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National Carers Week - Virtual Event
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Introducing a Memoir of Caring
13 October 2021, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
National Carers week recognises the incredible work carers do in supporting their loved ones. In celebration of this week, SWAN Australia and Thea Calzoni extend a warm invitation to their Carers Virtual Event.
About SWAN
SWAN provides information and support to families caring for a child with an undiagnosed or rare genetic condition.
About Thea
Thea Calzoni has been a passionate disability advocate and carer for over 30 years. Thea is the Parent Support Coordinator for Melbourne City Mission, the creator of the website Disability Care People and published author.
As a parent of a child, now an adult, with an undiagnosed genetic condition and disability, Thea will speak about the hardships and the joys of being a Carer, detailed in her memoir Dancing with the Maternal Bond.
Some mothers have the tightest bond. All babies are fragile, but some require extra care. When a child is born with health problems and lots of crying, people tend to withdraw. The mother feels the social expectation that she should know what to do. She must become a Carer.
The memoir is an intimate view of family life centred around disability from 1987 to 2017, from Early Childhood Intervention Services to the NDIS.
Thea says,
“I couldn’t do anything right until my family was embraced by an early childhood intervention program based at Melbourne City Mission. While my son learned social skills in a playgroup run by special teachers and therapists, I learned to accept difference.
Then I had to accept my own differences, that I would be taking care of him for the rest of my life.
Today, even his independence is something that I have to lead and manage so that by the time I die, the right supports will be in place for him to live well.
My memoir is raw and honest, covering many of my mistakes as a mother and as a Carer. I hope it will help others be kind to themselves and take some shortcuts on their emotional journey.
Thankfully there are supports that you can draw on, such as SWAN and Carer Gateway.”
This event will be facilitated by Heather Renton – CEO and Founder of SWAN Australia and Thea Calzoni. Please register for the event via the Zoom link. We look forward to you joining us!