Baby Clinic / Paediatric Physiotherapy

In collaboration with Ability WA and Curtin University, we conducted a therapeutic clinic for babies / young children (0-5) that have identified developmental delays. Children in this early intervention space are often not yet eligible for NDIS funding (Pre-diagnosis) and there are significant waiting times in community clinics.

The operation included a pilot clinic that is very close to full operation   for the full year as stage 2. Beyond meeting the needs of the children and their families, each stage is also dedicated to providing learning and professional development opportunities to recent physiotherapy graduates and undergraduate students to observe and be guided in paediatric assessment and intervention during the clinic.

The Baby Clinic was able to commence on 21st March 2022 at Canning Vale Hub, initially targeting therapist upskilling.  Clinics have run on Mondays, led by Bev Jepson, Physiotherapist and Curtin (external) Clinical Supervisor, with four Early Intervention customers attending individual sessions each Clinic. There is a total of 32 babies currently benefitting from this Service, referred by Community Health Nurses South of Perth. Approximately 110 occasions of service have been delivered to date.

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An internal EOI to attend Clinics for a block of five weeks, resulted in 27 therapists responding, reflecting 20% of the Therapy Services team.  Ten therapists were initially chosen based on merit, across disciplines and regions, and have now cycled through the Clinic as well as receiving a comprehensive Early Childhood therapy kit. A monthly ‘Community of Practice’ in Early Intervention has been established, facilitated by EI Lead Kirstie Denning.

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The second stage is to continue to grow this pilot and expand paediatric student placements to all Allied Health disciplines, Medicine and Nursing, with University funding supporting financial viability.