Allied Health and NDIS for Children: A Workshop for Allied Health Professionals

The NDIS is a complex and challenging setting for allied health practice. 

Our forum on Allied Health and NDIS for Children will provide information and set the scene for informed allied health participation in the NDIS.  

We have speakers from both Northcott and Blue Sky to explain the role of the Local Area Coordinator and update on recent NDIS reforms and changes of relevance to AHPs.  

We also have experienced AHP practitioners from the various sectors – private practice, government and the NGO sector – to offer insights on good practice for better participant outcomes.  

As delegates you will be engaged in workshopping processes to identify key areas of difficulty in working with the NDIS, and you will participate in forming solutions to current system shortcomings. In addition, all of our expert presenters will be providing relevant resources to assist you in your endeavours under the NDIS. 

If your job involves working with people with disabilities registered with the NDIS, you won’t want to miss this important forum with your AHP colleagues.

For more information on this event, please contact Rob Curry, Executive Officer North Coast Allied Health Association on 0429 999 005 or ncahaexecutive@hotmail.com

Meet the Speakers:

Dionne Reilly

Dionne is a Lead Local Area Coordinator for Blue Sky. She has been at Blue Sky for over four years with a role to educate participants, organisations, and the community, and to train fellow staff on how to navigate the NDIS for best outcomes for people with a disability. As a carer herself, Dionne has first-hand experienced of how overwhelming the NDIS can be.  Her aim now is to share her knowledge to support others.

Dionne will present on the role of LAC's at Blue Sky working with children. She will provide an update on recent reforms and changes to NDIS for children and offer strategies to assist Allied Health to deliver effective services under NDIS.

Alex Wilson

Alex is Manager for Therapy Services at the Cerebral Palsy Alliance in Port Macquarie. He is an Exercise Physiologist by training, however now manages a team of eight Allied Health practitioners including Speech Pathologists, Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists. He has experience managing therapy teams across the state, including Canberra, Sydney, and now Port Macquarie.

Alex will provide insights into the business of running a therapy team in the current NDIS landscape.

He will offer anecdotes, stories and advice about what needs to be considered for a business model adapted to the NDIS. He will exploring key referral pathways, NDIS plans, goals, and review periods, models of care, ensuring positive outcomes, and how to fit-in with the health model in the community. He will also touch on ethical NDIS service delivery.

Simone Fitzgerald

Simone Fitzgerald is the owner and director of Complex Care Collaborative, a multidisciplinary allied health clinic in Port Macquarie. Simone has worked in the Port Macquarie area as a speech pathologist in private practice and non-government organisations for the past 10 years. She has a special interest in mental health, trauma and neurodivergent-affirming practise.

Simone will be presenting a brief case study of two paediatric clients commencing therapy, including intake processes, funding management, planning and review processes. The case studies will reflect a child on an Early Childhood Early Intervention (ECEI) plan, as well as a child on a plan through local area coordinators (over 9 years).

Linda Kay

Linda Kay is a Registered Nurse with 38 years’ experience in the health and aged care sectors. She currently works with the Mid North Coast LHD as the Health Reform, Transition and Opportunities Manager where her roles include ensuring consultation, communication and collaboration plays a key part of reform and transition. A large part of her job involves assisting NSW Health staff and patients of the Mid North Coast with understanding the requirements of NDIS.

Linda will be sharing some insight into children’s access to allied health services within the health service on Mid North Coast, referral processes and criteria for referral.

Hannah Prosser and Ellen Whitfield

Hannah is Community Capacity Building Facilitator for Northcott on the Mid North Coast. She has a background in Ealy Education.

Ellen is a Community Capacity Building Manager at Northcott. She has a background in Case Management in the Disability sector and out-of-home care.

Northcott is the NDIS partner in the community delivering the Early Childhood Approach and its key role is to support children 0-9 to access Early intervention and funded plans.

Together Hannah and Ellen will present on the Community Capacity Building team to work with communities to build capacity for inclusivity of children with disabilities. They will describe two main pathways at Northcott:-

• The Early Supports pathway is available for children 0-6yr who have developmental concerns, even if the impairment may not be permanent.
• The Early Connections pathway is available for children who are 6-9 yrs, who don’t have a diagnosis that meets NDIS eligibility.

They will also describe the First Nations team who are available to support First Nations families via a First Nations Coordinator.