The Umbrella Network

Cerebral Palsy

 

 

Hi my name is Donna Sheppard and I am the Manager at the Cerebral Palsy League in Townsville. I would like to take this opportunity to share with you some of the services that we are able to offer in Townsville. If at any time you would like to know more about services offered throughout Queensland please visit our WEB site at www.cplqld.org.au . This site also has links and information specifically on Cerebral Palsy.

In Townsville we currently have two main programs, the Early Intervention Program (EI) and the Non School Organisations Program (NSO). Please refer to the fact sheets for information regarding eligibility to the programs, their purpose and the referral processes. If you would like more information on the Early Intervention Program please feel free to call Corinna Myers on 47 999 600 and she will gladly answer any questions that you may have. If you require further information on the NSO program please feel free to call me on 47 999 600. I would like to take this opportunity to remind people that our programs are not just for children with Cerebral Palsy the eligibility is for a child with a Primary Physical Impairment.

What the fact sheets do not include is information on our 2010 Pilot Project and our equipment Library.

For a 6 month period CPL Townsville is conducting a Pilot Project for “In Home Support”. This project will run until approximately mid July 2010. It is currently only being offered to the families within our Early Intervention Program during this period. We are hoping that we can use the information that we will gather during the Pilot Project to advocate for ongoing funding to make the project a permanent fixture.

The role of the family assistant may include but is not limited to

• Supporting families to achieve therapy goals.
• Supporting a child and/or their siblings to be involved in activities in the home.
• Providing personal care to clients.
• Delivering opportunities for respite for the family by providing primary care to their child/children, for specific short-term periods.
• Domestic duties including cleaning incidental to the family routine for the period of the shift.

Referrals to this program can be made by asking the Early Intervention Officer Corinna Myers or by calling the In Home Support Coordinator Nalyn Riley on 47 999 600.

Through the Early Intervention Program you will also have access to our Equipment Library .We have an extensive equipment library at Townsville. Most of our equipment has been purchased through the kind donations of individuals and organisations.

• Equipment must be prescribed by the appropriate Therapist and is loaned on a contractual basis only.
• Equipment is for CPL clients use only
• NB: Some equipment can be accessed by NSO clients but must meet the funding guidelines of that service.

Our Townsville Staff are also able to offer “fee for service” arrangements to current CPL clients and non CPL families in the community. The services you can access are Occupational Therapy, Physio Therapy, Speech Pathology and Social Work. To access this service individuals are encouraged to call the office to discuss the specifics of the request. We are also happy to accept referrals from General Practitioners for Enhanced Primary Care Programs (EPC) through Medicare.

Townsville based staff are able to provide information and education to other professionals. In 2009 staff delivered a number of successful workshops and seminars in Townsville and Mt Isa.

In 2009 our Townsville staff and families participated in a variety of awareness raising and fund raising events. These include the annual “Walk for an Aussie Kid” event hosted by the Lions Club, Disability Action Week and Cerebral Palsy Awareness Week.

If you would like more information on any of our programs please feel free to contact me.

Kind Regards

Donna Sheppard  |  Manager / Social Worker

Cerebral Palsy League  |  PO Box 4279 Kirwan 4817

P 07 4799 9600   F 07 4723 5300  M 0408 701 225

 

E:  dsheppard@cplqld.org.au

 

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