Join our Walk for Epilepsy challenge
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Edition 44, 2021
Hi Friend,
We are very pleased to thank the State Government for their continued funding support of Epilepsy Tasmania in the recent budget announcements.
I'm also happy to reveal that The Puzzle People's jigsaw competition is now fully booked. Teams will compete to represent Tasmania at the national puzzle championships while supporting Tasmanians with epilepsy. Mark the 25th of September in your diary and head to the Richmond Primary School Hall between 11 to 2 pm to cheer them on, and buy yourself some pre-loved puzzles to have a go at home and keep your brain active. There will be a sausage sizzle and raffle to enjoy on the day.
In other good news, a long-term member of the Epilepsy Tasmania community is now employed with us. Amy has been part of our organisation for a long time and we are very pleased to have her as a permanent part of our team in the role of Peer Support and Volunteer Project Coordination. You may already recognise Amy from her participation in our My Journey photo exhibition, have heard her epilepsy story on our Podcast series or even spoken to her through our Epilepsy Connect peer support service. Very excited to have someone with a lived epilepsy experience on our team and we know we will all benefit from this, as well as from her vast business experience. Hear from Amy in her own words below.
A quick reminder to our volunteers, that by now you will have received a survey in your email inbox so please complete and return this to us as soon as possible.
Best wishes on this first day of Spring.
Wendy Groot, CEO Epilepsy Tasmania.
Get ready to Walk for Epilepsy
1 - 25 October - register now!
1 in 25 Australians will develop epilepsy in their lifetime.
That’s up to one million Australians in need of support, research and a cure. But one person can make all the difference in the world.
Join us this October as we Walk for Epilepsy. Set your own goals and walk, run, swim or ride at your own pace - any time, anywhere.
Epilepsy Tasmania has teams you can join or you can create your own team or individual registration. Or just sit back and donate to others efforts as they Walk for Epilepsy.
By taking part and raising funds, you can have a very real impact on Tasmanians living with epilepsy, and all across the country.
Sign up today!
Father's Day Competition to WIN
Put the fun back into the QR Code!
This Father's Day we would like to thank Pennicott Wilderness Cruises for their donation of a boat tour for two people in our QR Code Competition.
You will find our QR Code in various locations around Hobart and Launceston. Scan it, enter your details and you could win. It costs nothing to enter and you could make dad (or a worthy father-figure) very, very happy.
Be quick - this competition ends on Sunday.
Scan the code at:-
- McDonald's, Melville Street
- Officeworks, Hobart
- Animal Tuckerbox, Hobart
- Last Bite Takeaway, Davey Street
- Mr Johnson Coffee Break, Kingston
- Blackmans Bay Newsagency, Blackmans Bay
- United Petrol, Kingston
- ABC Building, Hobart
- Flick the Bean cafes, Launceston
- Epilepsy Tasmania, Launceston office
- JJ's Cafe KMart, Launceston
Congratulations Huonville Primary
Tasmania's newest Epilepsy Smart School
The final requirement to become an Epilepsy Smart School is to hold a school-wide event to raise awareness of epilepsy in order to improve understanding of the condition and remove the stigma that still surrounds it.
Huonville Primary School held their event on the 10th August and are now proud to display the Epilepsy Smart School logo.
School Nurse, Emma said “It was a great success. I delivered school-wide epilepsy awareness sessions and we invited all students and staff to wear purple (the colour to represent epilepsy) and we had some blueberries and purple grapes donated from Woolies for the students to eat at recess. Not only that, the students were invited to learn finger knitting with purple wool at recess with one of our cleaners. We also managed to raise $105 through gold coin donations for Epilepsy Tasmania!"
Support Jack's Fundraiser
Jack is just 14 years old but he's on a mission to increase understanding of the condition he lives with and to raise funds for his support organisation (us!), Epilepsy Tasmania.
Please visit his Go Fund Me page and read Jack's own words of why he is running this campaign. And don't forget to make a donation (even a small one) to encourage Jack and others like him to be the change they wish to see.
Mount Barrow Challenge is on again!
Entries are now open for the Fit n Kicking Mt Barrow Challenge on October 24, 2021!
Mt Barrow might be shorter, but it is steeper than Mt Wellington/Kunanyi and this event is fantastic prep for the Point to Pinnacle event in Hobart.
Entries are via trybooking.com and just search under Mt Barrow or Fit n Kicking and it will come up! (or address: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing?eid=795265)
Tickets are capped at 100 people.
EVERY SINGLE dollar raised this year will go to Epilepsy Tasmania to support Tasmanians affected by epilepsy. Thank you to Fit n Kicking for their support and organisation of this fundraising event, once again.
Training Can Change Your Perspective
"I liked how Epilepsy Tasmanian presented this training. I learnt a lot of information without feeling I had been overloaded.
Before this session, I sometimes questioned whether my clients actually did have epilepsy, but I have now learned a few subtle signs I was never aware of that has made me rethink a lot of things and how I give input into a plan for my clients. I previously questioned what I could write on an Epilepsy Management Plan if they showed no obvious signs of epilepsy.
I will now reconsider what I thought was happening for other reasons and will observe more and record more. It was great training . Thank you."
Health Professional, Training Participant
A word from our newest staff member...
Peer Support and Volunteer Project Coordinator
Hi Everyone,
I am Amy Lewandowski and I am the new Peer Support and Volunteer Project Coordinator for Epilepsy Tasmania.
I was diagnosed with epilepsy over 15 years ago and have been lucky to gain a lot of assistance and support from Epilepsy Tasmania during this time, as well as giving back to them by undertaking Peer Support Training in 2017 and volunteering in this role and others since.
The majority of my career thus far has been in management roles at the University of Tasmania, with Project Management being a key part of this over the last 6 years. As such, I am very excited now to be working for a not-for-profit organisation that I am very passionate about, with the ability to transfer the skills and experience I have gained in previous roles into this.
I look forward to working with you all to shape, create and facilitate peer support groups in Tasmania in order to increase social engagement, information provision and personal, as well as skills development with a widely dispersed group of people living with epilepsy in order to improve and enrich your quality of life."
Thank You Thomas
Scotch Oakburn College student, Thomas Johnston, decided to collect old car and tractor batteries which he then sold to raise money to help Tasmanians with epilepsy.
It is so pleasing to notice the increasing number of motivated students, keen to improve the world we live in - and we are so very grateful when they set their efforts towards removing the stigma that surrounds epilepsy and raising funds to ensure the continued support of Tasmanians living with this condition. Thank you Thomas for your efforts and Scotch Oakburn for facilitating social and environmental stewardship.
Did you know there is now a QR code medical 'MyID' where you are in control of your online detailed Emergency an Medical information, including your photo, vital medical conditions, personal details, emergency contacts, allergies, medications, doctor and specialist details, and more.
Just enter and update any information you want – you are in charge of your own online records so there is no need to buy a new ID each time something changes. Choose from QR watch-sleeves, wristbands, phone pockets, stickers and ID cards.
“Every day is sort of a jigsaw puzzle. You have to make sure that you're putting the most important things first."
Julia Hartz
Epilepsy Tasmania is a not-for-profit community organisation improving the quality of life of Tasmanians with epilepsy, and those around them, through education, coordination and support.
