PakMag Cairns - August 2022 Issue 182

Parents and Kids Magazine

ISSUE: AUG 2022

182

CAIRNS

Focus On

EQUALITY & INCLUSION The Earth and our Solar System Cairns Festival Lift Out Guide How to Manage the Rising Cost of Living

FREE

100

Family-Friendly

EVENTS What’s On this August in Cairns Talking to Your Child About Race

BLENDED 5& DIVERSE Tips on Discussing

Families with Your Children

Perspective Taking for Social Development Learning Difficulties and How to Support Your Child

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Learn About Maternal Depletion

Welcome

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26 29 30 31 33 41 42 45 49

51 55 57 58 60

The Thing Is Check It Out Tips and Tricks to Manage the Rising Cost of Living The Importance of Perspective Taking for Social Development Steiner Education is Education for the Whole Child How to Talk to Children About Blended and Diverse Families St Michael’s School Welcomes Families to its New Playgroup How to Support and Advocate for Your Child with a Learning Difficulty STEAM: Earth and Our Solar System All Things Tweens and Teens Parent’s Puzzle Mini Mag Cairns Festival Pull-Out Guide Maternal Depletion Bump, Bub and Beyond All Things Health Understanding ADHD and Moving Forward After a Diagnosis Talking with Your Child About Race Play as a Tool to Enhance Child Development Daddy Diary Community Noticeboard What’s On

Hello and welcome to our August edition, which shines a light on the topic of equality and inclusion.

For this edition, I had the privilege to chat with Dr. Truglio, Sesame Street’s Senior Vice President for Curriculum and Content. She shared how we can talk thoughtfully about race with our children, and how to identify and respond to racism. We also spoke to many other experts around the globe to bring you and your family helpful and insightful topics to talk about, including tips for discussing diverse families with your children, and how to support and advocate for your child experiencing learning difficulties.

As we approach the second half of the year, a lot is happening festivalwise around FNQ, so make sure you check our website and our What’s On Guide to see all of the incredible things happening in our region.

We are also planning the rest of our 2023 content this month, so if you have ideas or topics that you would like us to cover, shoot them over to editorial@pakmag.com.au - we’d love to hear them.

The team and I hope you love this edition as much as we do and that you get lots out of it. If you want to share your voice, you can find out more about becoming a contributor at www.pakmag.com.au/communitycontributor Until next time, happy parenting, and don’t forget to tell everyone you read it in PakMag.

Bree p 4053 3331 e admin@m2f.com.au a PO Box 7433 Cairns Qld 4870 www.pakcairns.com.au • www.pakmag.com.au • www.m2f.com.au

Our Global Parenting Channels PakMag Founder and Editor-in-Chief Bree James Creative Team Leader, Designer and Editor Clare Winter Marketing and Events Coordinator Alyssa Marino Sales and Business Development Tracy Couper Videographer, Designer and Podcast Producer Monique Saggers Writer and Content Coordinator Lis Rooks Accounts and IT Support Trent Stievano

PakMag Online pakmag_national PakMag The Give It A Go Group For Parents PakMag TV The PakMag Parents Podcast

Our North Queensland Channels PakMag Cairns Parents of North Queensland pakmag_nq Parents and Kids of North Queensland

PakMag would like to acknowledge the First Nations people of the Yirrganydji, Djabugay, Buluwai, Yidinji, Gunggandji, Muluridji, Kuku Yalanji, Jirrbal, Wanyurr Majay, Ngadjon-ji (Choorechillum), Mamu, Djiru and Gulngay clans of Far North Queensland; the first storytellers and Traditional Custodians of all the lands on which we work, live and enjoy. We pay our respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging.

Disclaimer: No part of this magazine, including the advertisements within it may be reproduced, in part or in whole without the expressed permission of the editor.

Whilst the greatest of care is taken to ensure that the information in the magazine is correct at the time of going to press, readers are advised to check details before visiting. The publishers cannot accept responsibility for errors, inaccuracies or omissions. The ideas expressed within PakMag are not necessarily the views of the publishers, but those of individual writers. We have done our best to ensure all events and information was correct at the time of going to print. Please check with individual businesses and authorities.

Net distribution per issue: 10,000.

Please keep this issue for future reference, pass onto your friends and family, use for craft projects or place into the recycling bin.

families

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The Thing Is

The Thing Is with Bree James Whoever said “it gets easier as they get older” lied. It doesn’t get easier. It’s like playing a video game; you are just at a different level with more diverse challenges.

The thing is, the fun starts when your babies are little.

You have sleep deprivation and you worry about them as they can’t communicate with you, but you console yourself with the thought that it’ll get easier as they get older. Then, as the toddler years roll in, you discover that you’re still sleep deprived and you still worry.

Then, the school years start. You think, “I am going to get more sleep, I’ll get more done and life will be easier when they are at school”... But, now that I am more than a few years into the school journey, I doubt this more than ever.

As our kids get older, our life takes more of a backseat while we adjust to our kids having a larger agenda than our own.

I am trying hard to not use the word “overwhelming” to describe this business of raising children, but seriously, what’s expected of parents is immense. We are expected to work like we don’t have children, and raise children like we don’t have work. While I feel incredibly blessed that I can work around the ebbs and flows of my family’s needs (which sees me stretch like Elastigirl most days), I know many parents are in different situations and I can only imagine that the mental load is even more draining.

While we have a vast variety of choices and opportunities underpinned by the empowering narrative “I can do it all”, we eventually begin to feel troubled as the message morphs into “I should do it all and I am not doing enough”, leaving us feeling overwhelmed.

As women, we are socially conditioned to find value in giving and providing for others. But as we do more and more for others without giving back to ourselves, we become exhausted.

In today’s fast paced world, many women are so busy and experience such a high mental load that they can feel like robots catering to everyone’s needs, eventually losing touch with themselves. Sadly, many women juggle so many commitments that they often run on empty.

Living according to society’s value of ‘doing’ over ‘being’ has consequences. Activities like having a bath, getting dinner with friends, or getting your nails done certainly helps temporarily, but what we really need is time and space to work on our wellbeing. Though we know this, we tell ourselves that there is no way we will ever find the time because everyone needs us. We are forever managing “all the things”.

Add in a dose of illness through the household, and tasks pile up so high that life can take a month to get back on track.

So, with life’s demands not lessening, let’s remember what’s truly important. These family years are some of our best years. It’s so important we make time for fun, forget the mess and aren’t too hard on ourselves.

We are all doing our best, and sometimes we just need to lower the expectations of ourselves to realise that “I don’t need to do it all” and change the narrative to “I am doing enough”.

If you are looking for a way to find some space and clarity for yourself, I invite you to join me on my Vision Voyage Reset Retreat in June 2023.

Payment plans are available to make it affordable for everyone. This might just be the opportunity you need to reset your life and get back on track. Find out more at www.myvisionbook.com.au/my-vision-voyage

Bree www.breejames.com www.myvisionbook.com.au

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Entertainment

Check it Out CQU Cairns Open Day When: 14 August / 9.00am - 11.00am Where: CQUniversity Cairns More info: www.cqu.edu.au/events Come along and find out what CQUniversity has to offer at the CQU Cairns Open Day. Explore the campus, check out facilities, and hear about available courses directly from CQU’s friendly teaching staff. You’ll also be able to discuss scholarships, pathways, student support services and more. With the wide range of TAFE and university courses offered online and oncampus, CQU can help you find the study option that suits you most.

NQ Cowboys Resilience Project When: 10 August / 6.30pm Where: Cairns Convention Centre More info: www.cairnsconvention.com.au The North Queensland Toyota Cowboys have partnered with The Resilience Project to bring their exciting and engaging programs to North Queensland. Learn more about the principles of GEM (gratitude, empathy/ kindness, mindfulness) and how individuals and families can practise these in everyday life. These free, nonticketed events are open to anyone over 12.

Shrek Jr! The Musical When: 18 August / 10.00am / 1.00pm / 7.30pm Where: Cairns Performing Arts Centre / CPAC More info: www.cairns.qld.gov.au/CPAC Shrek Jr the Musical welcomes you to the big bright, beautiful world of everybody’s favourite ogre, Shrek. Brought to you by the talented students of St Mary's Catholic College, the musical is loaded with toe-tapping tunes, show-stopping dance routines and hilarious one liners. Shrek Jr the Musical transforms the popular animated feature film into a stage musical that is sure to entertain and make audiences believe in happy endings for all. Cost: $18.00 - $25.00 / Free for Companion Card holders.

Mr Perfect Free BBQ When: 21 August / 10.30am Where: Cairns Esplanade Sea Eagle BBQ More info: Mr Perfect Mr Perfect is a grassroots charity that brings men together at BBQs in local parks across Australia to create community and connection.

The format is simple, informal and wholly inclusive. It is a chance to get out of the house in the sun, have a feed, socialise and connect with great people. More than a BBQ, Mr Perfect also provides quality online resources to support and promote good men's mental health.

Cairns Festival When: 26 August - 4 September Where: Cairns, various locations More info: www.cairns.qld.gov.au/festival The Cairns Festival celebrates art, culture and Tropical North Queensland's beautiful lifestyle. Known as the most significant event on the Cairns calendar, the festival celebrates diversity through vibrant, progressive, and collaborative events, providing a platform to engage locals and visitors alike.

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Cairns Hinterland Steiner School Spring Fair When: 27 August / 10.00am Where: Cairns Hinterland Steiner School, Kuranda More info: www.chss.qld.edu.au Cairns Hinterland Steiner School opens its doors to the wider community twice a year with its Spring Fair in August and Open Day in May. Enjoy a day out with performances, entertainment, food and drink, music and more. Experience their school, community and way of educating the whole child. All are welcome. Contact the school for more information at admin@chss.qld.edu.au or 4093 8809.

Reef Light - Illuminate The Tropics When: 26 August - 4 September / 6.30pm Where: Cairns Esplanade / Eastern Events Lawn More info: www.cairns.qld.gov.au/festival In celebration of the Great Barrier Reef, the city of Cairns lights up with this magnificent and immersive sensory light experience. ‘Reef Light’ is a free virtual under-the-sea experience that allows guests to become immersed in a light journey that harnesses the magic of the reef and washes the city with a kaleidoscope of colour. Experience a recreation of the bioluminescence phenomenon as light softly glistens, be fully enveloped by reef-themed lighting effects, and walk beneath the dynamic, neon jellyfish garden.

In Transit When: 1 September / 6.30pm - 7.30pm Where: St Monica's Cathedral More info: FNQ Harp Connection American-born, Australian-based harpist Emily Granger effortlessly straddles the worlds of classical and popular music as she performs contemporary works that unearth the breadth and beauty of harp music from the two countries. With themes of travel and isolation, serenity and solitude, this concert paints a vivid portrait of the artist’s life in transit between opposite sides of the globe. Rich in imagination and overflowing with stories, this concert is a chance to observe Emily’s artistry like you’ve never heard it before. Cost: $15.00 - $30.00.

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Tips and Tricks to Manage the Rising Cost of Living STORY Lis Rooks We all know that raising kids is expensive, and with the rising cost of living, staying on top of your finances may feel even more challenging. While the changing economy and inflation challenge many, there are steps you can take to future-proof your bank balance and manage tougher times better.

With wages lagging behind the rising cost of living, many families experience a lower income threshold, requiring a different budgeting and financial planning approach. While government support can help, additional finance management options can improve a family’s financial position and alleviate anxiety and worries about the future.

Although planning and managing family finances may sound tedious, keeping an open mind can make the process more enjoyable and help you develop innovative and creative solutions. Including teenagers and other family members in the planning process can also help motivate and teach young people essential life skills.

Cover the Basics of Budgeting Anyone familiar with budgeting knows that keeping track of your expenses will give you insight into what you spend, and help you identify essential and non-essential outgoings. Luckily, there are many

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ways to approach expense tracking, and not all of them include trawling through your bank statements.

You can use smart money apps linked to online banking, easy-to-use third-party mobile apps, or approach it manually with Excel spreadsheets.

Remember that tracking your expenses isn’t as dull as it sounds; you might be surprised to see where your money is going!

One often overlooked pitfall is recurring subscriptions managed by PayPal. You may have signed up for free trials that automatically switched to paid subscription plans after expiration. You can check these by logging into your PayPal account and cancelling any recurring payments you no longer need or could do without.

Families with more than one child may also want to consider novelty expenses such as online gaming purchases, after-school shopping sprees with friends,

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tuckshop expenses, and other non-essential costs.

Setting aside a set amount per week or fortnight can teach your teen budgeting skills and help you restrain expenses to a reasonable amount.

Lastly, if there is any extra income after essential expenses, think about what you most want to spend that money on.

Hot tip: Instead of spending hard-earned dollars on streaming services, join your local library and access Kanopy for free, which lets you stream up to 20 free movies per month!

Know the System and Make it Work for You Knowing your entitlements and taking advantage of them means extra money in the bank, so don't be shy to ask questions and explore your options. Becoming financially savvy can help you discover new ways to reduce costs and keep more of your income, allowing you to work smarter not harder.

Some of your expenses may be tax deductible, so speak to your tax agent or accountant. Remember to do this annually as government entitlements and tax deductions often change. Compare insurances and utility providers, make the switch, and cancel services you no longer require. Aside from this, there are options such as trust funds, superannuation contributions, salary packaging, living away from home allowances, scholarships for students and much more. For someone unfamiliar with these options, navigating what works best can be incredibly confusing and overwhelming. So, instead of spending endless hours researching online, connect with a reputable financial advisor or accountant who you can trust, and talk to friends and family about ideas and options.

Planning for the Future At some stage in life, most people worry about their future, especially when it comes to financial security.

As part of a personal financial plan, you might want to consider some of the following products to give yourself and your family extra protection: • Life Insurance • A will that is specifically structured to meet the needs of your family • Income, trauma, or serious illness insurance policies • Savings plans to achieve long-term goals

Be Creative and Stay Positive While financial pressures can plunge us into an anxious state of mind, being creative with budgeting will help you feel more at ease, and teach your young ones valuable life skills.

Aside from the options discussed above, there are seven creative ways to reduce the cost of living and increase your cash flow:

1. Community Exchange Systems (CES) and Local Energy Trading Systems (LETS).

2. Offering cash-in-hand services within your local community.

3. Preventing impulse purchases by buying groceries online or from small local shops and sticking to a meal plan.

4. Switching to less expensive mobile phone and broadband providers.

5. Rethinking your commute by carpooling, biking or working from home if that option is available to you.

6. Incorporating free self-care practices such as tenminute meditations or a walk in the park to curb any online shopping addictions.

7. Sharing childminding with friends and family instead of paying high vacation care or after school care fees.

Always remember that by approaching budgeting with a goal-focused mindset, you can learn to feel less stressed and anxious about covering unexpected or significant costs. Having a plan B in place can also be a huge relief.

While this is easier said than done, taking time out can help calm your mind and regain the strength to approach your finances from an objective perspective.

Setting aside quiet time to plan and review is especially important for parents and carers of children with complex needs, as this allows you to concentrate and take your personal wants and needs into consideration too. Various local not-for-profit agencies and NDIS service providers offer professional respite care services, giving you the space to breathe and focus while knowing your child’s needs are fully met.

As you become more comfortable with tracking and learning about your finances, you might feel more relieved knowing your family’s needs will be met, which boosts your mental health, interpersonal relationships and overall well-being too.

4 More Money Saving Ideas 1. Cut down on your electricity bill by checking if there is a better electricity tariff for you and your family. You could also hang the laundry out to dry, rather than using the dryer - good for the planet and your pocket!

2. Cut down on food waste by getting creative with your food scraps. You can pickle watermelon rinds, make your own stock, use up stale bread by making bread pudding, bread crumbs or croutons... the list goes on!

3. Check out free reward programs like ShopBack, where you can get a percentage of cash back from

eligible purchases. Stores that are currently participating with ShopBack include Target, Big W, Uber Eats and more. Be mindful to only purchase the things that you would already be buying and don’t get sucked into buying more than you otherwise would. To get $5.00 when you join, use the referral code 0kE47b. www.shopback.com.au

4. Use the 30 day rule for any non-essential purchases.

Instead of buying that item on the spot, take 30 days to think about it. This helps curb any impulse purchases you might later regret.

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Parenting

The Importance of PerspectiveTaking for Social Development STORY Simone Cook, Guidance Counsellor, Catholic Education As parents, we may aim for a life of ease and tranquillity for our children, but the reality is that there will always be challenges along the way.

The secret is to empower young people so they can navigate their way through challenges while interacting positively, responding appropriately, and building resilience as each difficulty arises. To do this, various skills are required, including the ability to consider our own perspective as well as the perspective of others.

What is Perspective-Taking?

Perspective-taking skills help to develop social awareness as they assist us in thinking critically about social situations and relationships. Essentially, these skills give us the capacity to look beyond our own point of view and consider how someone else may think or feel.

Why is Perspective-Taking Important?

When children lack good perspective-taking skills, they may appear inconsiderate or rude and are often viewed as children with behavioural problems. They often make decisions according to their wants and needs, disregarding what is best for anyone else. This can make it difficult for them to maintain friendships or be a team member.

Young children are by nature egocentric and must first see the world from their own point of view to develop self-awareness. However, in line with their cognitive development, specific experiences and activities can help children develop better perspectivetaking skills.

Pre-school Perspective-Taking Skills Children are never too young to learn perspectivetaking skills. As parents, we can start by teaching our children about emotions.

• Label your emotions. Model talking about emotions and ways to make yourself feel better.

• Notice the emotions of others. If another child is upset, name the feelings and identify how you know the child is upset. Cues might include identifying the other child’s facial expressions, the sound of their voice, their body language, etc. Talk about why the child would feel that way and ask about ways to help make the child feel better.

• Use story time to discuss the emotions of story characters. Ask questions about the characters: How do you know they are angry? Why does the character feel that way?

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Parenting

Perspective-Taking Skills in Junior School During the early school years, children begin to connect thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. As time passes, your child will begin to understand how others think and feel by observing how others behave.

You can help your child understand and interpret the thoughts, feelings and behaviours of others by engaging in the following activities: • Notice when others display strong reactions and discuss these with your child. Why might the other person be behaving that way? How was he or she feeling in that situation?

• Ask your child to consider the situation witnessed from their perspective. How would you have responded? Would you have behaved like that?

This conversation helps your child identify the emotions, make links to the behaviour, and connect with how the other child felt.

• Similarly, you may use characters in stories to discuss why characters felt or acted in a certain way. Stories with multiple characters may also help your child see differences in perspectives, especially as situations, feelings and behaviours of individual characters can be interpreted differently.

• Talk to your child about body language and facial expressions to assist with interpreting feelings.

Discuss sarcasm and the ‘true meaning’ behind this form of communication.

Middle School Perspective-Taking Skills During this time, children begin to focus more on developing their friendships. They are beginning to realise that their friends’ perspectives differ, and they are trying to navigate the reasons why they are thinking, feeling, and behaving in a certain way.

The motives at this point become more complex as children see that the reasons for their friends’ choices vary. Open communication with your child is essential to help them navigate these more complex situations.

• Model being fair when dealing with conflicts and openly consider alternative points of view from all involved.

• Ask your child about their friendships. Listen to the difficulties the challenges they encounter in their friendship groups and the dynamics of those relationships.

• Discuss the motives behind certain decisions or behaviours by asking ‘why do you think they made that choice?’ or ‘why do you think that happened?’

• If your child is confused about a decision, discuss the positives and negatives of that decision. This teaches your child to make well-considered choices. Reflect on the idea that choices are different for everyone depending on the individual. Reinforce the idea that it is okay to make a different choice than a friend and discuss the possible impact this can have on others.

• Model and encourage the use of ‘I statements’ “I feel ___________ when you ___________, could you please _____________?” to ensure their feelings are being communicated effectively. This assists with understanding and helps others consider how another is feeling.

High School Perspective-Taking Skills As relationships become more complex during this developmental stage, young people begin to realise that a range of factors, including family values, cultural beliefs, their environment, etc. influence people’s decision-making and behaviours. During this stage, our discussions on perspective-taking need to widen so that young people can learn to make cause-andeffect connections.

• Talk openly about differences among people and the possible reasons for their perspectives.

These reasons can include their cultural background, family situation, experiences, etc.

• Share stories about people’s and families experiences, including stories of adversities and challenges.

• Avoid generalised statements that are racist, sexist or derogatory and instead foster tolerance and curiosity to understand differences.

• Discuss historical examples where a different perspective or change in attitude and thinking was required to move forward as a society.

These examples may come from a unit of study in History or Literature at school.

• Providing some social scripts may be helpful: “I can see what you mean” “I understand where you are coming from” “I hear what you are saying” “I respectfully disagree because...”

As a community, our hope for children is to develop mutually respectful relationships, so that we can work together, collaborate, communicate and problem solve effectively. This can only occur if we are mindful of the connections between our thoughts, feelings and behaviours, and are considerate of the differing perspectives of others.

Simone is an experienced educator, counsellor and mother of three who has worked for 30 years in both primary and secondary schools. Simone has a Bachelor of Education majoring in Health and Physical Education and a Masters in Guidance and Counselling and has held various positions in North Queensland schools advocating for the health and wellbeing of all students. Simone currently works as a Guidance Counsellor at Ryan Catholic College.

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Advertorial

Steiner Education is Education for the Whole Child Steiner education focuses on finding the pathway to the healthiest possible development of the whole child; academically, physically, aesthetically and socioemotionally.

“Australia’s current education system predominantly conforms to a set curriculum. The narrow focus makes little allowance for children’s individual learning styles,” explains Ms Kristin Doyle, Acting Principal of Cairns Hinterland Steiner School.

At Cairns Hinterland Steiner School, children do not commence their formal literacy and numeracy lessons until the second year of primary school (Year 1). However, oral literacy and numeracy is fundamental to the Kindergarten curriculum, providing a strong foundation.

“Children need to be allowed to be children; protecting childhood leads to the development of healthy adults,” said Ms Kristin Doyle. “Our experience, and what is evidenced across Steiner education, is that a slower start results in higher levels of academic achievement and wellbeing in later years.”

A recently completed study of Steiner/Waldorf graduates in Australia and New Zealand provided evidence of the academic rigour of Steiner education with nearly half (49%) of the Steiner graduates holding a Bachelor degree, while the national average is 31%.

A greater proportion also hold post graduate degrees.

“Popular career choices amongst Steiner graduates are in the Arts and Humanities, Health, Welfare, and Education. These are young people who care about others and who want to contribute to society,” explains Mrs Sharonika Camplin, Board Chair of the Cairns Hinterland Steiner School.

As part of the research, graduates were also asked what they valued about their Steiner education.

A common theme was the vibrant community life of their Steiner schools and the seasonal festival celebrations.

“Our community is central to our school, and the jewel in the crown event is our August Spring Fair.

It’s a day spent together with students performing for their families, food and drinks, and stalls and games,” says Mrs Camplin. “The opening highlight is dancing around the maypole which is not to be missed.

Covid-19 restrictions previously meant we had to restrict our past events to families, but this year we warmly welcome the wider community to attend and experience a wholesome day out in a beautiful setting.”

Cairns Hinterland Steiner School opens its doors to the wider community twice a year with its Open Day in May and again for the Spring Fair in August. Come and experience our school, our community, and our way of educating the whole child on Saturday 27 August from 10am! All are welcome. Contact the school for more information admin@chss.qld.edu.au or 4093 8809.

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Parenting

Five Tips on How to Talk to Children About Blended and Diverse Families STORY Jennie Guay, Author According to the 2016 census by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, at least one in ten Australian families are children who live with a single parent, a nonbiological parent, a step-parent, step or half-siblings, or grandparents. This figure continues to rise as we live in a world where blended and diverse families are becoming more common.

Thankfully, the conversation we are having as a society has slowly been shifting towards accepting that there is no “family norm”. However, as parents we have a role to play to ensure that this trend continues. It is important for children to understand that every family, be it blended, diverse or LGBTQIA+, is valid. Divorced, remarried, shared children, blended... regardless of race, creed or sexual orientation, the family norm is varied – and every family is mainstream and unique.

As parents and carers, we should not shy away from having the hard conversations about diversity and inclusion with our children just because it feels challenging. It’s necessary to realise that usually it is us that are uncomfortable, not our children.

They see and hear everything, and in many cases they can recognise that their family may look different to their friends’, or that their skin colour is different to some of their classmates.

Teaching our children love, acceptance and inclusion should never be hard conversations. Here are five tips on how to have these conversations.

1. Self Reflection is a Crucial First Step Your children are always watching what you do.

They see how you handle stress, how you treat other people and how you deal with your feelings – they soak it all in like little sponges.

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Parenting

Before you start having conversations with your children, consider how you have behaved in front of them and ask yourself the following questions: • How am I talking to my kids about our own blended family or blended families we know?

• Have I asked them what they understand of our family?

• Do I undermine my ex, family members or in-laws to our kids?

Avoid shutting down a conversation and don’t lie or ignore questions. It is important for children to feel encouraged to have open conversations with you about families and their uniqueness. Afterwards, always reflect back on your conversation and think about any improvements for next time.

If you feel that you might struggle, it is always helpful to source age-appropriate books or TV shows that explain family dynamics in a fun, less intrusive way.

• Do I purposely try to alienate my childrens’ step parents to serve myself?

4. Tell a Story Through Your Own Family Tree

• Am I being a healthy co-parent or am I creating a divide which negatively impacts my kids?

A rainbow would never be as beautiful if it was all one colour. It’s the different colours that come together that make it so beautiful. The same is true for families and friends.

• How am I currently talking to my kids about diversity in families?

• Am I educating my children on the various ways you can have a family?

• Am I talking to my kids about racial diversity, differently abled children and LGBTQIA+ people?

• Have I equipped my children to engage with their peers in a comfortable, healthy and respectful way?

2. Love is the Common Language To help our children understand family diversity positively, we can use love as an anchor in our communication. Help our children understand that all families may look different, but the love they share is the same.

The foundation of a healthy family unit is unconditional love and that can come in different shapes and sizes.

Every family should be proud of their own unique values as well as understand, respect and accept other families uniqueness.

Whether it’s “natural conception” with a man and woman, or through artificial insemination, egg and sperm donation, adoption, or surrogacy etc, a family is a family. Talk through your family values with your children and give them an understanding of diversity and inclusion. Always remind kids that no family is different, they are all unique and the love we feel for our families is the same.

3. Be Mentally Prepared for Open Conversations Kids are inquisitive and will ask questions, so make sure you answer them in an honest and age-appropriate manner. You might not always have a chance to plan ahead for these conversations as they can happen unexpectedly. So, take some time to mentally prepare yourself, it will help you feel confident about addressing these topics.

It is important for our children to understand that some kids they come across might look different to one or all of their parents. It is important to explain to kids that skin colour and physical “sameness” does not equate to family.

Talk openly and positively about different cultures, communities, and traditions of family and friends.

Do your research and clue up on your family heritage, then share it with your children. You’ll be surprised at how much interest they show once they see it’s something you are passionate about. This will also help instil a sense of pride in their own background, as well as respect for others.

5. Let Your Children Decide on Your Title We hold on to the titles of “mum” and “dad” so tightly, especially if children are biologically ours. We need to let go of possessing the titles. In instances where there is a toxic parent or parental alienation happening, it can be extremely damaging to a child and develop further into adulthood trauma.

It’s time to change your mindset. Parents are parents.

Whether they are biological, step, adoptive, or otherwise. Forcing children to decipher between them, using first names or differing titles, is not necessarily what’s best for them.

When it comes to step parents and non-biological parents, let your child decide. Children are much more in tune with what feels natural to them then we give them credit for. They will thank you later for not forcing them or choosing for them.

At the end of the day, we are all just parents who want our kids to feel loved and safe.

No one parent is more vital to the child than the other.

Jennie Guay is a first-time author. Formally a career woman working in Financial Services, Jennie made the decision to leave the city and move to the country to support her step-children and write the Howie Blend Playdate Adventures with Family and Friends series. Howie welcomes children to join in his everyday playdates with each of his five friends; validating ALL family dynamics and experiences and providing a mirror for millions of children who cannot currently see themselves in their everyday reading and play. Currently available on Amazon, Booktopia, Kindle and Kobo.

18 August 2022 | www.pakmag.com.au

Advertorial

St Michael’s School Welcomes Families to its New Playgroup St Michael’s has started a community playgroup at the school site to help young families meet and forge connections. This regular meeting runs Tuesday mornings in the school hall from 9.00am to 11.00am and is suitable for children aged 0-5 years.

The Playgroup Coordinator, Chandell Van Rees, is an experienced School Officer who works with teachers and students at St Michael’s school and also runs the school tuck shop.

Parents are invited to stay for a chat and a cuppa while their children enjoy the various activities on offer, including sandpit play, experimenting with music, messy play, painting, playdough, construction, art and craft activities, threading, dress-ups and more.

Occasionally, families also have the opportunity to meet with the older St Michael’s students, who sometimes pop in to read stories. This term, our Playgroup families will also be treated to a special “circus” show put on by our Prep students.

As a free community service, St Michael’s Playgroup provides a safe and welcoming space where children and babies can learn and develop through play with the support of their parents or carers, and it is open to all families. Playgroup is a significant part of early childhood education as it focuses on play as an

important aspect of early learning and encourages the critical family bonds needed in childhood development.

For families joining the playgroup, the benefits are many and varied. Playgroups are places where lifelong friendships develop and parents and carers support each other by sharing the triumphs and challenges of raising a family within a welcoming, supportive environment.

Other benefits of playgroup are: • You and your child can enjoy a variety of play-based learning experiences that foster children’s social, emotional, physical and cognitive development.

• There is an explicit focus on nurturing the parent-child bond and increasing parent confidence.

• Playgroup is a place where both adults and children can experience meaningful social interaction.

• Community connections with peers and local support networks are strengthened.

• Parents feel empowered in being their child’s first teacher.

• Your child is prepared for the transition to kindergarten or the first year of schooling.

We would love you to come and join us for a fun, social morning every Tuesday from 9.00am - 11.00am (term time) at St Michael’s School Hall, Muir Street, Gordonvale.

www.pakmag.com.au | August 2022 21

Education

How to Support and Advocate for Your Child with a Learning Difficulty STORY Morgan Lund, Inclusive Education Coordinator, Catholic Education Schools in Australia aspire to promote equity and excellence so all young Australians can become successful learners, confident and creative individuals, and active and informed citizens. As parents, there is great excitement, hope and a degree of trepidation that our child’s schooling will result in this aspiration.

But what if your child encounters learning difficulties?

Many parents or carers notice that their child is struggling at school but are unsure about the steps they should take or how best to support their child.

Learning difficulties is a term used to describe a wide variety of learning problems. They can be caused by external factors such as experiences, opportunities, family, communities, or internal factors such as medical, physical and neurological. It’s important to remember though that this is an umbrella term and learning difficulties present differently from one child to another.

How Can You Help?

Keep things in perspective. Learning difficulties are not the defining characteristic of your child and everyone faces challenges. It will be important to highlight their

many strengths and unique gifts. Nurture your child’s gifts and talents, and make plenty of time for them.

Discuss the learning difficulties openly. Speak with your child’s teacher to understand the concerns. See your GP and consider referrals to other health professionals and specialists who may be able to better assist e.g. a paediatrician, psychologist, speech pathologist, audiologist etc.

Reflect on your own view of disability and difference.

A medical model of disability views the problem being within the individual, focusing on what’s “wrong” rather than what the individual needs. A social model of disability sees the barriers as being within the environment and how these disable individuals.

This view assists us to identify barriers and proactively address them, so individuals have more independence, choice and control.

Foster resilience towards challenges. Model how to approach learning challenges with optimism, hard work and a sense of humour. Your child will follow your lead and see challenges as speed bumps instead of roadblocks.

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Education

Trust you are an expert for your child. There may be many experts - teachers, therapists, doctors etc, weighing in on the learning difficulties observed.

Learn from these people but also don’t lose sight of your unique parent perspective. The insights of parents on their child’s learning, individual interests, strengths and personalities are invaluable in planning for adjustments in the classroom and school.

Learn about policies, standards and legislation regarding inclusive education. It helps to know your rights. Seek out experienced advocates or parent advocacy groups to assist with developing your knowledge and advocacy skills.

Take care of yourself. This is a challenging part of parenting and it’s easy to get caught up in what your child needs. However looking after yourself is important to avoid burning out from neglecting your own needs.

Tending to your emotional and physical needs means you can be in a healthy place to help and support your child.

How to Advocate for Your Child with Their School Establish a good relationship with the teacher. Speak enthusiastically and acknowledge the positives of what is happening for your child at school. Be respectful about booking meeting times by asking how (i.e. phone, email, video-conference or face to face) and when (i.e. before or after school) they prefer to communicate.

are being supported. Your child may be progressing with adjustments in the classroom instruction or there may be more targeted and intensive instruction or intervention being planned. Ask questions and engage in proactive conversations to understand the support available in the classroom and within the school.

Make generous assumptions about teachers and school staff. Schools are complex systems that are constantly changing. School staff are there to help all students be successful and are doing their best.

Sometimes this means letting little issues go. Don’t get caught up in micromanaging the school.

Nine Tips for Effective School Meetings 1. Know who will be in attendance and their role and purpose for being there.

2. Ask for a proposed agenda or the goal of the meeting, to support staying focused on this.

3. Bring an associate or support person with you to the meeting if you need this.

4. Present a calm, friendly and confident demeanour.

Acknowledge positives and find opportunities to praise the teacher and the school.

5. Avoid language indicating blame (i.e. instead of “you” use “I” and “we”).

6. Focus on solutions and next steps. Being

Commit to collaboration. Collaboration means working with others to pursue a common goal, such as ensuring your child’s learning difficulties are understood, supported, progressed and monitored over time. There are benefits to bringing together a group of people on a regular basis who can work collaboratively to support a student. Teachers are required to consult with parents prior to providing adjustments in the classroom and families can invite associates to engage in collaboration.

collaborative about problem solving rather than expecting your solutions are the only options.

Clarify the plan or steps forward. Communicate openly and ask how your child’s learning difficulties

9. Summarise what you understood as the plan or

7. Prepare for uncomfortable conversation topics with scripted answers.

8. Be curious rather than defensive in the face of a proposal you disagree with. Ask questions and seek to understand. Remain calm and if needed ask the topic be revisited at another time. decisions moving forward. Emailing notes or the summary of outcomes/actions after the meeting can assist with record keeping.

Morgan Lund is the Inclusive Education Coordinator for the Townsville Catholic Education Office. She combines her clinical knowledge and experience as a Speech Pathologist working in education, with a passion for advancing inclusive education. Inclusive education means all students attending their local school in age appropriate classes, and are supported to learn, contribute and participate in all aspects of the life of the school. Inclusive education is the means of acknowledging all students' fundamental human right to education, providing high quality education for all students and achieving a more inclusive society.

24 August 2022 | www.pakmag.com.au

STEAM

Earth and Our Solar System STORY Sasha Rozhkova Space is vast and ever growing, and its peculiarity continues to fuel the field of Astronomy. Astronomy delves into the world of all extraterrestrial objects, space and the physical universe as a whole - a pretty big task. This month, we’re taking a look at our solar system and exploring what makes life on Earth possible.

Located in an outer spiral arm of the Milky Way galaxy, our solar system consists of our star - the Sun, and everything orbiting around it. This includes the planets Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune; dwarf planets such as Pluto; dozens of moons; and millions of asteroids, comets and meteoroids.

break down ozone molecules in the upper atmosphere, which has resulted in an ozone hole over Antarctica and much of New Zealand. As a result, UV exposure and rate of sunburn is much higher there.

What Makes Earth Suitable for Life?

Water is essential for life, which is why so much of our interplanetary travel and research focuses on the search for fresh water.

Distance of the Earth from the Sun The distance of the Earth from the Sun creates perfect conditions with the ideal amount of heat and light to allow life to be created and supported.

Light on the Earth Earth is the only planet that uses the Sun’s light as a source of energy. Life on earth has evolved to harness sunlight via photosynthesis, which as a by-product, releases oxygen.

The Earth’s Atmosphere Our atmosphere consists of the exosphere, thermosphere, mesosphere, stratosphere and troposphere. The air content and atmospheric pressure also promote life. Compared to other planets, our atmosphere has less carbon dioxide than planets like Venus and Mars, which in turn helps moderate the Earth's temperature.

The Ozone Layer The Ozone layer is a part of Earth's atmosphere situated in the stratosphere. It protects life on Earth from harmful effects of shorter wavelength and ultraviolet radiation (UVR) from the sun. Gases like chlorofluorocarbons in spray cans and refrigerants

26 August 2022 | www.pakmag.com.au

Water

The Earth's Gravitational Pull The Sun's gravitational pull keeps our planet orbiting the Sun, and Earth itself in shape and form. The force of gravity doesn’t just keep us anchored to the ground, but also affects our biological system and development.

Plants even use gravity to determine which way to grow (gravitropism).

Favourable Climatic Conditions Our climate allows for life to flourish, and is the result of all the above factors working synergistically and cohesively. So, it’s safe to say that after a few billion years everything came together just right.

Memorise the Planets My - Mercury Very - Venus Eager - Earth Mother - Mars Just - Jupiter Served - Saturn Us - Uranus Nine - Neptune Pizzas - Pluto

Did You Know?

• There are more stars in the universe than grains of sand on all the beaches on Earth. That’s at least a billion trillion!

• Black holes are created when big stars explode.

• The universe has no centre and is constantly expanding.

• The moon is the reason why we have tides and waves on Earth. Along with the sun, it moves billions of tonnes of water each day.

• Many of the atoms you're made of, from the calcium in your bones to the iron in your blood, were brewed up in the heart of an exploding star billions of years ago.

• The sun makes up 99.86% of the mass of the solar system. It's so big that you could squeeze 1.3 million Earths inside of it.

• The universe began with the Big Bang, and is estimated to be approximately 13.7 billion years old, plus or minus 130 million years.

Helpful Resources solarsystem.nasa.gov - This website is NASA's real-time science encyclopedia of deep space exploration.

NASA’s scientists and hardworking robots are exploring the wild frontiers of our solar system, and bring as much information to you as possible to learn, explore and understand the vast universe. www.natgeokids.com - National Geographic Kids is a fantastic interactive platform to discover facts about animals, science, history and geography, along with fun competitions, games and more. www.space.com - On space.com, you can find the latest news about space exploration, innovation and astronomy.

Here, we celebrate humanity's ongoing expansion across the final frontier. www.esa.int/kids - ESA Kids features space news, information, animations and downloads for kids aged between 6 and 12, making space more accessible for kids.

All Things Tweens and Teens

All Things Tweens & Teens Sexting Talking with your children about the possible consequences of sending or sharing intimate or sexually explicit messages, images, photos or videos is very important. Your support and guidance can help them understand risks and actions to take if things go wrong.

While you may be familiar with the term “sexting”, young people commonly refer to explicit messages as “sending nudes” or “dick pics”. In a 2017 eSafety survey, nine out of ten young people aged 14 to 17 thought sexting happened among their peers as a kind of courtship behaviour.

A young person who asks for, accesses, possesses, creates or shares sexualised images of someone under 18 may be at risk of criminal charges, even if both parties consented. In some circumstances, being found guilty of these offenses can result in a criminal record and registration as a sex offender. For our children’s safety and their future, it’s therefore essential we educate them not only about the things that can go wrong but also about the long-term legal consequences.

Bookclub: A Teen’s Guide to the 5 Love Languages #1 New York Times bestselling book The 5 Love Languages® has sold over 20 million copies, helping countless relationships thrive. Simply put, it works. Learning about the five love languages is a great tool to help teens with their relationships with parents, siblings, friends, teachers, coaches and significant others.

A Teen’s Guide to the 5 Love Languages®, the first-ever edition written just for teens, guides emerging adults in discovering and understanding their own love languages as well as how to best express love to others. It covers what it means to be a great friend, the best ways to get on with the opposite sex, what communicates love to my family and lots more. For more information head to www.5lovelanguages.com

WIN a Wireless Gaming Headset from Logitech $199.95 - www.logitechg.com Play games, play music, and play with friends. G435 Gaming Headset connects to your PC, phone and other devices through gaming-grade LIGHTSPEED wireless and Bluetooth®. It delivers powerful and clean sound while beamforming mics reduce background noise. G435 comes in three distinct colorways. Pick the one that matches your style or add all three to your rotation.

Head to www.pakmag.com.au/win for your chance to WIN!

www.pakmag.com.au | August 2022 29

Adult Colouring

WIN a Paint’n’Sip Art Kit and Class for Two Valued at $150!

Join Mrs Red’s online Paint’n’Sip class, using all the art supplies included in the Wine and Untangle Art Cart. You will receive a pad of watercolour paper, watercolour disc paints, brushes and drawing pens for two people. You can join whichever month you wish and can attend one or all of the classes that month. No experience necessary as Mrs Red will send you the template of that month’s theme, demonstrate how to use watercolour and give you plenty of doodling inspiration to get you on your way. Warning: This class is highly addictive! www.mrsreds.com.au Visit www.pakmag.com.au/win for your chance to win! Competition closes 31/08/2022.

No need to submit answers to enter.

30 August 2022 | www.pakmag.com.au

Find these 10 objects in the museum

Lift-out kids activity mag!

Help the din osaur find their way to their egg

Colour in the picture

WIN a Copy of The Floor is Lava! $16.59 - www.goliathgames.com It's The Original The Floor is Lava! game where players must imagine the floor is molten hot lava while spinning the colour wheel to jump to the right foam pieces to reach safety. This family game promotes physical activity, an active imagination, and is engaging excitement for kids and adults.

Visit www.pakmag.com.au/win for your chance to win! Competition closes 31/08/2022. No need to submit activities to enter.

Colour me in

WIN Children’s Colouring Books by Golden Earth Publishing $9.99ea - www.jomartin.com These beautiful, creative colouring books are for children of all ages and the young at heart. Each page will engage your child, promote creativity and encourage imaginative play.

Colour as a family, use as a homeschool resource (add your own headings, practice writing stories to go along with the pictures etc) or simply colour in for fun!

Visit www.pakmag.com.au/win for your chance to win! Competition closes 31/08/2022.

No need to submit activities to enter.

Help lead the Mummy bear to the baby bear by completing the sums and following the icebergs from 1 to 10.

Count how many of each critter there are in the picture to the left, and write the answers above

WIN a NexCube! $9.00 - www.goliathgames.com Are you ready to try your hand at beating the World Record for the fastest cube puzzle completion?

NexCube offers unparalleled, ergonomic sliding action with adjustable elasticity designed to fit any cuber's personal style. With a flick of the wrist, users can customise flexibility to meet the needs of even the most adept speedcuber.

Visit www.pakmag.com.au/win for your chance to win! Competition closes 31/08/2022. No need to submit activities to enter.

Bump, Bub and Beyond

Maternal Depletion STORY Erica Komisar, psychoanalyst, parenting coach and author Maternal depletion syndrome has most commonly been used to explain the poor health and suffering of mothers who have recently given birth in developing countries. However, in recent years the definition of maternal depletion has expanded to include mothers anywhere in the world. In today’s society, mothers are often overwhelmed with work, social and family responsibilities. Maternal depletion symptoms in busy mothers include fatigue, inability to enjoy things which formerly provided pleasure, sleep challenges, emotional volatility or mood inconstancy. Mothers experiencing maternal depletion may also have changes in eating habits, experience physical or emotional breakdowns, and frequently get sick or feel run-down.

The difference between maternal depletion and postpartum depression is that maternal depletion can begin to happen at any point to a mother who is exhausted by caring for young children. In contrast, postpartum depression is a biological result of giving birth and occurring most commonly 1 to 3 weeks after having a baby.

As a psychoanalyst and parenting coach, I often tell mothers that they can have it all in life, but not always at the same time. For mothers who are experiencing maternal depletion, it is important that they begin to see themselves and their own health as a priority. To do this, they might need to step back from certain

social and work responsibilities to care for themselves and their children. As modern mothers, we want to be able to have it all, but taking care of our health should take precedence over job opportunities and social obligations. We can still get everything we want in life, but sometimes waiting or temporarily deprioritising can be the right decision for us and our families.

I would also encourage mothers to seek professional support. Qualified therapists can be incredibly helpful in teaching coping skills and developing balance and healthier mindsets. When appropriate, fathers or partners can attend these sessions too, to further discuss how to support the mother and assist in managing the household in ways that are healthy for all family members. Fathers or partners can also try to ensure that mothers are focused on their own wellbeing by getting adequate rest and nourishing her body with nutritious foods.

Being a parent is difficult, and as a society we need to acknowledge what a strong toll it can take on mothers. By being aware of what maternal depletion syndrome entails, knowing when to take a step back from other responsibilities, seeking professional help, and garnering the support of a partner, close friend, or family members, mothers can overcome maternal depletion syndrome and enhance the wellbeing of both themselves and their families.

Erica Komisar, LCSW is a psychoanalyst, parent guidance expert and author of Being There: Why Prioritising Motherhood in the First Three Years Matters and Chicken Little the Sky Isn’t Falling: Raising Resilient Adolescents in the New Age of Anxiety.

Tune into Episode 136 of the PakMag Parents Podcast at www.pakmag.com.au/podcast to hear from Erica about why prioritising motherhood in the first three years matters.

www.pakmag.com.au | August 2022 41

Bump, Bub and Beyond

Bump, Bub and Beyond Featured products, reviews and prizes. Visit www.pakmag.com.au/win for your chance to win!

My Sleepy Sloth from VTECH $44.95 - www.kmart.com.au It’s time to snooze with My Sleepy Sloth. This adorable sloth soothes your baby with its glowing night light, snoozing head motion, melodies, songs, gentle sounds, loving phrases and bedtime story lullabies. Soft fabrics allow for tactile stimulation and sensory discovery. Sloth’s light up heart button triggers responses and acts as a nightlight with up to 45 minutes of sounds and melodies. The leaf button can pause and play music responses. Includes three songs, five bedtime story lullabies and 25 melodies.

OK&CO. Eco-Friendlier Nappies and Wipes Box

Sleep Safety Bundle from Cubo Ai

$95.00 - www.okandco.com.au

Created by parents and approved by experts, Cubo Ai’s newest product, the Sleep Safety Bundle, is here to provide parents with extra peace of mind.

The bundle includes a Sleep Sensor Pad and a Cubo Ai Plus camera that comes with a shared stand, a floor base, a crib attachment and a mobile stand.Their AI safety detection looks out for the baby’s face being covered, if they are stuck rolling over or crying. It also generates a sleep analytics report, auto-captures unique movements and more. The Sleep Safety Bundle is a secure parenting tool trusted by parents around the world.

OK&CO. has created the most reliable, eco-friendlier, toxic-free, disposable nappy available. They come with their 100% bamboo, compostable wipes and plant based compostable nappy bin bags.

42 August 2022 | www.pakmag.com.au

$699.00 - au.getcubo.com

Bump, Bub and Beyond

Helpful Breastfeeding Advice and Support Each year, the first week of August celebrates World Breastfeeding Week. Organised by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA), this event aims to promote and support breastfeeding worldwide by highlighting its benefits for mothers and children.

If you are getting frustrated while trying to breastfeed, stop and try again later. If possible, ask a nurse or health professional to help with the correct attachment.

Often, a slight tilt of your baby’s head or the positioning of your arms can make a huge difference.

Lastly, remember that breastfeeding is a skill that requires practice, and it is easier for some mothers and babies than for others. Like anything new, it takes time and patience to succeed.

White Noise Helps Babies Sleep Did you know that white noise can help babies sleep?

If you notice your baby falling asleep at noisy times outside of their regular nap time, they might respond positively to white noise. However, babies can become dependent on white noise, so make sure you use different sounds and maintain their regular sleep time routine.

Worldwide, mothers face many different demands and do not always receive the support they need.

Amongst busy schedules, lack of support systems and health challenges, breastfeeding is not always an accessible option. Nevertheless, from the moment a baby is born, several things can improve the chances of breastfeeding success.

By staying with their baby after birth, mothers promote closeness which triggers a hormonal response linked to breastfeeding success. While bonding is a process and not something that happens within minutes, skin-to-skin contact can help soothe a baby and encourage the first breastfeeding.

Often, the first days after the birth are the best opportunity for a mother and her baby to learn how to breastfeed as breasts are still soft. This time is the best time to get the attachment and position right, helping to avoid potential problems down the track.

Great Cognitive Activities for Toddlers Play is one of the best ways for children to learn.

Engaging children in activities that appeal to their natural curiosity teaches them to explore, take risks, use their imagination and solve problems.

These activities teach them valuable skills that support their social, physical and cognitive development.

Play based learning should generally be enjoyable, have no set goals, be spontaneous and voluntary, encourage active engagement and involve an element of make-believe.

Some of our ideas for activities include dress-ups, role plays, playing outdoors with water, sand, and other natural items, or sensory toys such as playdough or slime.

www.pakmag.com.au | August 2022 43

Health

All Things Health Dr Anusha Lazarri

Dr Bobby Griffin

Birds of Paradise

Sunbird Orthodontics

Dear Dr Anusha, What is Postpartum Prolapse?

Postpartum prolapse is a common condition that may feel like something is bulging at the opening of your vagina. Some women liken it to sitting on a ball or balloon. Rarely the prolapse is severe and most women don’t experience many symptoms. A doctor can clarify whether you need specialist treatment. During pregnancy, surging hormones make the pelvic tissues softer and more pliable. As your baby gains weight prior to birth, the pelvic floor muscles work harder to support the increasing weight. This strain, along with the stretching and pushing of childbirth can make organs shift and sag into the vaginal canal. If you’re dealing with prolapse, rest assured that treatment options are available and include pelvic floor exercises into your exercise routine to strengthen muscles postpartum.

4041 5081

Dear Dr Bobby, What are the benefits of Clear Aligner Therapy?

Clear Aligner Therapy, such as Invisalign, consists of a series of clear, thin mouthguards called ‘aligners’ that are changed every 1 - 2 weeks to force movement and eventual alignment.

The pro’s are that they are near invisible, are removable, rarely involve metal parts, and allow thorough dental hygiene. It also allows you to virtually see the final result before you begin.

Please come and see us for a free consultation, and to determine if Clear Aligner Therapy is right for you.

4038 1036 www.sunbirdorthodontics.com.au

www.birdsofparadise.clinic

Interesting Heart Facts Your heart will beat around 100,000 times per day, adding up to around three billion beats in an average lifetime.

The beating sound your heart makes is caused by the valves opening and closing.

The average human heart is the size of a fist. At the size of a piano, blue whales have the largest hearts, while the fairy fly, a type of wasp, has the smallest.

There are 96,000km of blood vessels in your body. Some capillaries in your body are ten times smaller than a human hair, meaning blood cells travel singlefile through them.

Consult your local health practitioner, doctor or pharmacist for advice on these topics first to ensure the best health outcomes.

www.pakmag.com.au | August 2022 45

Health

All Things Health The Properties of Rose Quartz

Jana Gorski

Rose quartz is said to release vibrations that can benefit your life in a number of ways, especially emotionally.

Whether you are a “believer” or not, if you enjoy crystals, using them certainly can’t hurt!

Naturopath - Calanna TerryWhite Chemmart

Calmness and Centeredness - Along the central line of the body are seven chakras, or energy centres. Rose quartz nourishes the heart chakra which is stationed at the midpoint of our body’s energetic system. When we feed the heart chakra, we are feeding our entire body, radiating the love above, below, and throughout our beings.

Unconditional Love - Said to be a stone of unconditional love, it brings deep healing to the heart by opening the heart chakra and fostering self-love, and truly giving and receiving love from others.

Emotional Healing - Connecting directly to the heart chakra, rose quartz assists with healing emotional wounds by circulating a divine loving energy throughout the entire aura.

Rose Quartz Beauty Tool Benefits - When used for gentle facial massage, the cool, smooth surface of rose quartz can reduce puffiness, dark undereye circles and promote lymphatic drainage that eliminates toxins. It can also tighten and lift skin by improving elasticity. Gua sha or roller facial massage can relieve headaches and migraines caused by exhaustion. After a long day in front of a screen, it can also help relieve eye fatigue.

Dear Jana, what type of vitamins can help increase my immunity?

During the flu season or times of illness, people are often seeking ways to boost their immunity or help themselves recover faster from illness.

Vitamins A, C, D, E and Zinc are all important nutrients for the immune system, and help keep our immune system functioning well. If you are deficient in them, taking them will boost your immune system, or they can help you fight cold or flu viruses. Herbs such andrographis, echinacea, and sambucus have also been shown to shorten the duration and severity of cold and flu symptoms. Always seek professional advice for dosages and to see if any of these will interact with other medications you may be taking Calanna WholeHealth Pharmacy www.calannapharmacy.com.au

Head to Self Amour and try their premium rose quartz beauty tools. www.selfamour.com

Ethical Nutrients Inner Health Plus Ethical Nutrients Inner Health Plus contains ‘good bacteria’ which assists in maintaining a healthy gut and digestive system, and helps improve your general wellbeing.

Beneficial bacteria promotes normal healthy digestive functions, and may help ease symptoms of bloating and gas. A healthy gut is vital for maintaining a healthy immune system, so drop by your nearest Calanna TerryWhite Chemmart today to get you and your family some Inner Health Plus.

46 August 2022 | www.pakmag.com.au

Consult your local health practitioner, doctor or pharmacist for advice on these topics first to ensure the best health outcomes.

Advertorial

Understanding ADHD and Moving Forward After a Diagnosis In recent years, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been researched intensively. While ADHD is a relatively common neurodevelopmental condition that generally begins in childhood, with symptoms presenting before 12 years of age, not many people know about the three types of ADHD. One type is hyperactive/impulsive, another is inattentive, and the third combines hyperactive/impulsive and inattentive ADHD features.

Many people are familiar with the common signs and symptoms of ADHD in children, such as excessive fidgeting and inability to sit still, interrupting others and failing to wait their turn, or engaging in activities loud and disruptively.

Other, less obvious signs might include forgetfulness, difficulty commencing or finishing tasks, problems forming and maintaining relationships, or daydreaming.

These symptoms are often more common in girls than boys and were previously sometimes overlooked.

Consequently, researchers believe that in the past, girls were underdiagnosed.

Aside from this, there are common misconceptions that ADHD only affects children. However, ADHD is typically a lifelong disorder that impacts individuals throughout their lifespan. Signs of ADHD in adults include procrastination, difficulty with planning and

organising, forgetfulness and misplacing personal items, reduced motivation and fatigue. Other problems can be impulsivity, difficulty with social interaction and substance use.

Interestingly, most people with ADHD will have at least one other psychiatric disorder. Some of those conditions include Dyslexia, Autism Spectrum Disorder, anxiety disorders, mood disorders and Oppositional Defiant Disorder.

Considering the complexity of ADHD, it is important to screen individuals for a full range of psychological disorders as part of the assessment process. Psychiatrists and paediatricians can play a key role in assessing and diagnosing ADHD. Psychologists can also provide valuable information by administering psychometric and behavioural assessments.

While a diagnosis can feel uncomfortable, there is good news to keep in mind. With appropriate treatment and intervention, ADHD is manageable. A supportive management plan can lessen a disorder’s impact on people’s lives and help achieve behavioural and life goals.

If you feel that you or a family member might have ADHD, speak to your family doctor about arranging an assessment. The team at Cairns Psychological Assessment performs Cognitive and Psychological Assessments of the highest quality and is here to support you on your journey.

www.pakmag.com.au | August 2022 49

Parenting

Talking with Your Child About Race STORY Dr Rosemarie Truglio, Senior Vice President of Curriculum and Content at Sesame Workshop

Each families’ race, ethnicity and culture are important parts of their identity. Children, including very young children, understand and want to have a sense of belonging to their families’ racial, ethnic and cultural group or groups. Yet, one part of our family’s identity can be challenging to talk with our children about - Race.

Share Family Stories

A common misconception is that children are “colour blind”. Research shows that children, even babies, do notice physical differences, from skin colour, to eye shape and hair texture. So, their observations will lead to them asking questions guided by their natural curiosity.

Children’s questions about others may make us feel uncomfortable, as if the questions are impolite.

Children are naturally curious about our diverse world and asking questions is a good way to learn about oneself and others.

To have open conversations about this part of our identity is known as “race-conscious parenting.”

Talking with our children about race helps them grow to feel positive about themselves and about others, especially those who don’t look like them.

So, how can we help children feel pride and confidence in their own skin and develop a positive racial attitude about other children? We can start by having simple, honest, conversations during our everyday routines.

Talk About Skin Colour During a simple routine such as washing up in the morning, pause to look in the mirror to celebrate the beauty of the similarities and differences in your skin colours.

Make sharing stories, artifacts, and traditions about your family’s culture and heritage a routine, much in the same way you read and share stories at bedtime.

Follow Your Child’s Questions and Observations

Talk About Physical Differences and the Reasons Behind Them If your child mentions a physical difference in someone, e.g. “They have brown skin”, don’t shut them down by saying, “We are all the same.” Instead, acknowledge their observations and take time to explain the reasons why and celebrate these differences. You could say something simple like, “We all have different and beautiful skin colours” and “We are all unique and special, isn’t that amazing?!”

When they are ready, we can further share: “We all have something in our bodies called melanin.

It’s the amount of melanin in our body that makes us have this skin colour. Some people may have more melanin. Their skin will be darker than ours. Other people have less melanin. Their skin will be lighter.

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Parenting

Recently, Sesame Street introduced two new Muppets, five-year-old Wes and his father Elijah. Elmo was curious and wanted to know why Wes’s skin is brown, so Elijah explains the concept of melanin and that the colour of our skin is an important part of who we are.

experiences. Questions such as “How would I feel if…?” and “How do you think that person feels?” are great starting points to help your child consider a situation from somebody else’s point of view.

To encourage a positive self-identity in your young child, finish sentences together like “I am good at…” and “I feel confident when…”

Resources to Support Your Parenting Sometimes parents don’t have all the answers, and that’s okay. If, for example, your child asks some questions about a topic like the Holocaust or the history of First Nations Australians, and you don’t have all the facts, you might say, “Let’s go to the library and see what books they have that we can read together.”

WATCH THE VIDEO IN OUR ONLINE MAG

Acknowledge Unfair Behaviour When children observe unfair treatment of others based on race, ethnicity, or culture, acknowledge their feelings, “That is unfair.”

You can explore that subject or question together and remember that not everything has to be answered in the moment.

Also, reading books or watching videos with characters from different backgrounds is a wonderful way to introduce little ones to people from differing backgrounds and cultures. These books can also provide an easy way to spark conversations.

When they ask “Why?” provide a deeper explanation, “When people treat others unfairly because of their skin colour, eye shape, hair texture, or language they speak, that’s called racism. And that’s wrong and hurtful. We are all a part of one race, the human race.”

You can also teach Breathe, Feel and Share when something stressful related to race happens (for instance, when a child is excluded or teased):

Encourage and Celebrate

Feel: Notice how you are feeling and think of words you might use to respond (for instance, “I don’t like that,” “That’s wrong,” or “That hurts my feelings.”).

Children naturally have optimism for a better society.

Encourage and celebrate this. Everyone should be proud of who they are, inside and out. The way other people treat us doesn’t change who we are.

Everyday Family Moments Explore ways of incorporating empathy and identity into your family’s everyday moments. For example, to build empathy, ask questions to help children consider others’

Breathe: Take three deep belly breaths.

Share: Tell a grown-up what happened.

So, whether you and the children in your care are directly affected by racism or you’re allies of those who are, engaging honestly and directly with little ones is the beginning of building racial literacy, the skills needed to talk thoughtfully about race and to identify and respond to racism.

Dr Rosemarie Truglio Ph.D. has been a vital presence at Sesame Workshop for more than two decades. She is the Senior Vice President of Curriculum and Content at Sesame Workshop, overseeing content development across media platforms and product distribution and is an authority on child development. Dr Truglio is author of Ready for School! A parent’s guide to playful learning for children ages two to five.

Sesame Workshop, the non-profit educational organisation behind Sesame Street, has launched the ABCs of Racial Literacy and its Coming Together initiative to provide parents with tools to talk to their children about race and racism. Further tools can be found at sesamestreetincommunities.org/topics/racial-justice

52 August 2022 | www.pakmag.com.au

Advertorial

Play as a Tool to Enhance Child Development STORY by Manasseh Joseph, Paediatric Occupational Therapist, Mission Australia, Early Childhood Intervention Specialist Playtime. Although often taken for granted, it is actually vital for a child’s development, Mission Australia’s Paediatric Occupational Therapist and Early Childhood Intervention Specialist Manasseh Joseph explains. Play is the central occupation of a child, and it is vital for their health, development and well-being.

Play is also the driver of learning in early childhood, like in educational settings such as preschool, where learning is typically play-based. Furthermore, play is an essential part of family and community life, and the ways children play vary depending on their age, interests, environments and culture.

The Benefits of Play Play is important because it provides a primary foundation for learning, exploring, problem-solving, and building an understanding of the world and a child’s role within it.

Communication - Within communication, play significantly impacts speech development by supporting early language development and enhancing communication.

Through play, children can learn from their peers and practice their language skills and vocabulary. Interacting with adults and peers helps children refine their speech sounds as they are listening to others.

Social skills - Through play, children learn how to interact with others. These interactions help children to understand social expectations and rules, find play opportunities to share thoughts and ideas, and listen and compromise.

Emotions - Play also helps children understand and process their emotions. For example, when a child loses a game, they learn to process sadness, anger, and grief.

Other games can help build confidence and encourages the development of their identity and self-esteem.

Motor skills - Motor skills development also largely relies on play-based learning. Activities can encourage movement and the understanding of spatial awareness, promote motor planning skills, and supports balance and dexterity. For example, climbing outdoor play equipment, jumping from one hula-hoop to another, throwing and catching rubber quoits, or stringing beads of various sizes, are all activities that promote motor skills.

The Importance of Play Environment The child’s immediate environment is important as it helps with the development of various skills required for

children to grow into strong, healthy and independent individuals. Being in a supportive play environment helps children develop emotionally and reduce stress. However, a lack of play can have negative and long-lasting effects.

Studies show that when kids do not have the opportunity to play outside in nature, they are at risk of attention and behavioural problems. A lack of play can also stunt an individual’s social and emotional development.

How Can I Facilitate Play as a Parent and Early Childhood Educator?

Parents play an important role by simply allowing their children to tag along and learn by seeing and being talked to. Children’s brains are rapidly observing everything in their environment, and being present as you do things is a useful experience for children. While children sometimes engage in play with a specific interest or play theme, they may limit themselves to their area of interest.

In these circumstances, the adult can play a facilitator role to help expand the child’s play experiences.

Other times, children may need more help from an adult to guide or scaffold through play as a child may have limited ideas about how to play with an object in their environment. In this case, an adult needs to demonstrate playfulness to create interest and engage the child.

Initially, the child may not be interested, however, eventually, most children will want to join in the fun.

Play in Today’s Context Children are growing up with lots of information coming their way through various channels. While they may be attracted to electronic gadgets, it is important to minimise technology during the first few years of life.

Instead, encourage your child to play by themselves, alongside their peers, with peers, and with you!

These interactions are important for language and social development.

After all, childhood is about freedom, adventure, and a sense of timelessness. It is about making joyful, meaningful discoveries, and children have so much to learn and experience from a sensory-rich space (indoors or outdoors). Our role as adult caregivers, parents, and early childhood educators is simply to provide rich spaces and opportunities for magical play discoveries that are appropriate to the child’s stage of development.

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Daddy Diary

Daddy Diary Making music is a wonderful thing. Even more incredible to think that the likes of Britney Spears, Stevie Wonder and Celine Dion signed up with major music labels while still in primary school. Yes, the musical gene can be alive and thriving from a very young age, but unfortunately, it’s not a skill that swims in the Clifton family gene pool. Not that this stops us from trying.

Let’s start with our little boy Charlie who is three years old and full of confidence (and usually chocolate).

His fave tune at present is one band and one band only; Australia’s fave export. Move over Hugh Jackman and make way for (drum roll please) The Wiggles. On more than one occasion, I have woken in the middle of the night with the earworm “I like to eat, eat, eat – opals and ba-nay-nays” gnawing into me. The skivvy-wearing supergroup has been many Aussie kids’ introduction to music for decades now. Long live The Wiggles.

Now to the musical styling of Miss Matilda, our eightyear-old mini-Madonna. Actually, scrap that. I’ve seen Madonna film clips... let’s just say Matilda is slightly

more mature than The Wiggles in her music taste.

Lately, anything that goes wild on TikTok is her tune of choice. How she even knows what TikTok is dumbfounds me. Back in my day, they were called Tick Tacks #dadjoke.

For the 30-somethings out there, I’m happy to report that 90’s classic Barbie Girl is also getting a run alongside Justin Timberlake’s “Can’t Stop The Feeling” and Queen’s “We Will Rock You.” Classic stuff.

Now back to the actual making of tunes. Do my kids love all the aforementioned music? Hell yes.

Do any of us Cliffos’ have the ability to make the music?

Hell no. Does this stop us from trying? Again, that’s a big no. But at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter because any family lucky enough to dance around the lounge room banging on pots and pans or dancing and singing the wrong words to an Ed Sheeran song is a lucky family in my book. This is the stuff we will remember when we are old and grey because these are truly beautiful memories.

I just have to find a way to get the kids in front of those big red chairs on The Voice. Surely those coaches would spin around for the “Clifton Family Band”... or maybe not?

Cliffo Hit 103.5

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Community Noticeb o ard

Wipes Block Pipes: Only Flush The 3 P’s

Volunteer at Cairns Festival Volunteer at this year’s Cairns Festival between the 26 August to 4 September. The Cairns Regional Council arts and events volunteer opportunities offer all volunteers the chance to meet and work within dynamic and creative teams, gain experience in community events and the arts, share your professional skills with developing artists, and most of all, have fun! To join the team contact Jan Aird at j.aird@cairns.qld.gov.au or 4032 6656.

Cairns

Show F un

A big th anks to our rea won Ca ders wh irns Sho o w Ticke shared ts that some s n a p loved se s - our team eing yo ur happ y faces !

Only Pee, Poo and (Toilet) Paper should be flushed down your toilet. Everything flushed down the toilet goes through our sewerage systems. Flushing the wrong things can lead to build up and cause unwanted nasty blockages in pipes and treatment plants that can come at a huge cost to customers and the environment. Council removes hundreds of tonnes of non-flushable products from the wastewater system every year. These blockages are known as ‘phatbergs’ and most often these phatbergs are caused by wet wipes. Around 40 percent of phatberg materials are wipes of all kinds. Wastewater treatment plant staff also extract medicines, sanitary products, condoms, cloth and many other non-flushable items.

The Woolworths Great Pyramid Race When: 6 August Where: Gordonvale More info: www.pyramidrace.com.au This family-friendly event includes the race, kids rides, markets, giveaways and more.

estival D Cairns F ade ar G ra n d P

iamond

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w s are no plication p A e re d a ipants nd Para The Gra de partic 22! Para 0 2 n $1,000 r e e fo n tw e ope to win b g ply in n n enter, sim in the ru ’s free to form at It ! n 0 o 0 ti a ,0 lic to $3 line app n o l n a a u/festiv complete ld.gov.a .q s n ir a www.c

58 August 2022 | www.pakmag.com.au Please confirm the above details are correct before visiting during these uncertain times.We have done our best to ensure all details are correct at time of print.

Koch Foundation - Spring Fashion Charity Lunch When: Friday 12 August 12.00pm to 4.00pm Where: Benson Hotel More info: www.kochfoundation.org.au/charitylunch Enjoy yourself at Cairns’ inaugural Spring Charity Lunch, supporting The Dr. Edward Koch Foundation’s mission to deliver mental health awareness and suicide prevention activities in the Far North Queensland region. All funds raised by the event will go towards mental health promotion and suicide prevention initiatives in FNQ by locals for locals. The lunch includes a decadent three-course lunch, a complimentary drink on arrival, a fashion show by Cairns Central, live entertainment including special guest Drew Brauer, a charity auction, gift bags

by Silk Laser and more! Tickets are $99.00 per person. Bookings required.

Get Involved!

STACC Food Festival St Andrew’s Catholic College proudly announces their inaugural Stacc Food Festival which will be held on Friday 5 August from 5.30pm to 9.30pm. There will be food vendors, a licensed bar and live musical entertainment. Little visitors can dance the night away at a kids disco. Entry is free, however, a gold coin donation to our supported charity, Rosies - Friends On The Street (Cairns chapter) will be greatly appreciated. www.standrewscc.qld.edu.au

We’d love to hear from you! Head to www.paktownsville.com.au/community to submit community news or a notice, and also view the full community noticeboard online.

www.pakmag.com.au | August 2022 59

What’s On MONDAY 1 AUGUST Botanical Drawing and Painting with Julie McEnerny Members only, runs until 22 August Cairns Art Gallery 5.30pm - 7.30pm / $130.00 / 16+ www.cairnsartgallery.com.au TUESDAY 2 AUGUST Cairns Festival Turns 60 Exhibition Runs until 10 September The Court House 10.00am - 4.00pm / FREE / PG www.cairns.qld.gov.au/festival St Michael’s Playgroup Runs every Tuesday during school term St Michael’s School Hall, Muir St, Gordonvale 9.00am - 11.00am / FREE / PG www.stmichael.qld.edu.au THURSDAY 4 AUGUST Pete Murray Before I Go Tour Tanks Arts Centre - Tank 5 7.30pm - 10.00pm / $45.00 / 18+ www.cairns.qld.gov.au St Monica’s Open Day Book online St Monica’s Catholic College 4.00pm - 6.00pm / FREE / PG www.stmonicas.qld.edu.au

With HIT 103.5’s Cliffo & Gabi

Motov8ing Boys Trinity Bay State High School 7.00pm - 9.00pm / $41.00 $217.00 / 11+ www.motov8.com.au

Greta Stanley Album Launch Tanks Arts Centre - Tank 5 7.30pm - 10.00pm / $23.00 $29.00 / 18+ www.tanksartscentre.com

Envoy: Shark Cull Screening Macalister Brewing Company 6.30pm / FREE / M Australian Marine Conservation Society

Masterclass: Drawing and Painting with Peter Marsack Runs until 7 August Cairns Art Gallery 9.30am - 4.00pm / $350.00 / 16+ www.cairnsartgallery.com.au

FRIDAY 5 AUGUST Carnevale Masquerade Gala Ball Cairns Convention Centre 6.00pm - 12.00am / $197.00 / M www.cairnsitalianfestival.com.au SATURDAY 6 AUGUST Joe Avati 25 LIVE Tour Comedy Runs until 7 August Brothers Leagues Club Cairns 8.00pm - 11.00pm / $55.00 / M www.cairnsitalianfestival.com.au Leaving Jackson Cairns Performing Arts Centre / CPAC 7.30pm - 10.00pm / $22.00 $67.00 / PG www.cairns.qld.gov.au/CPAC The Great Pyramid Race Norman Park, Gordonvale 7.00am - 4.00pm / FREE / PG www.pyramidrace.com.au

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An Evening with Abi Muir Shangri-La at The Marina 6.00pm / $69.00 - $129.00 / PG Abi Muir SUNDAY 7 AUGUST TGT Mareeba Salami and Sausage Competition Festa Mareeba International Club 10.30am - 5.00pm / $55.00 / G www.cairnsitalianfestival.com.au Brass Sweat And Tears 2022 Cairns Performing Arts Centre / CPAC 2.00pm - 4.00pm / FREE $35.00 / PG www.cairns.qld.gov.au/CPAC MONDAY 8 AUGUST The Big Bike Film Night Event Cinema Cairns 6.30pm / $13.00 - $26.00 / G The Big Bike Film Night Australia

WEDNESDAY 10 AUGUST NQ Cowboys Resilience Project Cairns Convention Centre 6.30pm / FREE / 12+ www.cairnsconvention.com.au THURSDAY 11 AUGUST Good Vibrations Roller Disco 4.0 Cairns Skating Centre 7.00pm - 9.00pm / $20.00 $25.00 / PG www.cairnsskatingcentre.com.au FRIDAY 12 AUGUST Turtle Cove Full Moon Party Turtle Cove Beach Resort 4.00pm - 1.00am / FREE / 18+ www.turtlecove.com Craft Alive Cairns Cairns Showgrounds 9.00am - 4.00pm / FREE $25.00 / PG www.craftalive.com.au Spring Fashion Charity Lunch Benson Hotel Cairns 12.00pm - 4.00pm / $99.00 / M www.kochfoundation.org.au/ charitylunch SATURDAY 13 AUGUST Cocktail Under The Stars Cannon Park Racecourse 6.00pm - 9.30pm / $125.00 / 18+ www.cairnsjockeyclub.com.au

Salt House Food and Wine Festival Salt House Cairns 12.00pm / FREE - $20.00 / PG www.salthousefoodandwine festival.com.au Cairns Japan Bon Dance Festival Esplanade 12.00pm - 8.00pm/ FREE / PG Cairns Bon Dance Festival Taste Port Douglas Runs until 14 August Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort, Port Douglas 12.00pm - 5.00pm/ $13.00 $349.00 / PG www.tasteportdouglas.com.au SUNDAY 14 AUGUST CQU Cairns Open Day CQUniversity Cairns 9.00am - 11.00am / FREE / PG www.cqu.edu.au/events Workshop “Photo transfer” for beginners SaskiandStorm Gift Shop, Cairns 11.00am - 1.30pm / $70.00 / PG Leonnata Decor Catchers and Growers: The Ultimate Seafood Feast Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort, Port Douglas 11.00am - 1.30pm / $206.00 / PG www.tasteportdouglas.com.au MONDAY 15 AUGUST National Indigenous Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Conference Runs until 17 August Hilton Hotel Cairns Various Times / $750.00 $2,000.00 / PG www.indigenoushealth.net APNA Conference Roadshow Runs until 16 August

Cairns Convention Centre 6.30pm / $320.00 - $699.00 / M www.cairnsconvention.com.au

12.00pm / $20.00 $12,000.00 / M www.cairnsjockeyclub.com.au

WEDNESDAY 17 AUGUST

Game of Thrones - Feast of Westeros Fancy Dress Code is mandatory The Top Rail, Malanda 6.00pm - 11.30pm / $100.00 / M The Top Rail

PechaKucha Night Cairns Volume 29 Tanks Arts Centre - Tank 5 7.30pm / Goldcoin Donation / M www.pechakucha.com THURSDAY 18 AUGUST Shrek Jr! The Musical Runs until 19 August Cairns Performing Arts Centre / CPAC 10.00am / 1.00pm / 7.30pm / $0.00 - $25.00 / PG www.cairns.qld.gov.au/CPAC Cardiac Challenge Fundraising Trivia Salt House 6.00pm / $10.00 / M Wellness Embodied Cairns FRIDAY 19 AUGUST Edge Expo Edge Hill State School 5.00pm - 9.00pm / FREE / PG Edge PandC The Crystalbrook Riley Longest Lunch Crystalbrook Riley 12.00pm - 3.00pm / $99.00 $149.00 / M www.crystalbrookcollection. com SATURDAY 20 AUGUST Cairns Colour Frenzy 5k Run Cairns Esplanade / Pirate Ship 5.00pm - 7.30pm / $5.00 $100.00 / PG www.colourfrenzy.com.au Red Beret Hotel Ladies Day Cannon Park Racecourse

Please check with individual businesses before visiting.

Cairns Resin Art Workshops Artview Gallery 9.00pm - 11.00pm / 1.00pm 3.00pm / $110.00 / 16+ www.rachelrwrightart.com SUNDAY 21 AUGUST Bird Expo Cairns Showgrounds 9.00am - 1.00pm / FREE - $2.00 / PG Far North Queensland Bird Breeders Club Mr Perfect Free BBQ Cairns Esplanade Sea Eagle BBQ 10.30am - 12.30pm / FREE / PG Mr Perfect WEDNESDAY 24 AUGUST Careers Expo Opening Cocktail Party Cairns Showgrounds 4.30pm - 6.30pm / FREE / PG www.bla.org.au THURSDAY 25 AUGUST

Runs until 3 September (except Wednesday 31 August) The Court House 10.00am - 9.00pm / $55.00 / G www.cairns.qld.gov.au/festival Reef Light - Illuminate The Tropics Runs until 4 September Cairns Esplanade and Eastern Events Lawn 6.30pm / FREE / G www.cairns.qld.gov.au/festival City Lights Runs until 4 September City Library, Abbott Street 7.00pm - 11.00pm / FREE / G www.cairnslibrary.com.au Reggaeton Fuego Runs every last Friday of the month The Pier Bar 9.00pm - 3.00am / FREE / 18+ www.thepierbar.com.au Innisfail Autofest Runs until 28 August Innisfail Airport 11.00am - 5.00pm / $10.00 $130.00 / PG Innisfail Autofest Aloomba State School Celebrating Books Under 8s - Dress as a Book Character Aloomba State School 9.00am - 11.00am / FREE / PG P (07) 40433888

BLA – 2022 Cairns Youth and Careers Expo Cairns Showgrounds - Fred Moule Pavilion 8.30am - 6.00pm / FREE / PG www.bla.org.au

SATURDAY 27 AUGUST

FRIDAY 26 AUGUST

Fireworks Spectacular Cairns Esplanade 7.30pm / FREE / G www.cairns.qld.gov.au/festival

Cairns Festival Turns 60 Exhibition

Grand Parade Cairns Esplanade 5.30pm - 7.30pm / FREE / G www.cairns.qld.gov.au/festival

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What’s On SATURDAY 27 AUGUST Cairns Hinterland Steiner School Spring Fair Cairns Hinterland Steiner School 10.00am / FREE / G www.chss.qld.edu.au Yungaburra Book Fair 2022 Yungaburra Community Hall 8.00am / FREE / PG Yungaburra Book Fair 2022 SUNDAY 28 AUGUST Queensland Symphony Orchestra Superfamous Munro Martin Parklands 5.00pm - 7.00pm / $20.00 $35.00 / PG www.qso.com.au

With Triple M’s Elliott

Runs until 28 September Cairns Art Gallery 5.30pm - 7.30pm / $120.00 / 16+ www.cairnsartgallery.com.au THURSDAY 1 SEPTEMBER Truthmachine Runs until 4 September The Court House - Court Room Various Times / $19.00 / 15+ Aftermath - Australasian Dance Collective Runs until 2 September Tanks Arts Centre - Tank 3 7.00pm - 8.00pm / $25.00 $30.00 / PG www.australasiandance collective.com

Cairns 2 Kuranda Train Race Freshwater Railway Station 8.45am - 11.30am / $65.00 $100.00 / 18+ www.cairns2kurandatrainrace. com.au

In Transit St Monica’s Cathedral 6.30pm - 7.30pm / $15.00 $30.00 / PG FNQ Harp Connection

Mowbray Falls via the Bump Track Mowbray Falls 8.00am / $20.00 - $35.00 / PG Andy’s Hiking Adventures

FRIDAY 2 SEPTEMBER

MONDAY 29 AUGUST Amy Shark - See U Somewhere Australia Tour Tanks Arts Centre - Tank 5 6.30pm - 7.30pm / $89.00 / 15+ www.tanksartscentre.com WEDNESDAY 31 AUGUST Pastel Still Life with Sue Schreiber

Alex The Astronaut Tanks Arts Centre - Tank 5 6.30pm - 7.30pm / $35.00 $41.00 / 15+ www.alextheastronaut.com SATURDAY 3 SEPTEMBER Le Coup Runs until 4 September Cairns Performing Arts Centre / CPAC 8.00pm / 6.00pm / $0.00 $45.00 / 15+ www.cairns.qld.gov.au/CPAC

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THURSDAY 8 SEPTEMBER Vika and Linda Tanks Arts Centre - Tank 5 7.30pm - 10.00pm / $60.00 / PG www.vikaandlindabull.com THURSDAY 8 SEPTEMBER Lunch at Amateurs Save the date, visit www.cbwc.org.au for more info

Bill Bailey - En Route To Normal Cairns Performing Arts Centre / CPAC 8.00pm - 10.00pm / $0.00 $98.00 / M www.cairns.qld.gov.au/CPAC Afternoon Clssics - NQ Chamber Orchestra Cairns Performing Arts Centre / CPAC 3.00pm - 5.00pm / $24.00 $29.50 / PG www.cairns.qld.gov.au/CPAC WEDNESDAY 21 SEPTEMBER The Gruffalo Cairns Performing Arts Centre / CPAC 9.00am / 2.00pm / FREE $18.00 / PG www.cairns.qld.gov.au/CPAC

Ash Grunwald Tanks Arts Centre - Tank 5 7.30pm - 10.00pm / $45.00 $50.00 / PG www.ashgrunwald.com

Wallaby Creek Festival Runs until 25 September Wallaby Creek Bridge, Rossvale 4.00pm / $5.00 - $480.00 / PG www.wallabycreekfestival.org.au SATURDAY 24 SEPTEMBER

SUNDAY 18 SEPTEMBER

FRIDAY 23 SEPTEMBER

Fairytales On Ice Cairns Convention Centre 6.30pm / $44.80 - $91.70 / PG www.cairnsconvention.com.au

Vance Joy - The Long Way Home Tour Munro Martin Parklands 6.00pm - 10.00pm / $79.90 $179.90 / PG www.vancejoy.com Circus The Show Cairns Performing Arts Centre / CPAC 11.00am / 2.00pm / FREE $49.90 / PG www.cairns.qld.gov.au/CPAC FRIDAY 30 SEPTEMBER The Butterfly Effect Australian Tour Tanks Arts Centre - Tank 5 6.30pm - 10.00pm / $79.90 / 18+ www.thebutterflyeffectband. com.au Swan Lake Runs until 2 October Cairns Performing Arts Centre / CPAC Various Times / FREE $105.00 / PG www.cairns.qld.gov.au/CPAC

Please check with individual businesses before visiting.

Regular Markets Many markets are subject to weather conditions and community guidelines, so please check with market organisers and relevant communities before visiting.

Rusty’s Markets Every Friday and Saturday 5.00am - 6.00pm Every Sunday 5.00am - 3.00pm 57 - 89 Grafton St, City Palm Cove Markets April - December, excluding September First Sunday of the month 8.00am – 2.00pm Williams Esplanade

Plaza Markets Second Sunday of the month 9.00am - 3.00pm Mount Sheridan Plaza The Ravenshoe Lions Archer Creek Markets Second Sunday of the month 7.00am – 12.00pm Archers Creek Rest Area, Kennedy Highway

The Pier Market Third Sunday of the month 9.00am - 2.00pm The Pier Cairns

Atherton Lions Club Indoor Markets Second Sunday of the Month 7.00am – 12.00pm Merriland Hall

Malanda Markets Third Saturday of the month 7.00am - 12.30pm Malanda Showgrounds

Yungaburra Markets Fourth Saturday of the month 7.30am - 12.30pm Bruce Jones Market Grounds

Mossman Community Markets Every Saturday 7.00am - 1.00pm 3 - 5 Foxton Ave, Mossman

Redlynch Community Twilight Markets Second Friday bimonthly from April - October.

Final Market of the year is Saturday 3rd December From 4.00pm Xavier Herbert Drive Park

Holloways Beach Markets Second Sunday of the month 8.00am - 1.00pm Holloways Beachfront

Please check with individual businesses before visiting.

Gordonvale Cottage Markets February - December First Saturday of the month 7.00am – 12.00pm Norman Park, Gordonvale Kuranda Original Rainforest Markets Thursday to Monday 9.30am - 3.00pm 7/13 Therwine St Kuranda Heritage Markets Open Thursday to Monday 10.00am - 3.00pm 2 Rob Veivers Dr Tolga Markets First Sunday of the month 7.30am - 12 noon Morrow Park Racecourse

7.30am - 1.30pm Market Park Woree Markets Third Sunday of every month 8.00am – 1.00pm Cannon Park Racecourse Car Park Koah Monthly Markets First Saturday of the Month 8.00am – 12 noon Koah Hall, Koah Road Mareeba Markets Every second and fifth Saturday of the month 7.30am – 12.30pm Centenary Park, Byrnes St

Herberton Markets Third Sunday of the month 7.00am - 12 noon Wondecla Showgrounds

Tumoulin Country Markets January - November Fourth Sunday of the month 8.00am – 12.00pm Tumoulin Railway Station

Night Markets Open every day 5.00pm - 11.00pm 71 - 75 The Esplanade

Babinda Markets Second Saturday of the month 8.00am - 12.00pm Munro street

Port Douglas Markets Every Sunday

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Regular Events MONDAYS Yoga with Smile Yoga Stan Moses Hall 5.30pm - 6.30pm / $15.00 / G www.smileyoga.com.au Seniors Fitness Excluding public holidays Fogarty Park 9.30am / FREE / G Cairns Active Living Program Zumba Excluding public holidays Loridan Drive Park 5.00pm / FREE / G Cairns Active Living Program Power Pilates Excluding public holidays Norman Park, Gordonvale 5.30pm / FREE / G Cairns Active Living Program

Zumba Excluding public holidays Fogarty Park 5.30pm / FREE / G Cairns Active Living Program Hip Hop Afro Dance Excluding public holidays Harald Falge Park 3.30pm / FREE / G www.cairnssaferstreets.com.au Oztag Excluding public holidays Cairns West State School 2.30pm / FREE / G www.cairnssaferstreets.com.au Let’s Move Excluding public holidays Stratford Library 4.00pm / FREE / G, Ages 2 - 5 www.cairns.qld.gov.au/library

Basketball Excluding public holidays Shang Park Check online for times / FREE / G www.cairnssaferstreets.com.au

Morning Storytime Excluding public holidays Smithfield Library 10.00am - 10.30am / FREE / Ages 3 - 5 www.cairns.qld.gov.au/library

Morning Storytime Excluding public holidays Manunda Library 10.00am - 10.30am / FREE / Ages 3 - 5 www.cairns.qld.gov.au/library

Morning Storytime Excluding public holidays Stratford Library 10.00am - 10.30am / FREE / Ages 3 - 5 www.cairns.qld.gov.au/library

Hockey Fun Zone @ Balaclava Excluding public holidays Balaclava State School 2.45pm - 3.45pm / FREE / G www.cairnssaferstreets.com.au

Dancing Storytime Excluding public holidays Earlville Library 4.00pm / FREE / Ages 3 - 5 www.cairns.qld.gov.au/library

Aussie Footy Excluding public holidays Shang Park 4.00pm / FREE / G www.cairnssaferstreets.com.au

Baby Rhyme Time Excluding public holidays Earlville Library 10.00am - 10.30am / FREE / Ages 0 - 2 www.cairns.qld.gov.au/library

Baby Rhyme Time Excluding public holidays Earlville Library 10.00am - 10.30am / FREE / Ages 0 - 2 www.cairns.qld.gov.au/library Guided tour of the Gardens Mon - Friday Excluding public holidays Friends House in the Flecker Garden 10.00am - 11.00am / FREE / G www.cairns.qld.gov.au TUESDAYS Power Pilates Excluding public holidays Vasey Esplanade 9.00am / FREE / G Cairns Active Living Program Qigong for Body, Mind & Spirit Excluding public holidays Zhangiang Friendship Garden 4.30pm / FREE / G Cairns Active Living Program Beach Volleyball Excluding public holidays Esplanade Volleyball Courts 5.30pm / FREE / G Cairns Active Living Program

STEAM Storytime Excluding public holidays Smithfield Library 10.00am - 10.30am / FREE / Ages 3 - 5 www.cairns.qld.gov.au/library St Michael’s Playgroup During school term St Michael’s School Hall, Muir St, Gordonvale 9.00am - 11.00am / FREE / Ages 0 - 5 E smg.office@cns.catholic.edu.au Cairns Carer Support Group Second Tuesdays of the month Coast Roast Cairns Central 1.30pm - 3.30pm / FREE E carersupport@arafmi-portal. bearded.site WEDNESDAYS Aqua Zumba Excluding public holidays Esplanade Lagoon 5.30pm / FREE / G Cairns Active Living Program Bouldering Excluding public holidays Esplanade Bouldering Park

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5.00pm / FREE / G Cairns Active Living Program Resistance Training Excluding public holidays Harald Falge Park 7.30am / FREE / G Cairns Active Living Program Vera Flow Excluding public holidays Ravizza Park 5.00pm / FREE / G Cairns Active Living Program Morning Storytime Excluding public holidays City Library 10.00am - 10.30am / FREE / Ages 3 - 5 www.cairns.qld.gov.au/library Baby Rhyme Time Excluding public holidays Manunda Library 10.00am - 10.30am / FREE / Ages 0 - 2 www.cairns.qld.gov.au/library Multi Sports @ Manoora Excluding public holidays 118 Murray St, Manoora 4.00pm / FREE / G www.cairnssaferstreets.com.au Karate Kids @ Cairns West Excluding public holidays Cairns West State School 2.45pm - 3.45pm / FREE / G www.cairnssaferstreets.com.au THURSDAYS Zumba Excluding public holidays Coastwatcher Park 5.30pm / FREE / G Cairns Active Living Program Pilates Excluding public holidays Fogarty Park 6.30am / FREE / G Cairns Active Living Program Storytime Excluding public holidays Earlville Library 10.00am - 10.30am / FREE / Ages 3 - 5 www.cairns.qld.gov.au/library Baby Rhyme Time Excluding public holidays City Library 10.00am - 10.30am / FREE / Ages 0 - 2 www.cairns.qld.gov.au/library Baby Rhyme Time Excluding public holidays Stratford Library 10.00am - 10.30am / FREE / Ages 0 - 2 www.cairns.qld.gov.au/library Baby Rhyme Time Excluding public holidays Smithfield Library 10.00am - 10.30am / FREE / Ages 0 - 2 www.cairns.qld.gov.au/library

Hockey Fun Zone Excluding public holidays Cairns West State School 2.45pm - 3.45pm / FREE / G www.cairnssaferstreets.com.au Street Soccer Excluding public holidays Harald Falge Park Check online for times / FREE / G www.cairnssaferstreets.com.au FRIDAYS Dance Cardio Excluding public holidays Vasey Esplanade 9.00am / FREE / G Cairns Active Living Program Zumba Excluding public holidays Ravizza Park 5.30pm / FREE / G Cairns Active Living Program Red Rover Excluding public holidays Murray St Park 4.00pm / FREE / G www.cairnssaferstreets.com.au Tennis Hot Shots Excluding public holidays Cairns West State School Get in touch for session times www.cairnssaferstreets.com.au Baby Rhyme Time Excluding public holidays Smithfield Library 10.00am - 10.30am / FREE / Ages 0-2 www.cairns.qld.gov.au/library Next Chapter Bookclub Excluding public holidays Earlville Library 10.30am - 11.30am / FREE / G www.cairns.qld.gov.au SATURDAYS Tropik Nutrition Fitclub Excluding public holidays Harald Falge Park 6.30am / FREE / G Cairns Active Living Program Sahaja Meditation Excluding public holidays Western Events Lawn, Esplanade 7.30am / FREE / G Cairns Active Living Program Aqua Zumba Excluding public holidays Esplanade Lagoon 9.00am / FREE / G Cairns Active Living Program SUNDAYS Edor Excluding public holidays Shang Park 5.00pm - 6.00pm / FREE / G www.cairnssaferstreets.com.au Talk Read Play and Sing Excluding public holidays City Library 9.30am - 11.30am / FREE / Ages 0 - 5 www.cairns.qld.gov.au/library

Please check with individual businesses before visiting.