity for young South Australians to get involved with the Southern Hemisphere’s largest public parade and National Pharmacies is proud to partner with the event to continue captivating generations of Australian children. “The National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant has brought the community together and entertained millions of people since the event started in 1933, and it is a great honour for us to continue bringing the event to the people of South Australia,” said Mr Borrello. “We strongly encourage children to see what their creative minds can conjure to imagine, craft and create a Pageant mini float, whether they present a drawing, painting, model or video of the design process,” he said. Entries are now open and will close on Tuesday 30 June 2020. The elves at Stardust Castle will commence building the winning mini float in July and will be announced to the public in September. Download the Design a Mini Float entry guidelines and get your entry forms from www.christmaspageant.com.au. Entries are open to children aged five to 16 years. Honour Roll – National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant Design a Mini Float 2018 Lolita Casey, Port Noarlunga Primary School (Port Noarlunga) ‘The Kindness Tree’ 2017 Sophia Ivanica, Para Vista Primary School (Para Vista) ‘Snowman’ 2015 Maddy Nyp, St Michael’s Lutheran School (Hahndorf) ‘Get Well Soon’ 2013 Casey Van Heuven, Pedare Christian College (Golden Grove) ‘Ringo the North Pole Hotline’ 2011 Sharni Tansell, Woodside Primary School (Woodside) ‘Naughty or Nice Meter’ 2009 Owen Primary School (Owen) ‘Rodney the Red Bi Plane’ 2007 St John’s Grammar School (Belair) ‘Cupcake Christmas’ The 2020 National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant will be held on Saturday 14 November 2020. For further information visit www.christmaspageant.com.au #adlpageant

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THE SHOW MUST GO ON(LINE) – WINDMILL @HOME!

Welcome to Windmill at Home. A new online platform that hopes to bring a little bit of Windmill joy into your home. Windmill believe that good stories bring people together and can make even the darkest days brighter. They have worked closely with their wonderful team of artists and creatives to share some of your favourite stories in a whole new way. There is a whole suite of stories with Grug, a collection of hands-on activities and interactive (and award-winning) digital experiences. Windmill will be back onstage as soon as they can. For now, find them here and on your screens! A message from Artistic Director Rose The amazing thing about artists is their boundless creativity. When faced with the prospect not being onstage for a little while, our incredible family of creatives at Windmill took it as a challenge. We asked, ‘how does Windmill tell stories in the digital space?’ The answer is Windmill at Home. A suite of digital experiences, content and activities that bring some of our favourite characters, stories and faces into your home. We’ve worked with artists to revisit some of our best friends, including Grug and Beep, to reinvigorate some of our digital experiences and interactive journeys and have created exciting ways to get people young and old up, moving, building and creating We hope this little bit of Windmill will inspire you, fascinate you and make you smile. With lots of love (from a safe social distance), Rose Here are some of the stories to choose from:  WATCH HERE 

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HERE’S WHERE YOU CAN DOWNLOAD NATURE PLAY SA’S NEW RESOURCE – FAMILY, NATURE AND COVID 19

South Australia leads the world in a targeted resource –  Family, nature and COVID-19 In an Australian first, South Australian, not for profit organisation, Nature Play SA has today launched a free, online guide to support families across the country and the globe during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nature, Family and COVID-19, is a guide for families everywhere. This beautifully presented 85-page, e-book offers credible information, strategies, and practical ideas to help children, families and communities adapt to social distancing and self-isolation measures. Executive Director, Community and Family Services at Department for Human Services, Ann-Marie Hayes said:  “Bottomline, there is no other guide like this and we encourage everyone one to check it out and whether you do two or 20 of the activities, rest assured you’ll love them and you’ll be doing something proactive for your family’s mind and body.” There is a strong focus on nurturing the mental health and wellbeing of families, including providing accessible, nature-based methods that can be practiced at home or in the local neighbourhood. Family, Nature and COVID-19 has been developed by Nature Play SA with funding support from the South Australian Government, through the Department of Human Services. Nature Play CEO, Sarah Sutter said: “Whether you are social distancing or self-isolating there are over 200 practical ideas and tips throughout that can help fill the days with lots of fun. “We believe a key objective for this guide and Nature Play SA is to raise awareness of how nature connection can support health and wellbeing during social distancing and self-isolation.” Families and the community are increasingly looking at ways to develop strong mental health and nurture wellbeing. The guide lists many nature-inspired methods that can form part of an integrated approach to strengthening your mental health and wellbeing. Executive Director, Community and Family Services at Department for Human Services, Ann-Marie Hayes said:  “Autumn is a season of change. Perhaps, we are undergoing no greater change than now, as our global community navigates Coronavirus.” The guide is divided into two sections. The first is titled, Nurturing your mental health and wellbeing during COVID-19 and the second is titled Practical ideas and inspiration to do as a family during COVID-19. Ms Sutter said: “Section one is basically a one-stop-shop, it brings together all the information Nature Play SA has collected from both our own references but also from like-minded organisations across the State.  “It is everything in one practical guide at your fingertips and if you need more information, then we have listed the various organisation’s details and websites.” Some of the key themes include: ‘Turn to nature’, ‘Keep active’ and ‘Eat healthy’. All of which have five practical tips for engaging activities that focus on nature as a conduit to improving overall wellbeing and mental health. The second section is a collation of four years of research and development by Nature Play SA. It brings a collection of nature-based activities into one comprehensive guide.  This section includes expert tips and practical activities from our Nature Play SA gurus, including Nature Play SA ambassador and gardening and environment aficionado, Sophie Thomson. Some family activities include: Provide a message of hope to your community: paint or draw a rainbow to display in your front window; place a teddy in your window for others to spot; or take to your driveway with chalk to draw rainbows and leave messages of hope Start a nature journal – each day after time spent in your yard or outside write, draw or paint something you noticed. See where nature journaling takes you (there is no right or wrong way) Tend to a garden and plant something you can nurture, harvest, eat and cook Go to the Bureau of Meteorology (bom.gov.au) website and learn how to read the weather, tides and about indigenous weather knowledge Set up for ball skills or your favourite sporting practice in your yard (get creative with how you could set up your space, like making cricket stumps from what you have at home) The resource can be accessed and downloaded at natureplaysa.org.au

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UNI SA: DADDY DAY-CARE: NEW LOOK FLEXIBLE WORK OPTIONS, THANKS TO PANDEMIC

Daddy day-care: new-look flexible work options, thanks to pandemic Words: Dr Ashlee Borgkvist The COVID-19 pandemic is putting flexible work on the table for thousands of fathers as they prove that working from home can be just as viable as working in a traditional office environment. It’s a welcome move for many fathers, who despite wanting to be more involved in caring for their children, continue to face barriers when it comes to arranging flexible work. University of South Australia researcher with the Centre for Workplace Excellence, Dr Ashlee Borgkvist, says the working from home phenomenon is providing significant benefits for dads to play and engage with their families, while also delivering clear evidence for employers that it can work. “In Australia, most dads tend to work full-time, limiting the time they can spend with their families. Now, as so many businesses have shifted to work-from-home scenarios, the current norm is changing, with everyone – children, families and workplaces – realising the benefits,” Dr Borgkvist says. “Until now, most Australian fathers have not used flexible or part-time work arrangements, despite these options being available to them through their employer. “The reasons why are multifaceted, often linked to men’s perceptions of the ideal worker, workplace cultures, and long-held constructions of masculinity. “But ideas of what comprises an ideal worker or good workplace culture will inevitably be challenged because of COVID-19, as all tiers of workers – managers and executives alike – embrace social isolation measures. “It’s now that fathers will be able to show how working from home can be as productive, if not more so, than working in an office. And in turn, boost their confidence that working at home is an acceptable and possible workplace construct.” While family employment patterns have shifted over the past 40 years, from models of the ‘breadwinning’ father and the stay-at-home mother, the shift has seen an increase in mothers’ employment (generally part-time) while remaining the primary caregiver, but little change in fathers’ employment. Gender imbalances occur in working hours and working arrangements, with fathers of children under 12 years of age working an average of 40-46 hours a week, in comparison to mothers who work around 28 hours a week. Similarly, most fathers are in full-time work, with less than a third taking advantage of any flexible work arrangements, and fewer than 10 per cent on part-time work arrangements. “Broader societal ideas that mothers should be responsible for caregiving in families, continue to seep into the organisational context and can influence cultural support for men’s use of flexibility, as well as how policies are discussed, offered, and implemented by supervisors and the organisation as a whole,” Dr Borgkvist says. “In my research, many fathers said that they weren’t sure of workplace policies or options and entitlements for r flexible work, in their workplaces, so there’s certainly a need for transparency within organisations because this can be a real barrier to requesting flexible work in the first place. “Concerningly, we’ve also seen very little movement among Australian fathers to work more flexibly, with statistics showing barely any growth over the past 10 years. “As a society, we need to change this. Not only because it will help balance work and family responsibilities, but it will also enable men and women to contribute more equally. “As research has shown time and time again, a good work-life balance delivers a more productive and efficient workforce. “We need to see more organisations model and support flexible working arrangements for dads which will help build a positive and supportive culture for men who might want to use flexibility. We need open communications and transparent workplace policies about flexible work for all; and we need dads to step up and challenge organisational and societal norms. “COVID-19 might have been the catalyst for forced workplace flexibility, but the lessons we take from this unprecedented time could be extraordinarily positive.” Information provided by UniSA Dr Ashlee Borgkvist’s work on fathers and flexibility is based on her doctoral research undertaken at the University of Adelaide and published here 

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BUNJIE: THE PROBIOTIC PINKY PROMISE

The baby product market is inundated with promises and fineprints. It can be overwhelming knowing which brands to trust and what nasties to look out for. Luckily, we are here to point you in the right direction! Bunjie is an Australian 100% naturally derived prebiotic + probiotic baby skincare brand. Their products are plant powered and promise to use only obsessively-researched, squeaky clean ingredients that benefit little skin & won’t disrupt its protective microbiome or the planet’s good vibes. Make the first 1000 days count! Junk-filled baby products aren’t doing little skin any favours, so Bunjie have made one that will! Building a happier skin microbiome during the first 1000 days means healthier little humans for life. Modern lifestyle is disrupting the natural development of baby’s skin & has led to a global epidemic in skin conditions such as eczema, dermatitis & psoriasis. The skin microbiome is the eyes & ears of a baby’s immune system & their first line of defence. Just like the gut, it needs good bacteria to stay happy, trouble-free & protect them from day 1. Bunjie’s Minibiotics are designed to boost baby’s immune system from the get-go. Snug As A Bug Moisturiser Lotion Transforms itchy scratchies into happy softies.Say hello to a squidgy hug of do-goodie moisture that works around the clock to keep growing little skin oh-so-soft & happy. It’s A Curl Gentle Shampoo Whether it’s just one curl or a head full of locks that would make Rapunzel jealous, these do-goodie bubbles make every day a happy hair day! Wave goodbye to itchy little scalps. Nip It In The Bub Nappy and Barrier Cream No ifs, just happy little butts with this swipeable hero that comes to the rescue of cranky little skin. Blowout after blowout, this plant powered barrier will not be defeated by damp little nappies! Mybunjie.com@bunjie.au

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ADELAIDE CENTRAL MARKET: ROAST LEG OF LAMB WITH QUINCE

SERVES6COOK TIME2 hoursPREP TIME20 minsDIFFICULTYEasy INGREDIENTS 2 kg lamb2 tbsp rosemary chopped3 cloves garlic crushed2 tbsp baby capers drained50 g quince paste chopped2/3 cup (50g) fresh breadcrumbs1/4 cup (60ml) extra virgin olive oilSea salt and freshly ground black pepper6 small sprigs rosemary extra Mint salsa verde1 clove garlic crushed1 tbsp baby capers drained1/4 cup baby cornichons1/3 cup mint leaves1/4 cup parsley leavesSea salt and freshly ground black pepper2 tbsp lemon juice1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil METHOD Preheat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan-forced).Place lamb on a chopping board lengthways, use a sharp knife to cut incisions right through the meatiest part almost to the bone, at 4cm thick intervals.In a medium mixing bowl combine rosemary, thyme, garlic, capers, quince paste, breadcrumbs and two tablespoons of olive oil, mixing well. Season with salt and pepper.Place spoonfuls of stuffing into the lamb incisions and tie with string to secure.Scatter lamb with extra rosemary, drizzle with remaining olive oil, and season with salt and pepper. Cook in preheated oven for 2 hours, or until cooked to your liking*. Cover the top with foil after the first hour, to prevent stuffing burning.For the salsa verde, combine all the ingredents together in a food processor, pulsing until finely chopped. adelaidecentralmarket.com.au

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Should you buy a secondhand car seat – The Essentials

It’s quite common for people to buy and sell second hand car seats online, at markets or between friends and family. While it’s a way to save money, and get some more use out of a car seat, there are some things you need to look out for when buying privately to protect yourself and your child. You want visual confirmation of the following things before you purchase a car seat;The SAI Global 5 Tick Sticker – Located on the car seat shell. This tells you it is a certified Australian car seat that has been tested to the Australian Standard The Date of Manufacture – Either a sticker on the shell, or dials moulded into the plastic. This will tell you whether the car seat is still within the recommended 10 years from date of manufacture. If it is beyond that, the seat should be destroyed. It’s also nice to have Proof of Purchase – a copy of the receipt tells you that this is the original owner, and wasn’t already a secondhand car seat. It’s extremely important to understand that it is essentially impossible to know if a car seat has been in an accident. You are taking the seller’s word at face value. This is one reason we recommend only dealing with people you know and trust in real life when it comes to using secondhand car seats. It’s worth noting that Red Cross Baby Seats sells a number of budget car seats. Oftentimes a new budget seat can work out to be cheaper than a secondhand car seat purchased online.If you have any doubts about a secondhand car seat, the best rule is not to buy it. Red Cross Car Seats have a specialised team that can answer your questions and also fit your child with the perfect seat. 08 8443 9700125 Henley Beach Rd, Mile Endredcross.org.au/babyseats

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YOU NEED TO COTTON ON TO THIS TABOO ADELAIDE BUSINESS

TABOO SANITARY PRODUCTS  Three years ago, two 18-year-old girls, fresh out of High School had a bloody good idea and now it’s time for us all to cotton on! Co-Founders Eloise Hall & Isobel Marshall decided to join the menstrual market after a Bond University Leadership Conference. The girls were left inspired to establish a business that enabled the everyday purchases of Australians to improve the lives of people around the world. The net profits of their company TABOO Sanitary Products are directly donated to OneGirl; an organisation working in Sierra Leone and Uganda. OneGirl uses a Microfinance model that employs local women to distribute biodegradable pads to other women in their community. This access to pads enables young women to go to school on their period whilst supporting the local economy in a sustainable way. Half of all Australians will need sanitary products for a large part of their lives, and they usually need to purchase them every month. In fact, Australians spend $300 million on sanitary products annually. Knowing this, TABOO Co-founder Isobel also wanted to help women closer to home, ‘We are very aware of the need that exists in Australia too. For that reason, we have partnered with NPY Women’s Council and Vinnie’s Crisis Centre to give our customers the opportunity to subscribe to our product on behalf of a woman in community Australia or a woman requiring emergency care in SA.’ Over the past three years Isobel and Eloise have spent their time presenting to school and community groups in Australia, releasing a line of conversation-starting merchandise and doing whatever they can to share their message. All of these activities have the primary goal of starting the conversation around menstruation in a global context – let’s break that stigma ladies! TABOO was initially available online through a subscription model, however their products are now also available in IGA Malvern, Adelaide. Keep an eye out for them on other supermarket shelves soon! tabooau.co @taboosanitaryproducts

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UNISA: SELF-REGULATION FOR KIDS: AT HOME, AT SCHOOL AND WITH AUTISM

As every teacher will assert, self-regulation is the key to optimal learning; it helps kids tune in, stay focussed and be ready to learn. But what if your child isn’t wired this way? For many children, self-regulation is hard to master, but for kids on the autism spectrum, it can seem insurmountable, singling them out and creating barriers to their learning. Now, occupational therapy and paediatric experts at the University of South Australia are working to ensure all children have the best opportunities to succeed at school, through a new research project that will deliver best practices to support school-aged children to self-regulate in class. Autism is a lifelong developmental disorder which affects how a person communicates, behaves and relates to other people. Globally, one in 160 children has an autism spectrum disorder, with current ABS statistics recording more than 205,200 Australians with the condition. Experienced occupational therapist and UniSA Masters of Research candidate, Judith Merritt says the new research hopes to generate inclusive knowledge that can be applied in all mainstream classrooms. “Many programs that aim to help kids with self-regulation difficulties tend to do this outside of the classroom in order to provide support separately from their peers,” Merritt says. “While this approach is provided with the best interests of the child, we believe that an integrated approach to self-regulation is far more beneficial, helping to strengthen self-regulation behaviours in the child’s familiar learning spaces. “When kids miss out on what their class is doing, whether that be from not paying attention or through therapies and programs that are designed to help, the child still feels like they don’t fully belong. They’re still separated from their friends and may struggle to re-join a class post a therapy session, and this is particularly common for kids with autism or ADHD.” UniSA’s new research project will explore the self-regulation of all children in mainstream classrooms, including those with ASD and other learning difficulties. It will assess the impact of self-regulation issues, teacher preparedness to support children’s self-regulation, and any barriers to implementation. The end result will be documented strategies for teachers and facilitators to use in their classrooms. But with face-to-face classroom education on hold for the unforeseeable future, Paediatric expert and supervising researcher, UniSA’s Dr Kobie Boshoff says parents of children with autism will face additional challenges as their child adjusts to life and school at home. “Kids with autism tend to struggle with change, so the uncertainty presented by Covid-19 may make them feel even more anxious as they worry about the impact of the virus on themselves, their family and their friends,” Dr Boshoff says. “This disruption to normal routines, such as not going to school and lack of normal face-to-face support from therapy providers will add to their apprehension and this in turn makes them less likely to focus or learn well.” Merritt says there are a range of recommendations for parents as they navigate home schooling: Explain the situation but stay positive: use clear language and perhaps a social story to explain the virus and social isolation. Talk about feelings – yours and your child’s – but be hopeful and positive to reassure your child and allay any concerns. Manage your expectations: you’re (probably) not a teacher so don’t expect to keep your child engaged with learning for seven lessons a day, five days a week. Keeping connected with school and doing some learning activities is a clear win in this unique situation. Set up a routine: a balanced routine that includes learning, self-care activities (eating, drinking, exercise, rest) and leisure (playing, doing fun things) will help your child understand their new daily schedule. Create a ‘Goldilocks’ learning space: not too distracting, not too boring, a just-right learning space for your child is a must-have. This may be away from the living room where the main screen is, or in a quiet corner of the house. Expect the fidgets: some children need to fiddle, wriggle or make sounds to help them focus – don’t expect them to sit perfectly still and quiet for their home activities. A break to do some ‘heavy work’ (jumping, pushing, pulling) before refocusing on tabletop activities can help. Problem solve with empathy and logic: when your child becomes frustrated validate their feelings and try to logically solve the problem together (“I see you’re cross because the pencil broke, and you were nearly finished your sheet. I wonder if you were pressing too hard? What can we do now?”). Connect with teachers: working with teachers and online service providers will help you and your child to stay in touch with classmates and families and gain valuable support. Give specific and positive reinforcement: specific acknowledgement of a job well done can help boost your child’s self-esteem and see returns from their hard efforts (“You did that whole page, great work!”). Also use first-then strategies (“First do a page of your workbook by yourself, then we can go on the trampoline outside together”) this will help with your child’s motivation.“Finding a way to best support all children’s abilities to self-regulate – especially those that struggle – is essential if we are to maximise the potential of the next generation.” Information provided by UniSA 

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