Sony Camps return across every State and Territory in 2022
Date: 27 June 2022
The Hon. Natasha Maclaren-Jones MLC, NSW Minister for Disability Services, and Minister for Families, joined Sophie Ryan, CEO, Sony Foundation to announce the return of Sony Foundation’s Holiday Camp for children with a disability (affectionately known as ‘Sony Camps’) to a national level, at the annual Sony Camp Conference, after two-years of reduced operations due to the risk of covid.
Sony Camps have provided free respite care to parents and carers of children with disability for over 20 years. Uniquely, care is provided by high school and university students who take on the role of a primary carer for the duration of the Camp. For four days and three nights, student carers provide 24-hour care to the children: feeding; bathing; and, tending to their every need. From discos to sailing, the student carers ensure each child has the holiday of a lifetime.
(L-R) Michael Blake, Principal, St Joseph’s College Hunters Hill, Hon. Natasha Maclaren-Jones, Sophie Ryan, CEO Sony Foundation.
Sophie Ryan announced at the conference that in 2022, 36 Sony Camps would take place nationally in partnership with 50 schools and universities across Australia to support over 600 children with disability, and their families/carers; returning to the program’s pre-COVID operations.
“Our Children’s Holiday Camp program is Sony Foundation’s longest-standing program. It is an enriching experience for both the student carers and children attending the camp forming lifelong bonds. Importantly, the overnight respite care provides a much-needed break for the parents of the children with disability, many of whom have never had a night away from their child.”
“After two years of restrictions on disability support and respite services due to the risk of covid with our most vulnerable, we know many families will want to apply for their child to attend.” said Ms Ryan.
Families can now apply for their child to attend a Sony Camp in 2022 via the Sony Foundation website.
Follow this link to apply online.
Minister Maclaren-Jones thanked Sony Foundation, and their partner schools and universities, for the support they provide to children with disability across NSW.
Delegates from Schools and Universities from Broome to Townsville, Adelaide to Toowoomba came together for two days of presentations and workshops bringing innovation and advocacy from the disability care space into Sony Camps planning for 2022. A highlight was hearing from Paralympian Matt Levy OAM and special presentations from NORO, ARUMA and Office of The Children's Guardian.
Since inception, Sony Camps have supported over 8,900 children with disability and provided a transformative experience for over 16,000 high school and university students. Each camp is provided free of charge for the participants, with majority of Sony Camps running in the September and December school holidays.
Applications for Sony Camp 2022 are officially open and any family with a child with a disability is encouraged to apply. Places are limited so be quick.
