Allied to Kids is an initiative of the NSW Child Health Network. The newsletter will be circulated regularly to provide updates and

information to support Allied Health professionals who work with children.

Allied to Issue 59 October 2013 kids Inside this edition

NEUROMUSCULAR CLINIC 6th

BIENNIAL ALLIED HEALTH WORKSHOP

The 3 R’s of Neuromuscular Conditions: Respiratory, Rest & Recreation

Friday 18th October 2013

Target Audience: Allied health professionals working with children and young people with neuromuscular conditions.

Overview: This education day aims to provide allied health professionals with knowledge of the issues faced by children and young people with neuromuscular conditions. The day will consist of both theory and practical learning experiences, which will be presented by the multidisciplinary Neuromuscular Clinic team at Sydney Children‘s Hospital, as well as external presenters.

Contact: Harriet Violakis. 02 9382 1073 harriet.violakis@sesiahs.health.nsw.gov.au

Registration closes Thursday 4th October 2013

$35 Million for community-based palliative care services across NSW

1

ISBAR and Allied Health Clinical

Handover

2

Spinal Seating Professional Development Programme

2

Dubbo Paediatric Allied Health Group 3

Apps for Allied Health Professionals 4

SpeechBITE 4

VESPA wins PITCH 5

Speech Pathology Week 6

Allied Health Educator Details 7

SARRAH Scholarships 7

Statewide Telehealth Education 8

Australian Domestic & Family Violence Clearinghouse

9

Conferences/Workshops 9

$35 Million for community-based

palliative care services across

NSW

Health Minister Jillian Skinner today announced the roll-out of $35 million in community-based palliative care services across NSW.

―Today, we take a giant step towards achieving the goals of the NSW Government Plan to Increase Access to Palliative Care 2012-2016,‖ Mrs Skinner said. The $35 million suite of community-based palliative care initiatives includes support services for dying children and their families.

A ―pop up‖ model of care will mobilise clinical expertise and support around a dying child as close to home as possible. This approach provides support to clinicians caring for children at home, including GPs, nurses and care workers; targeted training to support professionals; and ongoing access to paediatric palliative care expertise for families and clinicians by telephone, e-health or other communication strategies.

To view the NSW Government Plan To Increase Access To Palliative Care 2012- 2016, go to www.health.nsw.gov.au/palliativecare

Issue 59 Page 2

ISBAR and Allied Health Clinical Handover

ISBAR provides a framework for the exchange of information between people in a consistent and reliable way. Evidence shows that when a standardised approach is implemented, the effectiveness of that approach increases. The listener knows what to expect and becomes more attuned and the speaker, knowing what is expected, can participate fully to meet the listeners needs. ISBAR has been adopted by a number of high-risk industries, including health, and so has an evidence based background.

ISBAR is an acronym. It stands for:

I – Introduction S – Situation B – Background A – Assessment R – Recommendation

The standard key principles for clinical handover provide a framework for implementation across a wide range of clinical handover scenarios, embracing the concept of ‗flexible standardisation‘. These key principles should be used by allied health in all clinical handover.

New ISBAR App

New South Wales Health and South Australia Health have collaborated to develop an ISBAR iPhone/iPad application, that is available free of charge on iTunes.

Elearning Module

HETI, together with Local Health Districts and Specialty Networks has developed an online learning module on Communication, focusing on Clinical Handover. The module has been designed to support health care workers develop their knowledge and skills utilising a standardised framework of communication (ISBAR).

Access is via the NSW Health Online Learning Centre (Moodle) http://nswhealth.moodle.com.au/

Spinal Seating Professional Development Programme

Many clinicians have limited knowledge and skills in prescribing seating and wheeled mobility equipment for clients with a spinal cord injury. The short and long term consequences of an incorrectly prescribed system can be profound, e.g. pressure ulcers and posture deformities; as are the safety issues associated with wheelchair use.

A 26 month Spinal Seating Professional Development Programme (SSPDP), was funded through State Spinal Cord Injury Service (SSCIS). This included development of a website for 10 online self-study modules with training videos and seating assessment forms. The aim of this programme is to improve clinician‘s access to seating education and to build competence in seating assessment and prescription.

The Spinal Seating PDP website features : 10 modules with learning aims, rationales, outcomes, key concepts and hyperlinks to advanced and more detailed resources. Downloads of sample assessment forms and prompt sheets. 5 Instructional videos. Downloads of handy tips, selected useful resources and practical ideas. Self assessment quizzes or case studies with answers.

Please find attached the link to the Spinal Seating Professional Development Program Website which is free to access: http://www.aci.health.nsw.gov.au/networks/spinal-seating

Issue 59 Page 3

Dubbo Paediatric Allied Health Group

It was 3 years ago that the Women‘s Health and Paediatric Physiotherapy position at Dubbo Base Hospital (DBH) commenced. It was designed to cover the wards (maternity, special care nursery and paediatrics) as well as offer an outpatient service. When I first commenced in this job sharing position, there was a recurring theme in that we really had no idea about the other paediatric services in town, government and non-government. In an effort to improve the continuity of care of patients from hospital to home and other services provided in the community, the Dubbo Paediatric Allied Health networking group was founded.

The Dubbo Allied Health networking group meet on the 3rd

Monday of every second month to discuss a whole range of different topics that affect us all locally. At present, our members include Dubbo Base Hospital, Cerebral Palsy Alliance, Aboriginal Child Therapy Team, Orana Early Childhood Intervention, Family and Community Services (or Ageing Disability and Home Care) and Royal Far West.

Initially it was an opportunity to meet with staff from other services but it has turned into something much more than that. Dubbo can be an area that has difficulty in recruiting and retaining staff. Our physio department here at DBH often jokes that our ―recruitment policy‖ are new grads on allocation, and our ―retention policy‖ is that we have 12 months to marry them off to local farmers.

As part of the earlier meetings, a survey of allied health professionals in Dubbo and surrounding areas was conducted and we identified issues that were important for our area in recruiting and retaining staff. The key issues identified were support, flexibility, professional development, specialised service, and incentives. These became the frameworks for which the Dubbo Paediatric Allied Health Networking Group were built upon.

We wanted to be able to offer support for students, new grads and new staff to the area, mentoring, provide knowledge of professional development available locally whether that be face to face or via videoconferencing webinars, and to be able to offer one another professional support through sharing of knowledge and skills.

The benefits have not only been for the allied health professional. There has been a flow on effect for patients. There is better continuity of care of patients from hospital to home and accessing other services. Patients are better informed about the services they are able to access, and there is better utilisation of specialist knowledge and skills giving rise to greater satisfaction from patients and families accessing the services. There has also been the opportunity to make use of other services (government and NGO) to take up an extra workload for those on annual leave and in situations where treatment cannot wait till the staff member returns.

Overall I am really proud of all members and their enthusiasm to keep the group up and running. It provides a forum for us all where we can ask questions from those with more specialised skills and provide that ongoing professional support that is essential to recruiting and retaining staff in a rural community.

For further information, please contact Nat McConochie, Senior Physiotherapist,

Issue 59 Page 4

Apps for Allied Health Professionals

Mobile applications (apps) have a lot to offer allied health professionals and are becoming an essential part of a clinician‘s toolkit. This section of A2K newsletter would like to offer allied health professionals a forum for sharing the apps that are most useful for them and how they incorporate them into therapy.

Xclinometer

This is a handy app that allows you to use your Android device to measure angles of slope (or tilt), elevation, or inclination of an object with respect to gravity. An inclinometer is also known as a tilt meter, tilt indicator, slope alert, slope gauge, gradient meter, gradiometer, level gauge, level meter, declinometer, and pitch-and-roll indicator. Each term is commonly used for different applications, which shows that you'll find the XClinometer a helpful tool for a variety of different projects.

I use an inclinometer on my phone for measuring angles when out and about and have no goniometer / angle finder.

Am finding it fabulous as has a hold button so I do not have to read it until removing from the limb, it also can be zero’d to first position easily.

Monumental

This app keeps track of how many stairs you climb using the phones accelerometer. Holding the iPhone at your hip, you hit the GO button. Start climbing the stairs. It will keep track of how many steps you climb. When you have climbed the correct number of steps you reach the top of your destination and then you can see the view.

If you would like to share some apps that you find particularly useful please do not hesitate to send them to your Allied Health Educator to be included in upcoming editions. Contact details can be found on p 7.

speechBITE

speechBITE™ is a database that provides open access to a catalogue of Best Interventions and Treatment Efficacy across the scope of Speech Pathology practice. This is an evidence based practice initiative between The University of Sydney and Speech Pathology Australia.

Did you know speechBITE is now on Twitter and Facebook?

Follow @speechBITE on Twitter twitter.com/speechBITE and like us on Facebook facebook.com/speechBITE.

In more news, we now have almost 4000 indexed treatment studies on speechBITE and are continuing to update the site regularly.

If you are interested in randomised controlled trials, we have 1100 RCTs with a methodological rating on the PEDro - P scale.

Our big news is that we are working on a new look website with an improved search page and easier navigation. So watch this space for the launch date!

We hope that you continue to find speechBITE a useful resource for evidence-based practice in speech pathology.

Contact details: Kate Smith speechBITE Project Manager kate.smith@sydney.edu.au

VESPA wins PITCH

North Coast NSW Medicare Local recently held the fourth round of

PITCH (Practical Ideas To Change Healthcare). The theme of this

series was Improving access to health services for small communities.

The PITCH is part of an ongoing effort to harvest innovative ideas from

the health sector and the wider community. North Coast NSW Medicare

Local invited PITCHes targeting the theme and the most creative and

innovative ideas were invited to present their PITCH in person on the

16th July.

Rural Primary Health Service Speech Pathologist Craig Suosaari‘s PITCH describing Video Examples of

Speech Pathology Activities (VESPA) was voted ‗most outstanding PITCH‘ at the event held at the

University of NSW Rural Medical School. There were loads of yummy things to eat on the night. . . .but

only soft drinks.

VESPA are examples of simple speech pathology activities that Craig uses with small groups of

preschool children in his work in small towns across the Hastings Macleay area. Parents can easily

repeat these activities at home with their child – but may need a demonstration, so the intention is that

VESPA could be accessed conveniently online. In the initial roll out stage there is a selection of 10 simple

activities targeting Speech, Receptive Language, Expressive Language, Phonological Awareness and

Metalinguistic skills. Each VESPA has a short explanation of the task, a demonstration video of a

preschool aged child performing the activity and some suggestions for simplification or extension.

Additional resources for the tasks are also available for download.

Craig will be funded by North Coast NSW Medicare Local to attend a conference or educational event of

his choice within Australia. NCML will help to implement the VESPA programme and also provide

assistance to the other short-listed finalists with their proposals.

Issue 59 Page 5

PITCH judges with the outstanding PITCH presenter (left to right): Louise Robertson (Pfizer),

Dr David Gregory (NCML Board), winner Craig Suosaari and Scott White, Communications

Manager from Hunter Medicare Local.

Speech Pathology Week

Speech Pathologists in Orange celebrated Speech Pathology week by launching a project aimed to

increase reading to children in the preschool years. It is well known that reading helps promote language

development and local therapists have been concerned to see that books and old fashioned interactive

games such as i-spy have been replaced by televisions, smart phones and computerised games. Recent

studies have revealed that only one in four parents read to their child resulting in children not knowing

how to orientate a book or turn the pages correctly which in turn can lead to literacy difficulties once the

child starts school.

One prime area identified as the perfect opportunity for parents to read with their children instead of giving

them their phone was in medical waiting rooms. The Speech Pathology department asked staff from

community and allied health and one school if they could donate any children‘s books that were in good

condition that they no longer needed. The response was overwhelming with over 250 books received.

Therapists put together bags with the slogan ‗TURN OFF THE SCREENS! READ WHILE YOU WAIT‘

that contained a preloved book, a handout of how and why to read to children, a colouring page to

promote reading and a brochure on what Speech Pathologists do and how to refer to the service. These

bags were distributed during Speech Pathology week to children under 6 who presented to various

hospital departments.

Another initiative was to create a reading corner in the Community Health waiting room with the aim to

replace the TV as an activity whilst waiting. The local Quota group (who also support the promotion of

hearing and language) donated $300 to purchase a table, chairs and some more books to help this

become a reality.

To thank all the staff for their support in this project the department hosted a mad hatters lunch where all

the speech pathologists dressed up as characters from Alice in Wonderland and then delivered the bags

to hospital waiting rooms. The local newspaper ran a front page story that highlighted the importance of

reading which was in turn picked up across the country and was featured on many newspapers websites.

Although Speech Pathology week is over and the bags have all been distributed, the team feel that

continuing the promotion of reading is very important and aim to have at least one reading focused

promotion activity each term. With Christmas fast approaching next term the team will promote books as

gifts and hope to spend some time reading with children whilst they wait to see Santa!

Issue 59 Page 6

Scholarships Available

Jenny Nicol/Sue Sims GESCHN Allied Health Educator

Phone: 02 9382 4471

Email: Jennifer.Nicol@sesiahs.health.nsw.gov.au

Susan.sims@sesiahs.health.nsw.gov.au

Sonia Hughes NCHN Allied Health Educator

Phone: 02 6592 9623 / 0423 823 633

Email: Sonia.Hughes@hnehealth.nsw.gov.au

Carmel Blayden WCHN Allied Health Educator

Phone: 6363 8120 / 0418 313 930

Email: carmel.blayden@health.nsw.gov.au

For more details about any of the information included in

this newsletter, or if you have something you would like

included in a future edition, please contact one of us.

Supporting Allied Health Professionals

Working with Children

Submissions for Future Editions of Allied to Kids Let us know about your workshops, new programs, events, research or positions vacant. Clinical articles need to be

evidence based with a relevant (albeit short) reference list. Submissions can be sent to any of the Allied Health

Educators (email details are listed above) and need to be received no later than the 25th of each month to ensure

inclusion in the following month‘s edition. Remember, Allied to Kids is a newsletter for paediatric Allied Health

professionals by paediatric Allied Health professionals.

Please note the inclusion of event/resource details in this newsletter does not constitute endorsement by the NSW

Child Health Network. Individuals are responsible for determining the credentials of events/resources in line with

their own professional standards.

Issue 59 Page 7

The Allied Health SARRAH Scholarships for 2014 are now open. Please click on the links below for further information.

Applications close 15 October 2013.

Note that these scholarships are open to all – not just rural/remotely based staff.

Allied Health Continuing Professional Development Scholarship (up to $3K)

http://sarrah.org.au/site/index.cfm?display=231520

Postgraduate Scholarship (up to $30K)

http://sarrah.org.au/site/index.cfm?display=74994

Clinical Psychology Scholarship (up to $30K)

http://sarrah.org.au/site/index.cfm?display=229283

Further details regarding the Allied Health Education &

Clinical Support Program are available at the Allied to

Kids website:

http://www.nchn.org.au/a2k/index.html

Statewide Telehealth Education Opportunities

Available to Allied Health professionals who provide services through NSW Health

NSW Child Health Network Allied Health Telehealth Education

Allied Health Telehealth will continue to be from 1.00 - 2.00pm. Contact Fiona Lamb if you would like to link into the sessions, Fiona.lamb@sesiahs.health.nsw.gov.au.

View the 2013 Telehealth calendar on the Allied to Kids website http://www.nchn.org.au/a2k/index.html. Instructions for viewing recorded sessions online are also available on the website. Alternatively, contact one of the Allied Health Educators (details on page 7).

Sydney Children's Hospital Medical Grand Rounds

The SCH Medical Grand Rounds Education Program is held each Wednesday from 1:00 - 2:00pm. Upcoming sessions:

To book into a session or participate in the WebEx trial contact Katy on 9382 1641 or via Katy.Sterling-Levis@SESIAHS.HEALTH.NSW.GOV.AU. To view previous sessions on the SESIAHS intranet go to http://sch.sesahs.nsw.gov.au/education/video/.

Sydney Children's Hospital Mental Health Grand Rounds

The SCH Mental Health Grand Rounds Education Program is held fortnightly on Monday from 10:00 - 11:00am. Details of upcoming Mental Health Grand Rounds sessions will be distributed by email. Should you wish to be placed on the distribution list please contact Pat Cleary via Patricia.Cleary@sesiahs.health.nsw.gov.au. To view previous sessions on the SESIAHS intranet go to http://sch.sesahs.nsw.gov.au/education/video/.

John Hunter Children’s Hospital Paediatric Grand Rounds

The JHCH Paediatric Grand Rounds Education Program is held each Tuesday from 1:00 - 2:00pm. Upcoming session topics include (more specific details are released one week prior to the session): For instructions on how to view these sessions online or to access previous sessions, please email Sonia.Hughes@hnehealth.nsw.gov.au.

15th October Barriers & enablers to Workplace Learning Bradley Lloyd, Allied Health Clinical Training and Education Coordinator, SLHD

29th October Weight4Kids Joanne Henderson, Project Coordinator, Weight4Kids , CHW

12th November Team Around the Child—Project outcomes Sara Deeth & Kate Moseley, Campbelltown Hospital

26th November Using the ‗F-words‘ in disability Belinda Denver & Jackie Harris, Cerebral Pal-sy Service, SCH

9th October Getting closer: celebrating our journey in Aboriginal child

health & meet the new National Children‘s Commissioner

Karen Zwi

16th October Tow Awards Tow Awards

23rd October Immunotherapy in peripheral nervous system disorders Hugo Sampaio

Issue 59 Page 8

1st October Anne RONAN Genetics

8th October Rob SMITH Neurology

15th October Joerg MATTES Respiratory/Sleep

22nd October John RELIC Dermatology

29th October Bruce WHITEHEAD Quality

Issue 59 Page 9

Australian Domestic & Family Violence Clearinghouse

The clearinghouse is a national program that reviews and disseminates evidence-based research on the causes, effects and ongoing impacts of domestic and family violence (DFV). The aim of the program is to contribute to the prevention of DFV and effective responses to victims through the provision of accurate, up-to-date information and resources for evidence-based policy and good practice. The Clearinghouse is a project of the Centre for Gender-Related Violence Studies in the University of New South Wales and funded by the Australian Government, FaHCSIA. The clearinghouse has recently begun providing monthly webinars.

http://www.austdvclearinghouse.unsw.edu.au/events_calendar.html

Conferences/Workshops Supporting Developmental Care in the Nursery

John Hunter Hospital

1st November 2013

The aim of this course is to provide an overview on development care strategies in the Neonatal Intensive

Care Unit and Special Care Nursery. It is designed for health professionals (nursing, medical and allied

health) working with neonates in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Special Care Nursery.

COST: $70 (including GST) for HNE staff $100 (including GST) for non-HNE staff Morning Tea, Lunch, and Afternoon Tea will be provided.

CLOSING DATE: Friday 18th October 2013 Enquiries to: joanne.green@hnehealth.nsw.gov.au

New Allied Health Training Package to Inform Research

A free new online training package has been launched for allied health professionals working with people

with developmental disabilities.

In an Australian first, the N1 Practice in Research Training Package has been designed to teach

clinicians, including speech pathologists, physiotherapists and occupational therapists, how to evaluate

client outcomes using single case experimental designs, also known as N1 designs.

The program aims to support the delivery of evidence-based treatment to children, adolescents and

adults with developmental disabilities and their families.

To register for this program just go to http://otarc.blogs.latrobe.edu.au/n1-training-package-registration

Social Skills: Assessing and Teaching 4 - 5 October 2013 Club Burwood RSL, Burwood 9 - 10 October 2013 Morningside 14 - 15 October 2013 Parkville Enquiries to info@centipaed.com.au or phone 02 8065 7837 Northern Child Health Network Paediatric Update 10 - 11 October 2013 Mercure Resort, Hunter Valley Gardens http://www.nchn.org.au/a2k/education.html APA Conference 2013— Pre-conference Workshop Putting the ‘early’ into Early Intervention 16 October 2013 Melbourne Convention Centre http://www.physiotherapy.asn.au/Conference2013/Program/Pre_conference_workshops/Conference2013/Program_/Pre_conference_workshops.aspx Educate, Motivate, Innovate, Celebrate - 10th National Allied Health Conference 16 - 18 October 2013 Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre http://www.cdesign.com.au/nahc2013/ Early Life Nutrition: What is the role of the first 1000 days of life for future health? Children's Nutrition Research Centres, The University of Queensland, Annual symposium 16 October 2013 - Brisbane 18 October 2013 - Sydney http://www.som.uq.edu.au/research/research-centres/children's-nutrition-research-centre/events.aspx 8th Annual Paediatric Allergy Update 18 October 2013 The Children‘s Hospital at Westmead Enquires to: Jennifer.cook@health.nsw.gov.au NSW Rural Health and Research Congress 21 - 23 October 2013 Port Macquarie https://secure.hotelnetwork.com.au/rural_health_2013/program http://www.ebhc.org/index.php Health Workforce Australia 2013 conference: Skilled & Flexible 18 - 20 November 2013 Adelaide https://secure.hotelnetwork.com.au/rural_health_2013/program http://www.ebhc.org/index.php

Issue 59 Page 10

Conferences/Workshops cont.

Conferences/Workshops cont.

Infant and Early Childhood Social and Emotional Wellbeing Conference 2013 30 October - 2 November 2013 Canberra http://www.iecsewc2013.net.au/ Supporting Developmental Care in the Nursery 1 November 2013 John Hunter Children‘s Hospital, Newcastle Enquiries to joanne.green@hnehealth.nsw.gov.au or phone 02 4921 4504 Simulation Training Day for Faculty 4 November 2013 Kim Oates Australian Paediatric Simulation Centre, The Children‘s Medical Centre, Westmead Enquiries to Ella.Scott@health.nsw.gov.au or phone 02 9845 0709 Keeping children & young people safe: The complexities of working with substance using parents 5-7 November 2013 Parramatta www.ecav.health.nsw.gov.au The Art of Good Health and Wellbeing: 5th Annual International Arts and Health Conference, Sydney 12-14 November 2013 http://www.artsandhealth.org.au/conferences/the-art-of-good-health-and-wellbeing-sydney-2013/presenters.html Being the Hands: Enhancing the relationship between infants and their parents 20 November 2013 Lake Macquarie Enquiries to Kaylene.Mullard@hnehealth.nsw.gov.au Physios Think Kids: Professional Development for Paediatric Physios 22 - 23 November 2013 The Children‘s Hospital at Westmead Enquiries to sophie.knott@health.nsw.gov.au SAVE THE DATE—SPOT on DD Workshops 2013 25-26 November 2013 North Parramatta Enquiries to spotondd@gmail.com More Than Words® 2 - 4 December 2013 Brisbane 9 - 11 December 2013 Sydney http://www.hanen.org/Special-Pages/CEU-advanced-email.aspx?_cldee=c29uaWEuaHVnaGVzQGhuZWhlYWx0aC5uc3cuZ292LmF1

Issue 59 Page 11

Conferences/workshops cont. Management of Feeding and Communication Issues in Medically Complex Neonates and Infants Workshop 5 - 6 December 2013 Brisbane http://www.zimei.com.au/index_files/upcomingevents.htm Dr Rhea Paul - Diagnosis and Outcome predictors in ASD & Pragmatic skills in Children with ASD 9 - 11 January 2014 Brisbane 13 - 14 January 2014 Sydney Enquires to: lisa.rickard@talkspeech.com.au Developing Effective Play Skills in Children 13 - 14 February 2014 Angliss Conference Centre, Melbourne http://gallery.mailchimp.com/45140bb1fc/files/WORKSHOP_POSTER_Dec_2013.doc Paediatric Toe Walking 17-18 February 2014 Sydney http://www.milestonestherapy.com.au/paediatric-toe-walking-course/ Linking Up for Kids Conference 14-15 April 2014 The Menzies Hotel, Sydney www.childwellbeing2014.net.au Sensory Integration Certification Program (SIPT) This series is open to OT, SP, PT and Neuropsychologists. Options to complete one, two, or all modules Module 3: 10-14 May 2014 Module 4: 12-16 July 2014 www.sensorypotential.com

Issue 59 Page 12

Clinical Information Access Portal

A new range of CIAP Live Online Training Sessions are now available for dates until the end of 2013.

Live online training sessions are short interactive sessions where participants connect online and by

phone with a trainer.

Session topics include: BMJ Best Practice, Introduction to Joanna Briggs Institute, Nursing Consult, Med-

line and CIAP Overview.

To register for these Live Online Training sessions, click on Education from the top menu bar on the CIAP

homepage, then select Live Online Training and click the registration button for your selected course

date.

http://www.ciap.health.nsw.gov.au/home.html