David Scerri is just one of many children with special needs who has benefited from the Casey Kids Club. Picture: Meagan Rogers.
By Sarah Schwager
DESPITE community and Casey Council support for a special needs program for children over 12, funding has yet to be allocated.
The pilot after-school activities program, Casey Kids Club, has reached its final week this week without any promise of continued financial support.
The program for disabled and special needs children, the only one of its kind in the region, has run from Monday to Friday for the past 12 weeks at the Dandenong Valley School in Narre Warren.
Amanda Stapledon, the program’s organiser and Cranbourne North mother, said while council had been fantastic in offering its support to find funding, the program could not continue without the funds.
“I could cry. We’ve been working so hard to get it together,” Ms Stapledon said.
“There have been some wonderful people trying to help out. Unfortunately, the people who are in a position to make a decision have chosen not to.
“I’m just praying for a miracle.”
A single mother of Peter, 13, who suffers from multiple disabilities including autism, Ms Stapledon said there was a desperate need for the service in the community, and with $25,000 they could run the program for another term.
Last week, council voted to endorse continued advocacy to the State and Federal Governments to address service gaps for these children.
Council will also set up a working party to help identify funding sources for special needs children aged 12 and over.
Ms Stapledon will fly to Canberra to meet Federal Minister for Family, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Mal Brough.
Reverend Paul Creasey from the Uniting Church in Cranbourne supplied the money for the trip.
“The generosity of the people in the community has been a real eye opener,” Ms Stapledon said.
“It would be wonderful if the community could get together to help fund this program at least for another term.
“By then maybe we might be able to achieve something with the Government.”
The group had their break-up celebrations yesterday and the program finishes tomorrow.
“This program really has improved these children,” Ms Stapledon said.
“It has filled that void. As parents, we didn’t know what was missing in their lives. Now we know.”
