CARMBA Services
Welcome, CARMBA has a lot of services to offer its members and we're very proud of this. Our services are offered by parents of multiples for parents of multiples. Each service has specific email addresses but you can call our fabulous Contact Officer on 0411 883 844 if you don’t have access to email.
Area Representatives
CARMBA supports families throughout the ACT and surrounding districts including but not limited to Queanbeyan, Gundaroo, Murrumbateman, Yass, Boorowa, Cooma, Jindabyne and coast regionscontact@carmba.org.au to discuss possibly setting one up, we're looking for representatives in Cooma, Braidwood/Bungendore, Goulburn and Batemans Bay
Central (Woden/Weston) centralrep@carmba.org.au
Southside (Tuggeranong) southsiderep@carmba.org.au
Northside (Belconnen and North Canberra) northsiderep@carmba.org.au
Queanbeyan (Queanbeyan and Surrounds) queanbeyanrep@carmba.org.au
Yass (Yass/Murrumbateman) yassrep@carmba.org.au
Sapphire Coast (Bega etc) sapphirecoastrep@carmba.org.au
Australian Multiple Birth Association
CARMBA is a member of The Australian Multiple Birth Association (AMBA). AMBA is a not-for-profit organisation comprising of multiple birth families. The organisation provides support, resources and education to multiple birth families. AMBA is active in increasing awareness of the unique needs of multiple birth families, improving the resources available to them and promoting the production and distribution of literature relating to multiple birth issues. AMBA is a grass-roots organisation, membership fees are collected at a local club level and affiliation fees fund state committees and national activities. Both levels exist to assist guide local clubs and to provide a framework for club activitiesAMBA Community Forum.
Breastfeeding
Our breastfeeding multiples support contact is successfully breastfeeding twins and is a breastfeeding counsellor with the Australian Breastfeeding Association. She has a wealth of knowledge and experience and is a great support person. Email bfmultiples@carmba.org.au if you'd like to find out about feeding premature/small babies, expressing, supply and demand, correct attachment and lots more.
Baby and Kids Market
CARMBA has joined forces with the Baby and Kids Market and have arranged a deal for members to get a table at a reduced price. Email contact@carmba.org.au for more details.
Caesarean Birth
Are you likely to have a caesarean birth, would you like to find out what is involved from a mum that has experienced one? Contact caesarean@carmba.org.au.
Children's Clothing Swap
The Children's Clothing Swap was a great success and we will hold another one in March 2012. Families were thrilled that they were able to swap clothes for bigger sizes or buy clothes for a bargain price.
Clothing Pool
Baby clothes in sizes 000000 to 000 are available for loan at no charge. Users are asked to donate an item or two when clothes are returned. Contact clothingpool@carmba.org.au for more details.
Equipment Hire
A number of items are available for loan to members with a refundable deposit. Contact hire@carmba.org.au for more details .
Expectant and New Parents' Information Session
New and expectant parents' of multiples are invited to attend a free information session to learn more about life with multiple birth children. The New and Expectant Parents' Information Session is a service CARMBA provides to the community thus membership is not required to attend the event. Topics for discussion include the unique features of pregnancy, birth and feeding multiples. The event is held the fourth Monday of every second month at 7:00 PM in Calvary Hospital Education Room, Maternity Floor. For more information please email infosessions@carmba.org.au or call 0413 302 734.
CARMBA offers in-home support to families through the Family Support Program. This program aims to provide emotional, physical and material support to multiple birth families in need so that they can enjoy a harmonious environment, quality family time and emotional well-being.
The program offers support in the following areas:
Facebook Group
find us on Facebook, this is a private group so you'll need to request to be added. Facebook is proving to be a valuable resource for families with items for sale/wanted, advice and information on upcoming events.
Fun Day
Every March (17 March 2012) CARMBA holds its Annual Family Fun Day in Canberra. This event is our biggest function of the year and is held in conjunction with Multiple Birth Awareness Week. It brings together many of our members and their families (approximately 200 people) to celebrate our club and our multiples, and provides plenty of entertainment for th kids, a free sausage sizzle, cutting of the CARMBA cake, a raffle and other wonderful activities. Details of the Fun Day are published in our newsletter, Two Up, closer to the event.
Grief, Loss and Bereavement Support
team is comprised of parents who have themselves experienced the death of one or more of their babies or children and offers support and information to any family who sadly loses one or more of their multiples at any age or stage of gestation. AMBA's website also has a list of support services available, including a private Bereavement Sanctuary forum.
Our Bereavement Team offers
For support please contact bereavement@carmba.org.au or ring 0411 883 844.
Higher Order Multiples
Are you a parent or expectant parent of triplets, quads or more? We have a monthly morning tea so that families can get together. We also have weekend family gatherings during the year. For more information please contact our Higher Order Multiples (HOM) Liaison Officer.
Hospital Visiting
Our hospital visitors are happy to visit pregnant or new parents in hospital. To request a hospital visit please email hospitalvisitor@carmba.org.au or call us at 0411 883 844.
Library
A comprehensive collection of resources and literature about multiples is available to members for borrowing, free of charge. Many subjects are catered for including pregnancy, self-care, child development and care, breastfeeding and many more including prematurity, bereavement and special needs. The library currently contains over 200 books, in addition to journals and articles pertaining to multiples. To borrow an item or for a complete list of available materials please contact library@carmba.org.au.
Male Support
Let's get some focus back on our super dads! Medically it's all been about the mum and babies but what about those fantastic dads out there! Email malesupport@carmba.org.au to connect with other dads maybe at a fundraising BBQ (where better?).
Meetings
General meeting are held monthly, usually on the second Monday of the month. All members are welcome and encouraged to attend. Email president@carmba.org.au for more information.
Member Discounts
CARMBA provides a list of shops that are willing to generously provide CARMBA members with a discount on a wide range of goods and services. A list of discounts is published in our Newsletter.
Multiplay
Multiplay is a weekly playtime held on Mondays during NSW school term. Email multiplay@carmba.org.au for more information.
Multiple Birth Awareness Week
Multiple Birth Awareness Week celebrates the wonder of multiples births both at a local and a national level every year. It is usually held in the month of March. CARMBA organises a wide variety of events for our multiple birth member families during the week.
Multiples in School Forum
On Sunday, 30 October 2011 from 9-11am, CARMBA hosted a relaxed forum for parents of multiples to hear about and discuss issues relevant to multiples when they reach school age. email schoolagedmultiples@carmba.org.au for more information.
CARMBA publishes six newsletters per year with details of meetings, information about the association, advertisements, articles of interest and much more.
contact@carmba.org.au or ring 0411 883 844. You may also find some online resources specific to your concerns, we've endeavoured to provide a list of useful resources on our Additional Resources page. Facebook is providing to be a great space for asking mums and dads of multiples for ideas/advice.
Premature Birth
If your multiples are born prematurely they will generally spend time in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (now called the Centre for Newborn Care at Canberra Hospital). This can be daunting and it may be useful to understand what is generally involved. Email our fantastic premature birth support contact for more information .
School-aged Multiples
Are you wondering what school you should send your children to? Should you keep them in the same class or separate them? How will you manage two or more teachers, homework etc? Our School Aged Multiples Advisor can help support you through this stage. CARMBA is holding a Multiples in School Forum - a great way to meet other parents of multiples in school forum is a great place to meet other parents of multiples in school and professionals in education to find out more. To find out more email schoolagedmultiples@carmba.org.au for information.
Multiples in School forum was held in 2011, a DVD will be produced to help capture the conversation from the day.
A number of social events are held throughout the year including
For more information see Two Up or our events page; if the event is not yet displayed email vicepresident@carmba.org.au for dates.
Special Needs Register
Services offered include
Support for Young Parents and/or Single Parents
Parents who are single or young are invited to make contact with the association. These groups are to support each other with the unique issues of parenting multiples as young or single parents. For support please email contact@carmba.org.au or call 0411 883 844,
Two Up
CARMBA publishes six newsletters per year with details of meetings, information about the Association, advertisements, articles of interest and much more.
Water Awareness Program
CARMBA, in partnership with the Queanbeyan Aquatic Centre, has launched a program whereby families with multiples can access swimming lessons with the aid of volunteers. Please contact membership@carmba.org.au if you are interested or have any questions.
Area Representatives
CARMBA supports families throughout the ACT and surrounding districts including but not limited to Queanbeyan, Gundaroo, Murrumbateman, Yass, Boorowa, Cooma, Jindabyne and coast regionscontact@carmba.org.au to discuss possibly setting one up, we're looking for representatives in Cooma, Braidwood/Bungendore, Goulburn and Batemans Bay
Central (Woden/Weston) centralrep@carmba.org.au
Southside (Tuggeranong) southsiderep@carmba.org.au
Northside (Belconnen and North Canberra) northsiderep@carmba.org.au
Queanbeyan (Queanbeyan and Surrounds) queanbeyanrep@carmba.org.au
Yass (Yass/Murrumbateman) yassrep@carmba.org.au
Sapphire Coast (Bega etc) sapphirecoastrep@carmba.org.au
Australian Multiple Birth Association
CARMBA is a member of The Australian Multiple Birth Association (AMBA). AMBA is a not-for-profit organisation comprising of multiple birth families. The organisation provides support, resources and education to multiple birth families. AMBA is active in increasing awareness of the unique needs of multiple birth families, improving the resources available to them and promoting the production and distribution of literature relating to multiple birth issues. AMBA is a grass-roots organisation, membership fees are collected at a local club level and affiliation fees fund state committees and national activities. Both levels exist to assist guide local clubs and to provide a framework for club activities
Our breastfeeding multiples support contact is successfully breastfeeding twins and is a breastfeeding counsellor with the Australian Breastfeeding Association. She has a wealth of knowledge and experience and is a great support person. Email bfmultiples@carmba.org.au if you'd like to find out about feeding premature/small babies, expressing, supply and demand, correct attachment and lots more.
Baby and Kids Market
Caesarean Birth
Children's Clothing Swap
The Children's Clothing Swap was a great success and we will hold another one in March 2012. Families were thrilled that they were able to swap clothes for bigger sizes or buy clothes for a bargain price.
Clothing Pool
Baby clothes in sizes 000000 to 000 are available for loan at no charge. Users are asked to donate an item or two when clothes are returned. Contact clothingpool@carmba.org.au for more details.
Equipment Hire
- Twin prams
- Breast feeding pillows
- Swings
CARMBA offers in-home support to families through the Family Support Program. This program aims to provide emotional, physical and material support to multiple birth families in need so that they can enjoy a harmonious environment, quality family time and emotional well-being.
The program offers support in the following areas:
- Buddy Link - linking existing members with new members for support
In-home Support - linking volunteers with families for support in day to day child related duties and light household chores
Facebook Group
find us on Facebook, this is a private group so you'll need to request to be added. Facebook is proving to be a valuable resource for families with items for sale/wanted, advice and information on upcoming events.
Every March (17 March 2012) CARMBA holds its Annual Family Fun Day in Canberra. This event is our biggest function of the year and is held in conjunction with Multiple Birth Awareness Week. It brings together many of our members and their families (approximately 200 people) to celebrate our club and our multiples, and provides plenty of entertainment for th kids, a free sausage sizzle, cutting of the CARMBA cake, a raffle and other wonderful activities. Details of the Fun Day are published in our newsletter, Two Up, closer to the event.
Grief, Loss and Bereavement Support
team is comprised of parents who have themselves experienced the death of one or more of their babies or children and offers support and information to any family who sadly loses one or more of their multiples at any age or stage of gestation. AMBA's website also has a list of support services available, including a private Bereavement Sanctuary forum.
Our Bereavement Team offers
- Telephone or personal contact from members who have themselves experienced the death of one or more of their babies or children
- Literature and information from the Australian Multiple Birth Association's Grief and Loss Folder
- Access to recent books and publications about bereavement, grief and related issues
- Hospital visiting, if requested
- Sids and Kids is dedicated to saving the lives of babies and children during pregnancy, birth, infancy and childhood and supporting bereaved families.
- SANDS)
Are you a parent or expectant parent of triplets, quads or more? We have a monthly morning tea so that families can get together. We also have weekend family gatherings during the year. For more information please contact our Higher Order Multiples (HOM) Liaison Officer.
Hospital Visiting
Our hospital visitors are happy to visit pregnant or new parents in hospital. To request a hospital visit please email hospitalvisitor@carmba.org.au or call us at 0411 883 844.
Library
A comprehensive collection of resources and literature about multiples is available to members for borrowing, free of charge. Many subjects are catered for including pregnancy, self-care, child development and care, breastfeeding and many more including prematurity, bereavement and special needs. The library currently contains over 200 books, in addition to journals and articles pertaining to multiples. To borrow an item or for a complete list of available materials please contact library@carmba.org.au.
Male Support
Let's get some focus back on our super dads! Medically it's all been about the mum and babies but what about those fantastic dads out there! Email malesupport@carmba.org.au to connect with other dads maybe at a fundraising BBQ (where better?).
General meeting are held monthly, usually on the second Monday of the month. All members are welcome and encouraged to attend. Email president@carmba.org.au for more information.
Member Discounts
CARMBA provides a list of shops that are willing to generously provide CARMBA members with a discount on a wide range of goods and services. A list of discounts is published in our Newsletter.
Multiple Birth Awareness Week celebrates the wonder of multiples births both at a local and a national level every year. It is usually held in the month of March. CARMBA organises a wide variety of events for our multiple birth member families during the week.
contact@carmba.org.au or ring 0411 883 844. You may also find some online resources specific to your concerns, we've endeavoured to provide a list of useful resources on our Additional Resources page. Facebook is providing to be a great space for asking mums and dads of multiples for ideas/advice.
Premature Birth
If your multiples are born prematurely they will generally spend time in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (now called the Centre for Newborn Care at Canberra Hospital). This can be daunting and it may be useful to understand what is generally involved. Email our fantastic premature birth support contact for more information .
School-aged Multiples
Are you wondering what school you should send your children to? Should you keep them in the same class or separate them? How will you manage two or more teachers, homework etc? Our School Aged Multiples Advisor can help support you through this stage. CARMBA is holding a Multiples in School Forum - a great way to meet other parents of multiples in school forum is a great place to meet other parents of multiples in school and professionals in education to find out more. To find out more email schoolagedmultiples@carmba.org.au for information.
A number of social events are held throughout the year including
- weekday morning teas for pregnant and new parents
- Multiple birth playgroups
- Annual twins in school evening for parents whose multiples are about to begin school or preschool
- Weekend events including BBQs, Quesacton, Parents' night out, mini trains, Dad's time out, National Zoo and of course The Fun Day.
Special Needs Register
Services offered include
- A wide range of resources and information about a broad range of special needs.
- AMBA's Special Needs Register
- support organisations throughout Australia Information is available about sensory disability (vision and hearing), physical disability such as cerebral palsy, cleft palate, spina bifida, etc. prolonged hospitalisation, language delay, intellectual disability, reading problems, behaviour issues including ADD and ADHD, emotional problems, learning difficulties, genetic conditions, birth abnormalities and many others.
Support for Young Parents and/or Single Parents
Parents who are single or young are invited to make contact with the association. These groups are to support each other with the unique issues of parenting multiples as young or single parents. For support please email contact@carmba.org.au or call 0411 883 844,
CARMBA, in partnership with the Queanbeyan Aquatic Centre, has launched a program whereby families with multiples can access swimming lessons with the aid of volunteers. Please contact membership@carmba.org.au if you are interested or have any questions.