Provider Spotlight: Naomi Amat

Tuesday, 30 June 2009 00:00

Naomi has set up two groups for WA MyTime provider Ngala. These groups are hosted by Milligan, a non-profit organisation which services the greater Bunbury region. Bunbury was the first regional MyTime group in Australia and now has two groups held weekly with 25 parents.

When her son Ethyn was diagnosed, Naomi wondered how someone worse off would cope. "I'm strong but I had times when I was vulnerable, and you want an answer straight away and can't get it."

"The biggest thing is that you're going into this unknown world and then how can you go about finding these things when it's so hard to access services."

Naomi has set up two groups for WA MyTime provider Ngala. These groups are hosted by Milligan, a non-profit organisation which services the greater Bunbury region. Bunbury was the first regional MyTime group in Australia and now has two groups held weekly with 25 parents.

Milligan is a community and learning resource centre. It offers a broad range of programs, which bring the MyTime parents back into a community environment and help break the isolation, as well as giving them information.

For Naomi, the rewarding aspect of her role as facilitator is watching the growth and development of each group and seeing the personal growth of the parents. "We have a lot of mums who are quiet and reserved when they join, who soon find they are actually not alone and that they can relate to others.

"It's great to see the persistence in some of the parents making the group even if they're having a bad day. Finding that strength and knowing that they will be better off by attending."

Before MyTime Naomi had set up a group at Milligan for parents of children with a disability or special needs to get together and MyTime enabled the group to expand and develop. MyTime helps families through their journey and they gain skills and knowledge that increase their personal strength, resilience and confidence, she says.

Naomi had the idea to create a book so that parents could share their stories with a wider audience and add to the knowledge of professionals in the field. The 60-page book titled Moments in MyTime was launched at the groups' first birthday party in August. One of the 17 stories was written by Naomi just after Ethyn's diagnosis.

Naomi and her husband also have a daughter aged 7, Natahlia, and a newborn, Izhaak. Naomi will continue with the group and return as facilitator after maternity leave.

"I enjoy the program and I enjoy catching up with the mums. For myself, it's also a journey with them. I join in a lot of the sessions to better understand everyone's journey. It's very rewarding, and fun being able to chat with the mums and see how they're going."

Contact Naomi at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for enquiries about Moments in MyTime.

written 27 November 2008

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