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Camp Jimbelung Day Camp (QLD)

Wednesday 18 – Friday 20 September 2024

Camp Jimbelung is a therapeutic day camp for primary school-aged children between 5 and 12 years, run by a multidisciplinary team of occupational therapists, speech language pathologists, physiotherapists and psychologists.

Camp Jimbelung provides children with a typical camp experience with additional specialised support to develop skills in areas of challenge such as:

Social interactions
Managing emotions
Whole body coordination

Children get the opportunity to step out of their comfort zone, have fun and learn in a small group.

Therapists and outdoor educators work together to guide and support each child to engage in various camp activities including rock climbing, drumming circles, bushwalking, and shelter building.

If you are interested, please read our camper pack.

To register your child’s attendance at Camp Jimbelung day camp, submit an application form below.

Apply now 1300 372 439

Camp Jimbelung is held at the Currumbin Community Farm Campus in the beautiful Currumbin Valley on the Gold Coast

This program is hosted by the team at Early Start Australia’s Ashmore and Coomera therapy centres.

Your child does not have to attend therapy at one of these centres to come to camp.

Volunteer at Camp Jimbelung

If you are an occupational therapy, physiotherapy, psychology or speech pathology student or graduate interested in volunteering at the camp, contact Early Start Ashmore:

[email protected]

The camper pack

Learn more about Camp Jimbelung and how to apply for your child to attend.

Step 1

Please read our camper skills guide to gain an understanding of the skills that will help your child get the most from the camp experience.

Step 2

Read the frequently asked questions page to learn about how Camp Jimbelung works and the activities your child will have the opportunity to participate in. You can also use the contact page to email or phone us with any other questions that you have.

Step 3

Registration for the 2024 camp is now open. If you would like to register, please click ‘apply now‘ and fill in the form. If you are an existing client, contact your clinic directly.

Apply now

If your child has never been a client of Early Start Australia, we would love to meet you!

Prior to camp, we will arrange a time for you and your child to come in and meet with one of the therapists who will be a leader for their camp group.

At this appointment we will talk together about what you and your child would like to get from the camp experience. Your camp application and deposit will be processed following this meeting.

Note: If you live outside the Gold Coast area this start-up session can be conducted over the phone or via video call, so please mention this when booking your start-up session.

Step 4

Once your application is accepted you will be contacted by Early Start Australia to confirm your child’s place in the camp group. (Yay!)

Apply now 1300 372 439

How it works

Specific camp programs have been developed for ages 5-6 years, 7-8 years, 9-10 years, and 11-12 years, making sure that experiences, activities, learning, and reflection frameworks are optimised for age and developmental stages.

YELLOW GROUP

5-6 years old
10 campers
9:30am to 2:30pm

GREEN GROUP

7-8 years old
10 campers
9:00am – 2:30pm

RED GROUP

9-10 years old
10 campers
Attend from 9am to 3pm

BLUE GROUP

11-12 years old
10 campers
Attend from 9am to 3pm

Our groups have a high ratio of leaders to children to help us facilitate in the moment coaching and support for our campers.

Apply now 1300 372 439

Who is the camp suitable for?

Please have a read of the skills that your child will need to be able to help them participate in the camp.

If your child has difficulty in any of the areas listed, please contact us to organise to speak with our Camp Director before submitting the camper application.

5-6 year olds

Independent with toileting (daytime continent with structured bathroom breaks)
Have the endurance to get through a 5-hour program each day
Able to communicate his/her basic needs to a caregiver through verbal, nonverbal or assistive and augmentative communication.
Able to participate in small group activities such as farm-based activities, tadpole fishing, low ropes with support (e.g., visual supports structured daily routine).

7-8 year olds

Independent with toileting (daytime continent with structured bathroom breaks)
Have the endurance to get through a 5-hour program each day
Able to communicate his/her basic needs to a caregiver through verbal, nonverbal or assistive and augmentative communication.
Able to participate in small group activities such as farm-based activities, bushwalk, low ropes with support (e.g., visual supports structured daily routine).

9-10 year olds

Independent with toileting (daytime continent with structured bathroom breaks)
Have the endurance to get through a 6-hour program each day
Able to communicate his/her basic needs to a caregiver through verbal, nonverbal or assistive and augmentative communication.
Able to participate in small group adventure experiences with support

11-12 year olds

Independent with toileting (daytime continent with structured bathroom breaks)
Have the endurance to get through a 6-hour program each day
Able to communicate his/her basic needs to a caregiver through verbal, nonverbal or assistive and augmentative communication.
Able to participate in small group adventure experiences and social interaction with support.

Apply now 1300 372 439

FAQs

Each age group will participate in different activities appropriate to their age.

Camp activities may include:

Rock climbing
Group and team building challenges
Creek exploration
Shelter building
Nature play
Drumming circles

Camp Jimbelung is a therapeutic camp run by a team of experienced therapists.

The camp program has been designed with input from occupational therapists, speech pathologists, psychologists, and physiotherapists.

Each camp group is led by qualified therapists that provide a high level of individualised support for each child in their group.

Therapists get to know each child prior to camp and implement supports to encourage each child to engage in the camp experience.

Therapists work in the moment to support individual growth, development, and real-time application of skills.

The team collaborates to support each child to progress towards their goals.

The cost of camp includes a camp outcome report which summarises your child’s progress towards their goals, highlighting their strengths and any challenges they faced.

Yellow group: 5-6 year olds – $1999.90
Green group: 7-8 year olds – $2096.89
Red group: 9-10 year olds – $2193.88
Blue group: 11-12 year olds – $2193.88

NDIS Funding can be used to pay for Camp Jimbelung.

As an NDIS Registered Provider we are able to accept funding from Self-Managed, Plan Managed and Agency Managed NDIS participants.

Please ensure you have sufficient funding available to cover the total costs at the time of the camp.

No. Children are asked to bring their own morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea in an appropriate container.

Refrigeration unfortunately is not available for camper’s lunches.

Please note: This is a NUT FREE camp.

Creating a successful experience for each child is our highest goal for camp.

To ensure the therapeutic process, each group is led by two to three experienced therapists.

Groups are also supported by occupational therapy and speech language pathology students, and as well as outdoor educators from the Farm School.

Each group will have a minimum ratio of 1 leader to 2-3 children.

Camp Jimbelung is a place where children are supported to overcome their challenges.

Prior to camp, we will gather information through the application form and through a meeting or phone call with you and your child.

This gives our leaders an understanding of what may be challenging for your child, as well as an opportunity to draw on your knowledge in what is most helpful when they become upset.

Throughout camp, we are mindful of this information and are proactive in implementing supports to set your child up for success.

In the event your child does get upset, therapists will work through this with them, and support them to calm down using tools or strategies.

Prior to camp you will be asked to complete both an application form and a medical form, including emergency contact details for your child.

The Early Start Australia therapists leading the groups, as well as the outdoor education staff at the Currumbin Community Farm School are all qualified in first aid and will be responsible for managing any injuries or medical situations.

We have in place a risk management plan for camp and have developed emergency response procedures for the campsite.

Training is provided to all therapists and volunteers on these policies and procedures at the campsite on the Tuesday before camp starts.

Unfortunately, due to legislation our therapy and administrative staff are not able to administer medication to your child.

If your child requires medication during the day, you are very welcome to visit to provide this during the day.

Our staff have all completed and are current with their first aid and CPR training, as are the staff at the Currumbin Farm School, and can provide first responder care, basic asthma and EpiPen administration if required in an emergency.

If your child has asthma or allergies, please indicate this in the general and medical forms that you complete prior to camp and provide your child’s asthma or allergy management plan to our staff prior to camp so we can talk through this with you.

We would love to support your child to participate in camp if possible.

Your child’s feelings of safety at camp is very important and their ability to communicate their needs is important to this.

Some considerations we would discuss with you when you are considering an application to camp include:

What communication methods does your child use?
Are they learning to use an assistive or augmentative communication (AAC) aid?
Is your child at a skill level with their AAC that they can consistently communicate if they are unwell, need to go to the toilet, or are scared or hurt?

This is important for their wellbeing during camp.

Depending on the answers to these questions we will work with you to decide if camp will be a good experience for your child.

Our therapists are familiar with a range of assistive and augmentative communication methods and can integrate the use of these into the camp group interactions.

Another option could be to provide a support worker or allied health assistant to come to camp with your child and provide individual support to help your child participate and communicate with their communication method.

We are not able to have parents attend with their child during the day.

If separation is difficult for your child, we can assist you and your child to prepare for the camp.

We can work together to create a plan for drop-offs that suits your child.

In previous years, we have found it may take a team effort with lots of calm, reassuring support to encourage a child to join a group and leave their parent.

This may be for just the first day, or even for the second.

By working together, we have been able to support children to face this challenge and join their group, feeling positive about their success.

Some ideas to support your child to prepare for camp include meeting with the therapists leading the camp group in person (additional therapy appointments with a therapist could be arranged if needed).

Other supports include talking through the camp experience with your child, looking at photos of the campsite and activities from previous years, or using our clinic’s social story to help prepare your child for the camp experience.

Camp Jimbelung is designed as an intensive therapy experience, open to children regardless of where they participate in regular therapy.

Camp Jimbelung is independent of regular therapy and provides an opportunity for your child to practise and apply their skills in an outdoor group setting.

For children who do not attend Early Start Australia for therapy, we do require a short appointment in person or over Zoom as part of the application process, to ensure that camp will be a good fit and to give your child an opportunity to become familiar with the group leader prior to the start of camp.

More details about this are in the camper pack section above.

To ensure carry over of any recommendations or feedback to your child’s regular therapists, a camp outcome report will be provided in the weeks following camp.

This can be shared with your regular provider.

Yes. Camp is an experience where children build on their confidence, relationships and skills each day, culminating with our closing ceremony celebration on the Friday afternoon.

Yes. Reports have been requested by families in previous years and also aligns with our value of best practice.

In the weeks following camp, a brief camp outcome report will be completed by the therapists leading your child’s camp group.

Throughout the camp therapists record any significant events for each child (strengths, challenges) and track your child’s progress towards their goals.

The cost of these reports is included within the Camp Jimbelung fee.

No. This is a day camp only, with each group’s hours slightly varying depending on the age of the children.

Families will need to arrange their own transportation to and from camp.

The Currumbin Community Farm Campus is located at:

1226 Currumbin Creek Road, Currumbin Valley.

Parking is available along the side of the road, or just beyond the camp at the Currumbin Valley Primary School.

View on map

Join Camp Jimbelung

If you have any questions or would like to register your expression of interest, please contact us today.

Apply now

The Early Start Australia promise

Holistic care and treatment plans

Our multi-disciplinary team works together with you to understand your child’s needs. From there, we’ll develop a plan with evidence-based strategies. Work with us to achieve your goals and enjoy a better quality of life.

Australia-wide reach

With clinics in every state and territory, and an experienced team of therapists. Find help when you need it, where you need it.

Registered NDIS provider

We are a registered NDIS provider and are here to help you on your NDIS journey. We provide quality and safe services, follow NDIS requirements, and support your needs and goals.

Early intervention at all stages

Early intervention is not just for young children. We offer therapies that cater to all ages, needs and abilities, and we know the sooner you start your therapy journey, the better your outcomes. With us, you can learn new skills and enjoy more freedom and control in your life.

Camp Jimbelung Day Camp (QLD)