Addressing Common Transport Challenges in Paediatrics (Melbourne)

Car travel can be exciting, providing us with freedom and facilitating activity and participation within our community and beyond! For children with disabilities and their families, the right piece of equipment can be the difference between safe and unsafe access to vehicle transportation. Research tells us that the place a family prefers to find information on transport is from their Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist, however, up to 70% of families report never being provided information on this subject. There is a clear need for Allied Health Practitioners to upskill in this area so that they can be confident in supporting these children and families in this crucial part of their lives.

This workshop will outline the necessary considerations when working with children and their families in the area of transport. We will explore how to establish a safe transport plan, including what needs to be involved in one, in order to ensure children are well supported for travel and community access. We will identify the unique considerations required through different age groups from 0 to 16 years old, as well as how these link across the different areas of vehicle transport. Opportunities for hands-on learning will be provided through the exploration of different features of different products, including the pros and cons of different options available in the market to support children.

Our learning objectives will include:

• What considerations are required for children with disabilities and transport?
• What does available research and literature say about transport challenges?
• Assessment considerations for establishing a safe transport plan.
• Overview of the equipment options available and the factors that influence decision-making between these options.
• Considerations for transition through different areas of transport from 0-16 years

Meet the Presenter: Jamie Cockle (Medifab)

Trained physiotherapist, Jamie Cockle is Medifab's Paediatric Clinical Educator and Seating and Positioning Specialist.

Jamie prides himself on empowering everyone he works alongside with practical knowledge they can apply every day. His in-person and online training sessions ensure therapists and families are confident with the equipment they use; ensuring they get the most out of it to ultimately optimise children’s health and happiness. He’s also the voice for therapists, product specialists and families in advocating for product and service improvement.

Jamie’s clinical skills and assessment tools were honed during his early career working as a Paediatric Physiotherapist at Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital in Cardiff, followed by a stint at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children. It’s in these acute hospitals Jamie gained practical experience with paediatric equipment and developed a particular passion for helping children with neurological conditions to be the best version of themselves. One of his proudest moments is helping a young boy learn to stand unaided after being given a poor prognosis.

He strongly believes every child, regardless of ability or diagnosis, should have the opportunity to be well supported as they learn, grow and develop. Critically, he appreciates the need for equipment to change as children do.