Carol's Blog

6 Practical Tips for Managing Paper Clutter

Sat, 11 May 2013 09:55:00 GMT

Paper. Sigh. There it is again. Can't live with it, can't live without it! With all the the fascinating, riveting and scintillating information out there which comes under the 'must-keep' banner, how are you at organising all of the small stuff; the articles of interest, the last-minute tear-outs from your favourite magazine, those recipes you keep meaning to try, and so on?

Here's some tips I've worked out over the years. Simple. Tried and true...

Make sure that you have a place for each of your collections, and that each place or destination is appropriate for organising the material being collected. Consider the larger picture, the amount of space that you’ll need further down the track. Label everything.
Choose a storage method that suits the project. For example, file folders, boxes, hanging files or plastic tubs may suit. For paperwork, folders with clear plastic sleeves, dividers and tabs will make organising those recipes much easier. Kikki.K has a range of stylish folders to suit a variety of interests. Make sure you know where the scissors are, and any post-it notes or highlighters you may need. Use dividers to segregate courses, types of food, or his ’n’ hers, but whatever method you use, consistency is the key. Communicate with your partner in crime and make sure they understand the protocol!
start like you mean to finish. Try to think it through at the outset. Changing horses mid-stream invariably leads to time-wating and confusion.
Sometimes, running on the fly means dealing with folders feels a little too organised for some, so find a place (such as a hanging file in the cabinet) where you can aim those tear-outs in a jiffy. Don’t forget they’re there, though, or you’ll end up with a collapsing hanging file, and the dawning reality that some small enjoyment in life is passing you by. Make time, on Sunday morning, to go through the stash and weed out the crème de la crème of those divine interiors shots to inspire you. This delicious activity is to be enjoyed as a reflection of the passion you have for the subject, and works as an affirmation of your dreams and inspirations, too.
Bills and invoices can be filed in a ring binder in month order, by due date. Label each of 12 pages with the names of a month, and file bills in the month when due. Make sure that you keep informed of the contents of each page, and deal with the items promptly!
Designate a plastic tub for memorabilia. Whist we wouldn’t necessarily recommend a large ‘toss-it-all-in-there’ receptacle for many things in the home, memorabilia seems to find a natural home in large, oversized plastic tubs! It feels good to know that most things will (and do!) fit comfortably in a nice, dry see-through container where, if you have to, you can fossick for your granny’s doilies, if required. Keep a running MS Word document listing the contents of each box (1,2,3…) and enter anything that you add. List, list and label! Mantra of organising types!

The main thing with any form of organising is to be crystal clear about the appropriate method for storing your ‘stuff’, the location of your storage destination, any equipment or materials you may require, or activities you need to do, in order to complete the job. Be consistent, make lists. Try to do something once, so that you never have to think about it twice.

What's your method? How do you deal with storing your favourite reference material? Share your tips in the comments below, or visit us on Facebook and post on our wall!

The Joys of Being a Professional Organiser

Sat, 20 Apr 2013 14:00:00 GMT

One of the services we offer our clients as a part of the Get Organised lifestyle brand is our ‘GO Concierge’ service.

A weekly, fortnightly or monthly regular ‘maintenance’ service is designed to keep your life in order, stay up-to-date with any ongoing tasks that need to be addressed, and even help move you forward into new projects, events and activities that you have been keeping in mind.

This service is becoming increasingly popular with clients who recognise that they need support to keep organised and to maintain clarity in their lives and a clear direction in their focus.

I really enjoy this arm of my work, as I’m working with people who are feeling more organised (I’ve worked with them regularly) and who value being organised – hey! That’s why I’m here!

So, you can imagine my delight when I arrived at a client’s home recently to a chilled bottle of champagne!

‘Carol’, she said "I just wanted to take a moment to let you know how wonderful it is working with you. Without you, in so many ways, I’d be in a mess financially! The way you keep my paperwork in order, update all my super, show me how to keep my bills payed (on time), get me ready for tax time, help me to set up a savings plan…all of it. I just love it! It’s always fantastic working with you and it really is worth it!’

‘So, thank you!’

Sigh…client love! Nothing like it! I love my work…x

How to Let Go of Memorabilia - Physically but NOT Emotionally

Sat, 20 Apr 2013 14:00:00 GMT

Recently, I had a question posted to me on Facebook asking....

"Clutter queen...I have a question for you? Is there a good way to part with old letters, birthday cards etc? I have boxes of them. I want to let them go...but they are a kind of snapshot of my life. Should i just be ruthless and brave...or is there another way? Suggestions?"

I thought I'd turn this into a blog post because it is a dilemma for most people when we need to create space. How do I let go of memorabilia that is important to me?

I suggested the following:

Hi Gayle - what a great question. Do you have an iPhone?

If so, you could photograph the special ones, set up a folder in your photos and call it 'Memorabilia', then file them all there. You'll be able to read them whenever you want without having to leave your desk! Saves on storage, and retrieval time.

Then discard all your letters and cards without worry. Also, if you have a backup hard drive, this will be extra 'insurance' that you can always retrieve these important memories if ever your computer dies. Hope this helps!

Don't Have a Smartphone?

Now, if you don't have an iPhone or smartphone, simply take images using your camera and upload these to your computer and do the steps above. Always ensure to back up your computer, and you could also check out ICloud for 'In the Cloud Storage' - which means you could save space on your PC or MAC.

You could also spend the time scanning this memorabilia straight into your computer and you would use the same steps to store them - as above.

We use this 'photographic method' when working with clients, in the situation when they have large items that are old or outdated, taking up space, that have been a record of progress or history within their family - such as for University projects, ie: architecture models, works of art for Higher School Certificate final exams, etc. These large projects take up lots of space and clutter up storage areas, so simply taking a snapshot of them will help to retain the memory and you'll have access to the image whenever you choose.

Hope this helps.

Christmas Decorating in all its Glory

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 13:00:00 GMT

One of my all-time favourite activities is trimming the Christmas tree!

I have been collecting Christmas baubles for years now, slowly adding to my collection with special pieces from around the world and around town.

From the start, I decided to have a general theme to my collection, so that the tree would look good in my home, but also so that relatives and friends who wanted to buy me a decoration would have some idea of how to fit in with my tastes.

Christmas decorations make lovely, thoughtful, inexpensive and frivolous gifts for just about anyone, so there’s an option for a stash of gifts for loved ones! Here are some tips for you to consider:

Make dressing the tree a family activity – bite the bullet, invite the kids, and try not to fuss when they put things up differently to how you would (you can always shift things around a bit after bedtime – oops! Did I say that?). Bring out the champagne with your friends, and make a celebration of it!
Consider the layout of the tree. Lights first, inner branches, outer branches and the top. Plan to put your largest, heaviest ornaments toward the base of the tree, and the daintier, lighter ones to the top.
Fairy lights! Aaargh! Who hasn’t got at least one half-dead set of these lying around the house somewhere, lacking a bulb? First rule of thumb – when you buy your fairy lights, buy lots of spare bulbs! The manufacturers have got you here, because the spare bulbs cost nearly as much as the string, but they change style often so buy lots that match your string, and keep them with your decorations, or the ‘light-bulb’ section of your very-organised garage.
Unwind the lights before you start, turn them on, and check for blown bulbs. You will find that if one has gone, usually a length of 10 is ‘out’. Begin methodically, and take out the first dead light in the row and replace with the new bulb. If this doesn’t result in the string coming on, take the bulb you removed, and swap it for the next one in the line. You will know when you have come across the culprit, because when you have replaced it, the whole run will come alive! A wonderful feeling. Lights go on the tree first, because it’s almost impossible to conceal their wires afterwards.
Choose your decorations with colour in mind. If you know you have 20 red cherries, distribute them over the tree. If you have 6 magenta baubles, place them in careful randomness over the branches. If Aunty Eliza has given you an ‘unusual’ decoration from another planet, well, trees have to be decorated all the way around, even at the back, don’t they? (I will get a bad reputation if I keep this up!).
Put your most glorious baubles in the most divine, obvious places, but be aware of children running past and don’t let your antique glass heirloom dangle near a thoroughfare over a tiled floor – guaranteed tears!
I have limited my collection to silver, gold, electric blue/purple and red, with some variations in between. I can’t be too...’particular’...because that seems, well, a little scary, but it does pay to have a colour scheme in mind, as this will unify the potential random nature of tree decorating.
Dispense with any ragged, broken or overly plastic pieces when you can, and replace them with your treasures. Be organised, but not too ruthless. This is one area of the home where it pays to loosen up a little (or, so people tell me...).
The angel is last, of course, your crowning glory (get those corks popping.!.)
If you haven’t got a tree? No problems. Find yourself some interesting branches, spray them white and voila! Or, simply hang a collection of baubles from the ceiling at various points in your home with thumb tacks and fishing wire. Tiny holes in the plasterwork will go unnoticed afterwards, and it’s so easy! Make sure they’re not really heavy or, crash!
Still have some left over? Baubles look divine wrapped around Christmas pressies, and add to the gift for the recipient. They also look terrific around table napkins or on dinner tables. Inexpensive, good-looking ornaments are so available these days, use them with abandon!
Finally, when it’s all over, take a deep breath, and pack them away. At this point, all of Santa’s little helpers will have mysteriously disappeared – so, it’s probably all up to you (and probably just as well...).
Purchase several storage containers – one or two large and several smaller ones for individual groups of decorations. Use rectangular, lidded containers, preferably clear so that you can easily see what’s inside them. Keep any boxes or packaging that comes with your decorations so that you can re-pack them safely.
Arm yourself with acres of white tissue-paper, to wrap your baubles in separately, to protect them from each other.
Wrap each bauble separately, and place the heaviest, most robust ones at the bottom of the storage boxes. Use their proprietary packaging where appropriate, and take your time. The most precious ornaments break if you breathe on them, so look out for special containers to house them in. I find old sunglasses containers are strong and protective. Package strings of beads, tinsel etc. separately, or you will just end up with foil soup and frustration! Think about next year, and the joy that you will have in opening your cherished, organised and unbroken collection for another year, because this activity make take an hour or two!

Enjoy!

Get Organised for Christmas - November 2012

Sun, 04 Nov 2012 13:00:00 GMT

Christmas, it’s almost upon us again, and in order to help you get organised, we decided to put together some tips to take a little of the ‘hectic’ out of the inevitable fun and frenzy! How often do you hear some anxious-looking person at the checkout proclaiming that they wish Christmas was over? Usually, that’s because they’re not organised. Hopefully, armed with our tips, that will never be you!

We're going to write a series of tips to help you get more organised for Christmas this year. Don't forget our 'Christmas Checklist' at our online store, too. Only $5.45 and guaranteed to cover EVERYTHING you''ll need to think about! Bound to help get you organised without the inevitable worry!

Here are some points that you can consider in advance, for you and your family, which can help take some of the stress out of what should be one of the most enjoyable and celebrated times of the year:

Will you be sending Christmas cards? Make a list of everyone you’d like to send cards to: consider creating a list on your computer which you can save (and backup!) for use each year.
Make a note of contact information, to save yourself time. You could even make up a mail merge list, if you are motivated and understand your program well enough. Time-consuming at first, but this would save you time over and over again in the future.
Perhaps you’d like to create a family newsletter and post these off to family members as a bit more of a catch-up? Include some photos, and a bit of creative clip art – whatever takes your fancy. You can then print these, or email them as an attachment.
Finally, make certain of your postage times if you need to send cards or gifts overseas, and diarise this information (go to http://www.auspost.com.au and click on ‘International postage details’). Add extra time at busy periods.
Or, go to http://www.jacquielawson.com and become a member for $14.75. You can send unlimited e-cards from this site, and they are fantastic! You can also arrange to send them on a specific date, ahead of time. How’s that for organised! You can create recipient lists here for the future, too!

Keep a lookout for regular tips and updates as Christmas get closer. Our aim is to get you there in love and laughter!

Brilliant Storage for Unique Knobs

Sat, 11 Aug 2012 14:00:00 GMT

I recently visited the 'Anthropologie' store in London and loved their unique selection of knobs in every shape colour and design.

Displayed in cleverly designed antique storage bays, they rotate for ease of selection and make great use of the space standing on the store floorspace.

Every inch of this store is interesting and creative.

They sell home wares, furniture, clothing and accessories and I could not leave without buying some of these divine little creations.

Visit their website to see their designs...www.anthropologie.com.

Bond Street, London Treat

Tue, 24 Jul 2012 14:00:00 GMT

I've just returned from Athens, Santorini (sigh...) and London. I've been wanting to visit Smythson for such a long time and finally got to their Bond Street store in London, for all things luxury.

Leather goods and personalised stationery, so classical, stylish, beautifully made and INCREDIBLY inspiring! How does a gal choose from their gorgeous range of colours? I could not, but fell for the softest, palest duck-egg blue that we Francofiles love!

Smythson stock leather notebooks, passport wallets, wallets, credit card wallets, jewellery and stationery boxes with drawers and makeup storage boxes. It was all a bit much really...I was drooling just being there and had to share some pics with you. It's all so elegantly, elegant...

Paperclip Lanterns

Thu, 21 Jun 2012 14:00:00 GMT

We love recycling at Get Organised and loved this idea for recycling paperclips to turn them into lanterns.

Such a creative idea don't you agree? It beats having paperclips clutter up your drawers and surfaces if you've got a spare (few) hours and a spare few hundred (thousands) or inclination to do this!

How Fergie Gets Organised in her Closet.

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 14:00:00 GMT

Just surfing through the internet the other day… did I say surfing? I meant, working and looking for something for a client...(A girl’s gotta have some relief from all that invoicing)...I found a fun article on Fergie and her (ahem) penchant for organising her wardrobe.

See, even the stars can function with a little OCD! Feel better?

With THREE large closets, it is apparently a little like our beloved Sex In the City movie, and Carrie's comment – "If you live here, what is there to fight about?".

Fergie's beloved, Josh Duhamel, gets a wobbly rack whilst Fergie lords of the other large walk-ins…her territory, no doubt. Well, she needs space for all that stagewear, right?

Apparently, she has one room dedicated to glam and one to casual. Yeah, ‘room’. And, I am almost afraid to say, is quoted as never throwing anything out. Now, come, ladies, don’t get excited. She has, after all, got 3 rooms and a terrific clothes budget which almost ensures that her purchases have a degree of enduring…something or other. Did that sound like rationalisation?

Anyway, she at least has the talent for keeping her (extensive) stuff organised. But where does she find the time, as well, to remember – and sift through all the options of what to wear. I would have a complete Libran flip-out whit so many choices! And I’m not even Libran!

Imagine having the funds to decorate your wardrobe in more glam than most of us have to decorate our house…and the hutzpah to use chandeliers and zebra print. Still, it’s a private space…..

Sneakers are her favourite, and whilst I splurged on a pair of Converse the other day, she doesn’t like to get them dirty, so she wears them, ah, once. And them, presumably, never throws them out. Good grief!

Read all about this lady’s fashion fixation here and sneak a peek at her admirable wardrobe organisation habits (maybe she has her own professional organiser??).

Photographs - Get Organised Your Photos

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:00:00 GMT

Are you Drowning in a Sea of Photographs?

Is your computer groaning under the weight of a terabyte of imagery (sounds scary)? It’s a very common issue which faces nearly every one of our clients and we’re prepared to bet you have a little of this going on too...

Here are some tips:

• You will need some plastic folder sleeves, or better...some good sized zip-lock bags (LOVE these bags), some address-style adhesive labels, a plastic tub or two, depending on how big your stash is, and a medium Texta (marker pen).

• Go find you photo collection – don’t be afraid!

• Make sure that you designate a place, now, for further additions to your photo empire – that plastic tub? Memorabilia box?

Or, for the truly inspired, a photo quality archive box from Zetta Florence - http://www.zettaflorence.com.

• Break this task into manageable chucks if it’s too daunting.

• Grab a handful of photos and lay them out in groups according to type. That may be ‘friends’, ‘family’, mum’, ‘frisky’ (a cat, not a state of being...) etc. You could organise by year.

Try to be somewhat specific, the more specific the groups the better.

• Use the Ziplocks to store groups of photos for future organising into albums or, let’s face it, for many of us, just to stop them straying into chaos-land and making them impossible to find at that precise moment when you’re trying to convince Uncle Harold that he really was wearing his pyjamas on his head last Christmas!

• Make a note on the outside of each bag as to its contents – yes, I know they’re see-through but let’s make this as easy as possible for the future. Make the labels as simple and informative as possible, and place them toward the top of the bag in a consistent spot – think about what you will look for in the future to find Uncle Harold’s photo – Christmas? Harold? Family secrets? Blackmail..?

• Had enough for today? Easy! Find that box and place the Ziplocks inside – upright and neat, labels visible (was I going to say anything else?). Consider using alphabetical order – that’s always a goodie.

• Don’t spend a disproportionate amount of time going through and storing/sorting images which are irrelevant, damaged or lacking any photographically redeeming features (i.e. blurry, out-of-frame multiples of uninteresting moments – we all have a few of those!) Yikes! Dare I say – chuck them?

• Pack up the remaining photos you haven’t categorised and put them in the container to one side – to deal with later.

• Make a time to complete this task later - say 2 hours a day, or while you're watching TV is a great multi-tasking strategy.

• Complete this task later.

• We’ll give you some more computer photo-organising tips in an upcoming newsletter.

Seriously, our advice is always to break down a big task into smaller chunks in the interests of making them achievable.

This will work particularly well with this process because you can go forward with the task without creating a bigger mess first (often a problem with organising – chaos before order – which is why people often get us in (www.getorganised.com.au) to do the hard yards!).

If you need photo-archiving assistance, check out our new ‘GO Memories’ package on our website. Let’s get this done!

Each time you work on a group of photos, you can place them into Ziplock bags, label them and come back later to continue. A great job for TV-watching nights. Who knows, even your teenager might join in for a laugh!

Get Organised with Warranties and Manuals!

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:00:00 GMT

Every home has a collection of warranties and manuals which are less that delightful to store, but absolutely essential to retrieve when the time comes.

Knowing the how’s and where’s of these highly specific and necessary items is essential. At Get Organised, this is how we do it:

Consider the extent of your warranties collection in advance, if you can, and be prepared. Plastic see-through tubs are readily available and ALWAYS useful, so don’t be shy to get a few, especially the deeper A4 size.

Arm yourself with about 20-40 clear envelopes with a press-clip (bought at Stationers - Marbig have a great range), a few folder-sized zipper display bags that you’ll find in an office outlet, some labels and a marker (or, in a perfect GO world, a labelling machine) and several smaller/medium plastic tubs.

Begin by weeding out the old transistor radio and 15 year old food processor manuals that ended up in the Council Tip 10 years ago. If the trannie still works and you love it, hold onto the instructions – they may be worth something one day!

Now, sit on the floor or at a cleared table, and sort through what you have left. Get rid of the useless bits of advertising diagrams or anything else in a language you don’t speak, and try to ‘group’ lost articles with their mates. This is where the plastic bags come in.

Don’t choose a size yet….but you can see where we’re going with this. Once you have all the relevant booklets in each pile, along with the corresponding transformers/battery packs/spare gizmos and bits that only the tech guy would understand, you are ready to select the most appropriate plastic bag for each product.

Slide the instructions and warranties into the bags in such a way that they can be readily identified at-a-glance, and put the hardware behind the paperwork. Squeeze any excess air out and zip the bag closed.

Choose a standard label (we like ‘standard’) and a marker or labeller, select a corner for the label (we like ‘consistent’) identify the product on the label, stick onto place on the bag, eh voila! Done! Almost….

Finally, group the product bags by room, and select a clear plastic tub which suits its contents, stand the relevant bags upright within (organised alphabetically) and label the box (in one corner, all the same) with the relevant room.

Leave space for the ridiculous quantity of ‘stuff’ that will come with the flat screen, so you don’t have to upgrade boxes every 2 months. Most modern appliance info comes in ziplock bags anyway, but be sure to group it all into one larger one.

There you have it! Done! – We make things so simple, don’t we?

Well, if you find the concept useful, but the task unreachable, give us a call on 1300 881 384 and we can come and do it for you, along with the myriad of other clever organising tasks that will make your life so much easier!

Organise and Style Your Property For Sale

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 13:00:00 GMT

Many people are moving house in an effort to downsize, minimize their mortgages, or maximise their investments.

There’s a great deal of evidence to support the concept of ‘pre-sale property styling’ or ‘home staging’ as it tends to be known in the USA.

The idea is to use a stylist, or a handful of the best knowledge that you can get, and prepare and style your own home for sale, to maximise your investment, secure the best possible price and, importantly, make a swift sale.

In order to get your home in tip-top condition for sale, you need to focus attention on the entire presentation of your property.

It’s important to try to ‘see’ through the eyes of your intended purchaser, and really look at the spaces, inside and out, with fresh eyes.

One way of doing this, which is really effective, is to take your camera around and photograph every corner in your home, up and down, in and out. Then, download them onto your computer, if you can, so that you can get large images to view.

This activity often is very revealing. We become so used to seeing things our way that we don’t realise what other people see. What we want them to see, of course, is their dream home!

Once you have gathered your motivation, take account of the following tips, and you’ll be well on your way to success!

Clear your property of any excess ‘stuff’. By this I mean anything that doesn’t need to be there: doubles of any electrical gear, archive material, unused furniture, equipment, outdated or unused fixtures or fittings, boxes etc. This is a perfect time for a garage sale! Or, call your local council and find out about the next bulky goods collection, so that you have minimal fuss getting rid of unwanted or broken gear. Please, recycle what you can, for all our sakes…

Often, we advise clients to use off-site storage for some of their household things which aren’t used often – buyers want to envisage themselves and their furniture in your property, to see it all fit. Make space, that’s the maxim!

Clear away all paraphernalia from surfaces. This includes family photos, magazines, fluffy toys, fridge magnets, notes, the inevitable collection of things which accumulate around the telephone – anything that your eye rests upon which speaks volumes about your personal life – hide it! Not because we think you should get rid of your beloved things, it’s just that once again, buyers want to be able to see themselves in the house, not you in your home.

Make sure that the interior of your wardrobes are as organised as they can be – research cites that good storage is the first priority for 40% of homebuyers. Not surprising, when you have a look at all the things we accumulate!

Make a list of anything that requires repairing, and try to action as many of these things as you can. This one is a bit tricky, since we all have wish lists about how we want our property to look, and probably never got around to whist we lived in the house! The irony is that a great many household projects get finished in the weeks before sale that have been in our minds for years!

Consider a coat of paint. NOTHING beats a fresh coat of paint! For a relatively small investment (in the scheme of things) new paint will take off years of wear and tear, add light and brightness to your property and create instant and dynamic appeal. Choose colours that anybody will like – try to stay away from that lime green that you always wanted but never got around to – keep that for your next place! White is always good!

Clean! Clean! Clean! Right into the corners, the sills, the lampshades, the curtains, the carpets, everywhere! Take a high pressure hose to the pathways, outdoor paintwork (providing it is in good order) gates, driveways, anywhere. Polish the brass door-knocker! Trim the gardens, mow the lawns… 80% of purchasers will make a decision about whether or not to inspect the property as a result of their initial drive-by! It is vital to make that critical ‘first impression’.

Finally, put a little style into your property. Treat yourself to some new sheets, towels and tea towels…such a small investment which will hugely affect your property appeal. Think about it, bed salesrooms make those sumptuous, appealing ‘bedroom’ looks with the sheets, not the mattress. Cushions, throws, beautiful soap, candles – all these things are relatively inexpensive, and you can take them all with you! Make sure the house is super-tidy for inspection days, and yes, fresh flowers are a bonus. Put the pet gear away, and take the pooch out for a walk. Ditto, ashtrays, rubbish bins, compost etc.

When all this is done, you may not want to sell! Or, sit back and watch your property SELL! Enjoy!

Yellow Pages Wasting Paper

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 13:00:00 GMT

Hello Yellow Pages...WHAT A WASTE OF PAPER...why not use your resources to run a survey to find who actually uses and wants these books now, then send them only to these people...It will save lots of money and trees...

I don't use them anymore and many of our clients don't either. I see them stacked in foyers of apartment blocks and many just go straight in the bin.

The internet is far easier and quicker to access this information today...via Yellow Pages online...

Does Compulsive Hoarding Affect You or Your Family?

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 14:00:00 GMT

Compulsive Hoarding and Acquiring: Group and Individual Treatment This article has been reproduced from a Group Therapy Treatment Program initiative from Swinbourne University. See information and contact details below.

Help is on the way: Support for individuals, couples and families in the community.

CHAG is a 12-session group program addressing problems with compulsive hoarding and acquiring.

Compulsive hoarding is where individuals have difficulty discarding items. This leads to the person's living spaces kitchens, bedrooms, lounge rooms, etc. becoming cluttered to the point where they can no longer be used for their designated purpose. For example, people may no longer be able to cook in the kitchen, or may not be able to sleep in their beds due to their "stuff" getting in the way.

Swinburne University's

group treatment program

for hoarding is based on the successful individual program developed by Randy Frost and Gail Steketee in the US. It is based on the principles of "cognitive behaviour therapy" and aims to help people develop the skills to deal with their hoarding themselves (e.g., decision making, tolerance for emotions associated with sorting).

Note that in this program, participants remain in control of their possessions at all times indeed, the therapists will not touch people's possessions without explicit permission.

'We have found that being in a group with other individuals can in itself be very helpful for hoarding.

In particular, individuals with hoarding can often feel quite ashamed of their issues, perhaps refusing to let people into their homes so as to not reveal the hoarding, and it can therefore be very powerful to meet others with the same problem.

Group members also help by giving helpful suggestions for dealing with the hoarding, by giving increased insight into the problem through their shared understanding, and by giving encouragement to people dealing with hoarding".

The hoarding program was adapted for Australia by the Psychology Clinic with Prof Michael Kyrios' research group the BPsyC Research Centre including clinical psychologists Dr Richard Moulding, Dr Maja Nedeljkovic and Dr Christopher Mogan.

Program Details

The compulsive hoarding group will be open to eight participants and it will be run on a low cost basis. Medicare rebates may be available for those who would like to participate. The next Compulsive Hoarding and Acquiring Group is set to commence October 2011.

If you would like to find out more or register your interest in this group, please contact the Project Officer (Tuesdays - Fridays) on (03) 9214 5528 or send an email to psychprojects@swin.edu.au.

MORE INFORMATION

A trial, run by Professor Kyrios and his team through Swinburne’s National eTherapy Centre (NeTC), is providing free therapist-assisted online treatment to people with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). For information on the trial, contact

Sam Mancuso.

For low-cost, face-to-face individual and group treatment for OCD, compulsive buying and hoarding, at the Swinburne University Psychology Clinic in Hawthorn. Call 03 9214 8653.

To participate in a project on early childhood experiences associated with compulsive buying email

Kerrin Danswan.

DigiFrame A4 Rechargeable Scanner - From Mission Impossible to Possible

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 14:00:00 GMT

DigiFrame A4 Rechargeable Scanner is an amazing new product that will change the way we handle paper and documents.

Copying and storing information has never been this easy! Get rid of all you paper overload (or make digital copies of the things you really need) effortlessly, stylishly and skilfully with one portable, rechargeable and easy to use product!

The DigiFrame A4 Rechargeable Scanner transforms photos and documents easily into digital format. It makes organisation in the office or home a breeze! Available at our http://www.getorganised.com.au/all-products/storage-and-solutions/digiframe-a4-rechargeable-scanner for fast delivery!

Scan Anything!
Copy Photos, Documents, Invoices, Receipts, Credit Cards up to A4 size

Scan Anytime!
Takes seconds to setup & seconds to scan. Your choice of JPG or PDF output

Scan Anywhere!
Built in Rechargeable Battery for scanning on the go... Watch the TV Ad here...

Easy to Use - Multi-Purpose Rechargeable Photo Scanner

* Convert Your Print Photos & Documents to PDF or JPG... in SECONDS!!
* Scans Directly to Memory Card, USB and PC
* Connect and Scan to Smartphone, iPad or Android devices
* Take it anywhere to Copy Photos with Family & Friends
* Built in Rechargeable battery - Perfect for Business use!

Specifications:

* Scans from a small 2"x 2" up to a huge 8.5" x 16"
* Photos, Documents, Business Cards, Credit cards etc - A6, A5, & A4 std sizes
* Supports SD/SDHC & MMC memory cards, USB drives (to 16GB) or direct to PC
* Connect & Scan documents & photos to Smartphones and Android devices (using the USB cable supplied with your phone) or your iPad (using Apple® Camera Connector kit - not supplied)
* High Resolution: 300dpi (image) @ 48bit colour depth
* Long Life Rechargeable battery (over 200 colour pages between charges)
* Choice of two File formats - JPG (24bit colour) or PDF (8bit Grayscale)
* Super Fast scanning speed - less than 12 seconds per page
* 4 x transport rollers for smooth scanning & super sharp imaging
* Auto Cropping feature
* INCLUDES: 2 GB USB Flash Drive, USB cable, Power Adaptor, Travel Bag, Cleaning Tool & 5"x 7" Scanning pouch

We LOVE it!