Physiotherapist – Provides assessment and treatment to address balance, transfers, walking, strength, coordination and range of movement.
Occupational Therapist – Assists patients to increase their level of independence where deficits exist in areas of self care, daily living activities, upper limb function, vision and thinking skills. The occupational therapist also can conduct home assessments and organise equipment, aids and services for discharge.
Speech Pathologist – Provides assessment and treatment to address swallowing, speech problems, language and cognitive difficulties.
Social Worker – Provides counselling for patients and their families in relation to problems arising from illness and hospitalisation. These issues might include grief, loss, trauma, managing life changes including relationships and challenging behaviours. Social Workers also assist with organising Aged Care Assessments (ACAT) for patients and families seeking residential aged care accommodation.
Pharmacist – Reviews medications on a regular basis and works closely with the doctors and nurses and other members of the team to maximise the benefits and the safety of the medications you are receiving.
Dietician – A dietitan assesses nutritional status and adequacy of nutritional intake. They work to provide a diet that is able to meet a person’s nutritional needs while taking into account any special dietary requirements. This may include oral diet, the inclusion of nutrition supplements and/or enteral nutrition (through a nasogastric feeding tube, or a PEG feeding tube).
Welfare Officer – Assists social workers to arrange residential placement and can assist with Centrelink enquiries and other practical concerns during your hospital stay.
Developmental Educators Australia Incorporated – Developmental Educators undertake significant studies in the area of neurological disabilities and many students undertake practicum placements in the Community Re-Entry Program. Positive Behaviour Support, daily living skill development and case management (to name a few) are specific area of competence of DE’s, which are supports Developmental Educators could offer to individuals with ABI.
Developmental Educators are likely to be working in the area of ABI and increasingly as sole practitioners under the NDIS. They also often work alongside of the other allied health professionals.
Developmental Educators Australia Inc (DEAI) is the professional body governing the profession. On our website we have the following explanation about Developmental Educators:
Developmental Educators are multi-disciplinary disability specialists with expertise in fostering the skills, independence and quality of life of individuals with developmental and/or acquired disabilities. As allied health professionals, Developmental Educators (also referred to as DE’s) have a practical approach and work holistically across the life span to address issues which may affect the function, independence and social inclusion of individuals with disability, their families and carers.
Developmental Educators implement and develop methodologies that enable the application of effective strategies to support the individual developmental learning goals of people who experience challenges such as acquired brain injury, physical and neurological disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, intellectual disability, and other disabilities. Developmental Educators also work closely with families and caregivers, and other allied health professionals who may be involved in the support of an individual.
For further information about the DEAI and Developmental Educators, please visit our website.(http://www.deai.com.au/)