Please read the letter below from our Clinical Lead: Dr Dayna Pool
To our friends and families of Healthy Strides,
As we have observed over the past few weeks, the situation in our community regarding COVID-19 remains fluid. As with all Australians, we too are guided by the WA Health Department and Australian Government. We would like to take this opportunity to update you on our procedures during this time as we prioritise the health and well-being of everyone that walks through our doors - children, families and our therapy team.
Healthy Strides is located in a physically isolated area. This means that we are able to restrict, monitor and screen the flow of people that enter our building. We are not part of a shared community space such as a gymnasium or fitness centre or community hall. Rather, we have a stand alone space. Firstly, the front door is locked at all times and only our clients have the code to enter the building. Our space is also located on the first floor with a hand washing station situated prior to entering our clinic. This space allows us to screen for any symptoms as well as to screen for any travel undertaken. It also ensures that everyone can wash their hands prior to entering the clinic. All common areas such as doors, lift buttons and stair rails are cleaned with disinfectant after each arrival. As a team, we are doing everything we can whilst also keeping an eye on government recommendations.
https://healthywa.wa.gov.au/Articles/A_E/Coronavirus
TRAVEL
If you or a family member you are in close contact with (i.e. this includes anyone in your household), have recently travelled either internationally or interstate, the recommendations are to self isolate for 14 days. https://www.health.gov.au/news/health-alerts/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-health-alert#travellers-and-visitors
If this relates to you, please get in contact with us before your upcoming appointment so that we can make alternative arrangements that keep you and everyone safe whilst also ensuring that we can provide an effective intensive therapy program even if it is delayed slightly. Of course, if you have recently been tested for COVID-19 after travelling and have a confirmed negative result, please let us know as well prior to coming to your scheduled appointment.
CLEANING
For many who have received services from us before, you have probably seen that we love to clean and it is routine and part of our standard practice to wipe everything down after a session. We will continue to do this as part of our standard practice. We have however, implemented some additional precautions at this time. This includes:
- Hand washing prior to entry into the clinic - before you come through the doors, please wash your hands with the soap provided and sing happy birthday to yourself or at the top of your lungs! (or just count to 20). For children who can't reach the sink, we have alcohol hand gel for them to use.
- All doors coming in and out of our clinic are cleaned regularly throughout the day.
- Sibling specific toys - we know that the breadth of toys and colours in our clinic is very attractive to all kids! However we do have a sibling specific area so that we can keep track of what toys have been handled. Whilst siblings are always welcome, can you please help us by either bringing your own toys or keeping brothers and sisters to the sibling area (where all toys are wiped down as well of course!)
- For your health and safety, we would recommend that wherever possible, only "essential" family members attend the session. This is to limit the overall number of persons inside the room at any one time.
- To ensure that we can clean everything regularly and after each session, we will have only 3 concurrent sessions in our space at any one time.
Be assured that we will screen each person coming into our rooms (signed declarations) for recent travel as well as to screen for any symptoms (such as a fever or cough). This applies to everyone, including our therapy team.
VISITORS
We will also keep our rooms only for our clients and families. At this time, we will not invite other therapists or teachers into the space. We love technology so we can stream or record sessions/handovers so we can all still keep in touch and be on the same page. We will be in contact with you about this as we know that this is relevant to a few of our clients at the moment.
We are only a phone call or email away - so please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions at all.
If you or your child isn't well, please get in touch so that we can plan and reschedule accordingly.
Kind Regards,
Dayna Pool
Clinical Lead
Please see our YouTube video statement
Telethon Beneficiary 2018/2019
Paediatric Clinical Excellence
Australian Allied Health Award Winner
This award is given to outstanding evidence based clinical innovation and education promotion and teamwork within an Allied Health private practice for the Australian paediatric population and their families. The Healthy Strides Foundation was recognised for our work in 2019.
Click on the award disc to see the YouTube video from the presentation!
NEW! Speech Pathology
An adjunct to our Intensive Therapy programs.
We are now able to offer Speech Pathology in a multi-disciplinary environment. Available as both a Plus or Pro option in addition to your Intensive Therapy program, we see this as another element that completes a holistic approach to therapy provision - please visit our dedicated Speech Pathology portal for all the latest information.
Our Intensive Therapy Programs
Individualised goal directed programs
We provide individualised goal directed intensive therapy programs (in 3 week, 6 week blocks, along with a custom duration program option) for children and young adults with neurologically based conditions and injuries. This includes people with cerebral palsy, acquired brain injuries and spinal cord injuries.
Increasingly, research supports the effectiveness of focused and specific activity based interventions. This is the basis of motor learning and neuroplasticity where it is understood that consolidated mass practice of specific tasks has the potential to change neurological pathways. Interventions based on this principle are known as Activity Based Rehabilitation.
Embracing principles of neuroplasticity through Activity Based Rehabilitation approaches has the potential to improve each person's ability as well as to importantly, increase participation in life situations whether that be at home, school or community.
Activity Based Rehabilitation Programs
All of our Activity Based Rehabilitation programs are delivered three times per week over the three to six week period. In some instances, more frequent sessions are warranted and in these cases, families do have this option if required.
The frequency of intervention is based on current research, our years of clinical experience and our own research in Activity Based Rehabilitation.
Engaging in short periods of focused programs also has the benefit of planning ahead so that therapy can fit around the person and family. Whilst intensive therapy is important for optimising skills and participation, it needs to be manageable so that families can balance work, school, family time and fun!
NB. The custom program option will provide a varied session frequency and can be discussed at the initial assessment.
4 Base Programs
STRIDE
Locomotor Training
REACH
Upper Limb Functional Training
KINDY MOVES
Ages 2- 5 years
ACTIVATE
Individualised Task Specific Training
Custom Programs (including PITS)
Fully customisable programs
Post Intervention Therapy Support
Post Intervention Therapy Support
Please consult our team for details on a bespoke program, which may incorporate specified portions of the 4 programs above for a custom duration.
Post Intervention Therapy Support
Post Intervention Therapy Support
Post Intervention Therapy Support
PITS (Post Intervention Therapy Support) funded therapy services are available via The Healthy Strides Foundation. Please click on the link above for more information.
Thank you to our supporters
