Group Support programs are carefully developed by our team and inspired by our unique environment
Some examples of our programs include:
Animal care
The Animal Care Program is primarily focused on the care, wellbeing and safety of all our fur friends across the farm. The main daily tasks are providing food, water and maintaining their environments in a clean, safe and hygienic state.
Some of our tasks include:
* Feeding the animals
* Emptying, scrubbing and refilling all ponds and water troughs across the farm.
* Cleaning, raking and clearing out enclosures, removing branches and safety hazards.
* Replenishing bedding straw in nesting and sleeping areas.
*Daily observations to check for any injuries or potential illness in the animals.
*Walking the Goats and visiting groups.
* Assist in herding the sheep.
* Collecting Eggs (eggs are then cleaned, dated and placed in kitchen)
*Collecting food scraps and feeding worm farms.
*Attending Fodder store to stock up food supplies.
*Collecting Fruit & Vegetables for the animals.
Each day spent interacting with the animals provides our participants with an opportunity to take on responsibility and develop confidence in providing care and attention. The animal care program is extremely flexible and can be adjusted to suit the unique needs and skill level of each group of participants, focusing on individual developmental goals. The animal care program is extremely popular and enjoyed by many participants.
GARDENING
Set in a unique environment, Windamere Park provides the perfect setting for our gardening program. The focus of our gardening program is to grow a variety of fruit and vegetables that our participants can actively take care of. We aim to grow enough produce to support our cooking groups and give some beautiful colour to the farm with a variety of seasonal flowers. There are several gardening projects happening around the farm including six veggie patches, a sensory garden, three working worm farms providing natural fertilizers, fruit trees and the trees for life program.
Daily tasks include:
*Watering plants, fruit and vegetables
*Picking fruit and vegetables
*Planting flowers, fruit and vegetables
*Maintaining the flora
*Weekly pesticide spraying
*Worm farm care
The gardening program encourages participants to support the flora life on the farm in our unique environment.
SWIMMING
Lead by our fully trained and accredited swimming teachers and lifeguard at local community swimming pools, our swimming program is an extremely rewarding experience for all participants
Through our swimming program participants learn:
*Breathing techniques
*Torpedoes
*Freestyle
*Backstroke
*Survival backstroke
*Floating on back
Through focusing on water safety and awareness our participants also learn:
*How to enter and exit into water safely
* How to know what water types are safe to enter such as rivers, lakes and the ocean
* How to use a PFD, the difference between a PFD and a life jacket, and their purpose
* How to keep safe if they ever get caught in a rip through whirlpool games
*How to sign for help in the water
Although our main focus is learning to swim and water safety, we always ensure that there is an element of games to keep learning fun.
ARTS AND CRAFTS
Arts and crafts is an ongoing program at Windamere Park that is dedicated to Barn area. The Barn area is fully equipped with a show and tell stage. There are a large variety of activities available to our participants which cater to their interests and hobbies.
Our arts and crafts activities include:
*Drawing
*Blow painting
*Clay painting
*Origami
*Candle making
*Tie dye
*Card making
*Knitting
*Designing jewellery
Our arts and crafts activities are often themed. During spring our participants take part in activities such as designing nature stamps using leaves and twigs collected from around the property. For special calendar events such as Easter, Anzac Day, Christmas, and other multicultural celebrations our participants will take part in themed activities. We are always looking for new ways to help our participants unleash their creativity
COOKING
Our cooking program is something we are very proud to offer at Windamere Park. Our participants are given the opportunity to build on their independent living skills through learning to cook in our fully equipped and functional kitchen. The recipes developed by our staff give our participants the opportunity to prepare and cook a range of different foods.
Through the cooking program our participants learn to:
*Safely prepare meals following hygiene standards
*Know what ingredients that go into different meals
*Go shopping for food within a budget
*Use cooking utensils and equipment
Our cooking program has a lot of variety, we regularly explore healthy cooking alternatives, campfire cooking and give our participants the opportunity to discuss what foods they would like to learn to cook.
VOCATIONAL
Windamere Park offers Pre-Vocational Training and Group Supports for participants with lower support needs. This training is aimed at furthering participants quality of life through work-based learning. Our training is offered within small groups of similarly skilled participants. Within these groups, we build on current life and work-based skills, catering to the individual needs of each participant wherever possible. We aim to assist each participant in growing their skill base and confidence. Together, we celebrate their pride in a job well done.
In the prevocational programs, participants are supported to develop their employability skills of:
*Self-management
*Learning, Technology
*Hand and Power Tools
*Safety in the workplace
*Communication
*Teamwork
*Problem Solving
*Initiative and Enterprise
These skills are learned through construction, horticulture, agriculture, and farm work units of work, in association with assisting of general maintenance on the farm.
other unique areas and activities at Windamere park include:
BIKESHED
Participants have access to bikes on a regular basis, including tricycles. Participants can enjoy cycles around the farm and learn some basic bike maintenance skills as well as basis road safety awareness.
WETLANDS
Our wetlands have a beautiful scenic view, giving our participants the opportunity to engage in a range of different activities such as birdwatching, fishing and yabbying. Participants are also able to assist in caring for the natural habitat of the Native Yellow Sedge Skipper Butterfly, this in an activity unique to Windamere Park. For more information please visit: How a long-lost butterfly fluttered back into Adelaide (environment.sa.gov.au)
WOODSHED
The woodshed is an area that gives our participants the opportunity to engage in their own woodwork projects as part of the pre-vocational program. Through taking part in activities over at the Woodshed our participants learn a number of skills including how to safely use woodwork tools and make furniture. This area is very popular amongst our participants, especially within our pre-vocational group
Day Visits
Individuals, groups and schools are welcome at Windamere Park. These short-term visits allow visitors/students the opportunity to participate in hands on activities while exploring the many areas within the property including our woodshed, chookshed, bikeshed, shadehouse and wetlands. A Windamere Park staff member will be assigned to support the school group and facilitate planned activities for the day.
If you would like to enquire, please do not hesitate to get in touch.