A new and exciting program is being set up at Childrens Hospital Westmead. It’s called CHIPS. The aim is to focus on the social well being of young people between the ages of 12-25 with a chronic illness. CHIPS helps young people face the challenges of life with a chronic illness or medical condition, offering them various opportunities, encouragement and support that can be a significant part of these young people’s ability to live with the various illness. A chronic illness refers to an ongoing illness or condition that interferes with a young person’s lifestyle, understanding of themselves and confidence. The aims of the program are to empower it’s members through utilising and developing their abilities to meet the challenges of life with a chronic illness, to increase their level of control over their health status, and to also enable them to be an active member of their communities.

CHIPS is built on a five level model of participation with the premise that all young people who live with a chronic illness will experience similar lifestyle and emotional concern. The program focuses on the individual and their journey, not the illness itself. CHIPS is run primarily by the young people who participate in it, headed by a Reference Committee. Through this committee the various activities on the CHIPS calendar are organised and the direction of the program as a whole is determined.

The 8 week group

The first step of CHIPS is a peer support group run over 8 sessions with 6-8 young people, facilitated by a health professional and a trained peer leader, a CHIPS member that has been a participant of a past 8-week group and completed Leadership Training.

CHIPERS

Chronic Illness Peer Support, Education, Recreation and Social. The second stage offers the participants the chance to maintain friendships started in the initial 8-week program and form new ones within an environment where all understand the isolation and difficulties of living with a chronic illness. Involvement varies from coming to the annual camp, social activities and workshops to writing for and receiving the quarterly newsletter (CHILL) and the annual magazine (CHIPS WRAPPER).

Leadership Training

The third level of involvement in CHIPS is a three day course aimed at preparing members with the skills to become group leaders both for co-leading the 8-week groups and on social activities such as the camp, and to be part of the Reference Committee.

Group Leadership

The fourth stage includes leading a group on camp and socials, and co-leading an 8-week group.

Reference Committee

The final level of involvement comprising of up to fifteen CHIPERS.

Contact

Email: CHIPS@chw.edu.au
Phone: 02 98452446
Contact: Michele Casey (Nurse Co-ordinator)
Website: http://www.rch.org.au/chips/