What is available in Australia for kids with Cerebral Palsy

[SJL]

Hi Kar,
I hope you Brother and SIL are starting to get the help and support they need.

I frequently talk about services with my daughter school parents group so I will answer your questions from both my perspective and advice from other parents (It is only my and their opinions so they may be wrong or uninformed, but hopefully helpful)

1. What town/city and state do you live in? Donvale, Victoria

2. When was your child first diagnosed? 12yrs old (she had other diagnosis' prior to this)

3. What kind of tests were carried out? when? Doctor observation (other tests had been carried out prior to diagnosis such as - MRI, CT, hearing, vision, etc, etc)

4. what kind of treatment/medication/support do you get for your child? We get therapy support through school. medical support is all through Royal children. We also get continence support though another government program (available from 6yrs), respite through the council.

5. Is it covered by medicare or for free or do you have to pay? Or is it covered by private health insurance?
Most medical support is covered by medicare but I do pay for private Dietician (my choice), equipment is supplemented through government funding but there is always gaps to cover and not all equipment is available through the government funding. There is charitable groups which can help with equipment funds such as rotary or lions clubs.


6. How would you rate the medical services you have available to you?
RCH is generally really good, although some parents prefer to go private. I have always had support through RCH when needed weather it be a social worker to support me or play therapy to help my daughter during appointments, the nurses on the wards are usually fantastic during stays.

7. Are there any places/clinics/physicians that you would recommend?
RCH as a starting place. You can get linked in to heaps of services from there. The developmental medicine department has been fantastic for us.

8. Can you please PM me to get my email address if you need to tell me about a physician/place to avoid (i.e don't slander anyone in response to this thread).

9. What about other support services?
The parents group at my daughter school (which is for kids with physical disabilities) recommend CPEC (cerabral palsy education centre) for early education, although my understanding is it is a user pay service so there will be costs involved. Yoralla or Scope both have good reputations in Victoria (my daughter attends a Yoralla school)

10. How important has having a parent or other close family around been to helping you with your child?
I don't have family support and I really wish I did, I have friends who support me but I hate burdening them with my daughter because they all have special needs children. I wish I could call on family to help with their niece.

11. Is there anything else you can advise me about the system in Australia with respect to CP that might help my brother decide whether he should return to Australia or stay in the UK?
If he moves to Victoria, then move to the eastern suburbs, there seams to be better services and funding (based on my experience and other parents I speak to).
I think other people have mentioned about immigration - If your brother is an Aus citizen they should be fine but I have heard of other people not being granted citizen ship due to children having disabilities.


12. Do you know any other BB members I can approach who might be able to help me out here?




Good luck with everything, I hope you brother, SIL and neice get the support they need.

Feel free to PM if you want to know more about anything I have mentioned.

Sjl