Discuss your child's communication and walking
Client and Family Focused Services
Developing early communication skills
Services
Autism Services (TAS)
Equipment Services (TES)
Children & Young People Equipment Loan Service (CAYPELS)
Drop in Clinic
Occupational Therapy
Physiotherapy
Psychology
Social Work
Speech Pathology
Professional Development for Teachers
Therapy ACT provides professional development for ACT Education Staff from the Education and Training Directorate and Catholic and Independent Schools.
Please refer to the following calendar for further details.
2012 Professional Development Calendar
Therapy ACT Services
Therapy ACT provides the following services:-
- Direct Client Services (see below)
- Consultation services to other professionals and agencies in relation to individual clients.
- Professional Development to other professionals including teachers, learning assistants and disability support workers
- Community Education on issues that effect the quality of life of children with developmental delays and people with developmental disabilities.
Direct Client Service Delivery
Referral/ Re-Referral
Clients may be referred to the service in the following ways:
- Intake: Clients may refer themselves or be referred by another individual or agency with parental/ guardian consent.
- Drop-In Clinics: Children may attend a consultation at physiotherapy and/ or speech pathology Drop-In Clinics accompanied by a parent, guardian or caregiver.
- Equipment Clinic. People may attend to review current equipment needs.
Assessment Phase
Clients are streamed into one of the following assessment options:
- Single Discipline – One of the following disciplines assesses the client: physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology, psychology or social work.
- Multidisciplinary Assessment: when two or more disciplines assess together.
Intervention Plan
A plan is developed with the client/ parents/ caregivers and therapists. For clients who are being provided with services from more than one discipline a single Intervention Plan will be developed. The Intervention Plan is used to guide services and enable priorities and concerns to be discussed, with goals and actions identified.
Active Intervention Phase
Based on the assessment of clinical need and vulnerability clients are allocated to one of four Streams:-
A. Ongoing services for those with high and complex needs
B. Episodic: Non-limited
C. Episodic: Usually limited episodes within a set time period
D. Single issue intervention
Clients may be in different streams for different professional services.
Clinical Pathways
Clinical Pathways have been developed which describe the service types and levels that are offered for each stream and in each profession.
Clinical Pathways may incorporate a number of the following elements:-
- Individual intervention
- Group programs
- Partnerships with carers, teachers and significant others to develop and implement programs in the person’s natural environment allowing for generalisation of skills and practice opportunities.
- Assessment, loan and recommendation of equipment and environmental modifications.
- Provision of information documents such as reports.
- Education and support for caregivers or other relevant stakeholders involved with the client.
- Liaison and collaboration with relevant government and non-government agencies to provide coordinated approach to client care.
- Referral to other relevant service providers.
- Home programs
- Monitoring
Where the usual Clinical Pathway does not suit the needs of a particular client of family situation the therapist can seek a review from a Senior Professional who will advise of service options.
Services are provided in various settings, including:
- Therapy ACT sites
- Specialised clinics
- Client homes/ residences
- Childcare settings
- Educational settings
- Workplaces
- Other community settings
Review and Case Closure
The primary therapist or Case Coordinator for multi disciplinary clients, reviews progress against the Intervention Plans at milestone times:-
- When the current Intervention Plan is completed
- When there is a significant change in the client or families need
- At least annually.
A new Intervention Plan is negotiated if necessary or the case is closed and the client advised that they may re refer if further needs arise.
Consultation, Development and Education
In addition to client specific service delivery, Therapy ACT provides:
- Education to government and non government agencies, community organisations on a range of topics relevant to issues faced by clients.
- Acting as a resource to these agencies and the community.
- Working in partnerships with training bodies and professional organisations to contribute to both undergraduate programs and the development of health professions.
- Health promotion activities to raise the awareness of the community.
