NSW Paediatric Spinal Outreach Service (PSOS)
The NSW Paediatric Spinal Outreach Service (PSOS) is a joint project of the SpineCare Foundation and Northcott Disability Services, funded by NSW Health. The team provides services for children and young people aged 0 - 18 years throughout NSW and the ACT, who have sustained a spinal cord injury, acquired through injury or a disease process.
During 2008-2009 the team:
- Provided rehabilitation services and family support to 66 clients in metropolitan and rural locations throughout NSW and the ACT.
- Provided education sessions on spinal cord injury to 9 educational centres throughout NSW, including schools in the Sydney metropolitan area, the Central Coast, Pambula and Albury.
- Transitioned 5 clients to adult services.
Staff achievements:
- The team is developing a “Growing Up Independent Chart”, to support client’s in achieving age-appropriate milestones, and maximising independence in preparation for adulthood.
- PSOS staff presented a poster at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australia & New Zealand Spinal Cord Society (ANZCOS).
- The team Physiotherapist was awarded a Dr Dorothea Sandars Churchill Fellowship 2009 to investigate innovation in physiotherapy for children with acquired spinal cord injury. The Fellowship entailed an overseas study tour of the world renowned facilities and research instituations that offer services to children with spinal cord injury and provided opportunities to present the service model of and tools developed by PSOS. This also included the opportunity to present at international Howard H. Steel Conference: Pediatric Spinal Cord Injuries and Dysfunction, that occurs every three years in Orlando, US. Click here for the Churchill Fellowship report.
- A newly adapted goal setting tool was developed by the team to help clients and families identify and prioritise goals.
Click here to read a story of a PSOS client
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