CICADA Official Events for 2009

17 February - BBQ and Family Day When 17 February BBQ and Family Day with CICADA, A Sausage Sizzle will be provided at $2.00 per person. Tea and Coffee is provided. Soft drink will be available for purchase. Tables, chairs and umbrellas are supplied. Everyone is welcome, bring your own drinks and food if you like. 11am – 3pm WHEN:   17 February 2008 WHERE:   Sydney Cochlear Implant Centre Old Gladesville Hospital, Punt Rd (off Victoria Rd), Gladesville, NSW RSVP & ENQUIRIES:   eventsorganiser@cicada.org.au or SMS 0411 950 604 Additional information can be obtained by contacting Judy Cassell E-mail jcassell6@bigpond.com Fax 9440 3079 Chris Boyce E-mail cboyce6@bigpond.com Fax / Phone 9997 3979 HECK THIS EVENTS PAGES ON LINE FOR UPDATES A FEW DAY BEFORE FOR LAST MINUTE INFROMATION   webmaster

There are several exciting events planned though out the year. if you visit this page regularly you will find updates and contact details for each event.

Whats New: The 2008 calendar of events:

Morning Teas

These have been a great way for new implantees, potential implantees and those wanting more information, to get together informally in a small group.  They are organized in collaboration with SCIC at Gladesville for the first Thursday of most months, from 10.30 – 12.00 2008 dates: 7 Feb, 6 March, 3 April, 1 May , 5 June, 3 July, 7 August, 4 September , 2 October. For catering purposes please advise the secretary via email if you would like to come along. secretary@cicada.org.au

2008 Calendar: Committee Meetings
Held in CICADA Club Room at Gladesville on Wednesdays bimonthly at 6pm, 2008 dates: 13 Febuary, 9 April, 11 June, 13 August, 15 October. Matters can be raised with the Secretary, secretary@cicada.org.au 

Other CICADA Groups and Interstate Activities
TBA

There are groups CICADA Western Sydney; CICADA Central Coast; CICADA Newcastle; Newcastle Hunter Support Group; groups for the North Coast and south Coast of NSW and for the ACT; and affiliated associations in South Australia, Western Australia and Queensland. For Infromation on their activities cotact secretary@cicada.org.au in the first instance.

Volunteer Rehabilitation Program
This program trains CICADA members, who do very well with their implants, to assist and support those implantees who may need extra help to achieve the best results. 

It is being devised in partnership with the interstate affiliated CICADA Associations and their local cochlear implant clinics, and funded by a grant from FACES (Friends of the Australian Communication Exchange). 

Some implantees need to relearn the art of listening and of speech recognition, and those living alone or with limited support can benefit particularly.

Dedicated CICADA members assist with person-to-person attention and practice to achieve better results in shorter times.  Contact coordinator via secretary secretary@cicada.org.au for further information.

Cochlear Awareness Network

This involves CICADA members and others across Australia and NZ.  Details at http://www.c-a-network.com .

For Young People: 

CICADA’s  primary function is to share cochlear implant experiences,  to inform/advise and provide services for potential implantees and other relevant individuals and organizations.

Secondary, yet essential, purposes are to facilitate social interactions, increase membership and attract more “young” people.  Most such people are in full-time employment or study, many are married, and some have families.  They often have limited free time along with many possible social, sporting, domestic and family pursuits. In addition, some younger implantees have become well integrated with the hearing world and many within the deaf (signing) community also may not have much association with groups like CICADA.  SCIC and CICADA are planning social function and surveys with a vew to involving more young people.

Internet Forums/Chat Groups

These are particularly useful for young implantees, prospective implantees and country members not close to a CICADA social group.

There are currently three Yahoo groups run by CICADA members:

• Australian (and New Zealand) Cochlear Implant Forum. 
Created in May 2006 to reflect the Cochlear internet forum that was available in America, but with limited relevance to Australians and New Zealanders. 

This was particularly aimed at people considering an implant, who often have similar questions and concerns that can be shared with others and answered by those with implant experiences. 

The Forum is supported by Cochlear Ltd., but is not part of Cochlear and should be considered generic (for example there may be people in Australia and NZ who have or are thinking about another brand of implant). 

Details via http://au.groups.yahoo.com/group/cochlearimplant

Noisemakers. 
Established July 2003 mainly for people between 18 and 40 who are hard of hearing, late-deafened, oral deaf, or hearing impaired. 

They may or may not have or be thinking of getting a cochlear implant. 

Details via http://groups.yahoo.com/group/noisemakers

CICADA Members. 
On-line chat group set up July 2004 for those of any age who are CICADA
members. 

Details via http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cicada-members