NEWS & UPDATES
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“At EquipT To Thrive, our main objective is to EMPOWER people with the ‘biomechanical tools’ and equipment to live a more independent quality of life.”
“At EquipT To Thrive, our main objective is to EMPOWER people with the ‘biomechanical tools’ and equipment to live a more independent quality of life.”
With the challenges in todays society and the pressures that we all face, just sending out a reminder to check in with those around you and see how they are travelling ❤️ ... See MoreSee Less
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For those wanting to access the Adelaide show, there are three days this week with a quiet hour that might make the environment more accessible. ... See MoreSee Less
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And a wheelchair accessible Ferris wheel
Our best kept secret yet is the installation of a gait training ceiling hoist….
It can suspend a person completely and offset up to 90kgs (so if you weigh 100kgs it will anti gravity 90kgs of your body weight).
Being able to rehabilitate many neurological and orthopaedic conditions to regain standing and walking ability
Install in September/ October 🤞🤞
#physiotherapy #mawsonlakes ... See MoreSee Less
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Mental Health - It is becoming more important in these challenging times of financial pressure and especially working with/ supporting/ being an individual who has a disability.
This year we have dedicated to implementing some wellness strategies in our practice (most commencing August 2024), to try and provide more flexibility for challenging days/ to check in with ones self/ to implement some strategies on work time to declutter the mind and reset.
So far we have:
🌟 workers who roster themselves around their life, rather than the other way around
🌟 option to work from home or our office
🌟 a kitchen stocked full of goodies for our staff to enjoy (and some to share with those who come into our space)
🌟 "no questions asked" personal days that do not require a sick certificate
🌟 Senior team oversight (debriefing/ mentoring)
From August we will be introducing paid options of weekly:
💓 yoga
💓 breath work
💓 mindfulness
💓 ice baths (yes you read that correctly!)
💓 sound baths
💓 we won't give the last one away to our staff but it results in those good belly laughs!
It is so important to look after your mental wellness, watch this space for some more tips that we would love to share with you all and how our practice is supporting our staff to offset the risk of industrial burnout, compassion fatigue and sometimes just life.
NB: Some pictures are of the director Lisa learning these techniques on wellness retreats, photos shared with consent.
#Mawsonlakes #OT #Physiotherapy #mentalwellness ... See MoreSee Less
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You work so hard Lisa & so proud of you for all what you have achieved & to keep everyone happy. It’s important to look after mental health like you say & have time out to relax during challenging times. I’m sure the above will help your staff tremendously & love you so much for the caring person you are. Keep up the good work Lisa. 🥰❤️🤗
Love it Lisa Harman 😍🌺
And that's a wrap! 🎥
We have successfully finished filming some manual handling training SOP's for a corporate client on how to safely load, unload and restrain a wheelchair in an accessible vehicle, including how to use the manual over ride functions.
This space can be tricky to navigate and unfortunately we see so many people in our community restrained incorrectly. What is even more worrying, on this adventure we discovered that a roadworthy certificate is not required in SA as it is in other states to ensure the vehicle is compliant with the road safety legislation 😳 (although many get it voluntarily).
Some of the main points to remember:
✅ restraints should be as parallel as possible between the wheelchair tie down point and the vehicle floor restraint
✅ restraints should be 45 degrees from floor level once that are attached to the tie down point on the chair
✅ NEVER cross restraints
✅ Always travel in a crash tested wheelchair with it's original tie downs and travel with a head rest
✅ You are required to wear a seatbelt under the road safety laws, even if you have a lap support and/pr postural support
#mawsonlakes #manualhandlingvideos #vehicletiedowns ... See MoreSee Less
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Roadside Assistance for Wheelchairs
www.ideas.org.au/blogs/roadside-assistance.html
This is a nice little article summarising some of the initiatives across Australia to support those with powered chairs and scooters when things breakdown or go flat roadside.
In SA we are a little more limited with what RAA can provide, however there are other options and this article gives an 'easy to read' overview of how it works.
#occupationaltherapy #mawsonlakes #roadsideassistanceforwheelchairs ... See MoreSee Less
Mobility Scooter and Wheelchair Roadside Assistance
www.ideas.org.au
Roadside assistance services are available to help you should your wheelchair or motorised mobility scooter or gopher have a flat tyre or breakdown. We list some of the options available.0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Salisbury Aquatic Centre! We went to check it out this week and were quite impressed so far. Here's our feedback, but overall we give it the thumbs up 👍👍for accessibility.
Accessible change rooms are actually accessible!
✅ ceiling hoist compatible with loop slings
✅ electric height adjustable change table (downside is it appears to be inaccessible on one side which may prove challenging for those requiring more than 1:1)
✅ accessible toilet with drop down and fixed rails
✅ accessible shower with bench, handheld and pool chair that could be used as a commode
Pool Access is via:
🏊🤽♀️👩🦽
✅ (transfer with hoist to pool chair in change room) pool chair via the ramp to enter one of the two indoor pools
✅ the ramps with rails
✅ the steps with rails
The staff are still sorting out whether they loan equipment for hydrotherapy, so for now it is BYO and watch their space.
We hope this information helps your planning if you want to visit 😊
#Hydrotherapy #salisbury #physiotherapy #accessiblechangeroom ... See MoreSee Less
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We LOVE to show our staff that they are appreciated! Every year we invite our team and their significant other to an End of Financial Year celebration to do some team bonding, share some laughs and eat some good food. This year it was a trivia night!
We are immensely grateful for our Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Therapy Assistants and Admin staff (Therapy Coordinators).
#physiotherapy #occupationaltherapy #OT #mawsonlakes ... See MoreSee Less
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Some beautiful familiar faces 🥰 better moves then some of us 😅 ... See MoreSee Less
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We have been busy filming some important content this week.
Do you know the important points to check off to restrain a wheelchair? ... See MoreSee Less
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Frustrated at trying to get a wheelchair into a car? Here's a few tips that might help.
PREPERATION TO TRANSFER
✅ If you can, remove the wheels if the frame isn't too heavy. You can often press in the button in the middle of the wheel spokes which will release the wheel from the frame
✅ If you can, remove the foot plates (if they are side leg hangars). You can often do this by releasing the larch on the left hangar and right hangar and pull it up off the pin.
✅ Fold the push handles if possible
✅ Fold the wheelchair by holding the loop or handle in the middle of the seat (once the cushion is removed). Start down in a squat and stand up, as the chair folds.
✅ Consider securing the folded frame with a jockey strap or appropriate security strap to prevent unfolding
✅ If going into a boot, consider a picnic rug, slippery side down, draped over the back of the boot (you will lift the frame onto it and then slide it into the boot and restrain it)
TRANSFER
✅Squat or low lunge and secure your load (get a good grip), stand up from the ground and walk the frame to the boot and rest it. Change your stance to a forwards lunge and walk the frame in.
✅ Repeat for any heavier items (such as wheels), or simply use good manual handling practices to place them in the boot.
NB: Refer to the transport rules and regulations. At Equipt To Thrive we encourage all loads to be restrained to reduce them becoming projectiles.
#ohs #mawsonlakes #manualhandlingtraining #wheelchairtocar ... See MoreSee Less
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"I don't understand why my AT request was declined - how can't they understand that I need a wheelchair, I am missing one leg!" 😢
....... This is unfortunately something we hear all too often. Usually the person has a clear need, but the allied health practitioner has failed to thoroughly explain how the item is reasonable and necessary and related to the person's disability.
Assistive Technology - Some Key points to demonstrating how the item is reasonable and necessary.
➡ Make it clear HOW the AT relates to the better management of your disability. Do this through describing the features applicable to the model chosen. (How does that forwards reach seat function on the power chair mean you can now reach your kettle).
➡ Make it clear what other options were considered and why they were not appropriate, especially those that come at a lower cost to the NDIS
➡ Use outcome measures in a face to face trial that relate to the participant's NDIS goals
➡ It may seem obvious.... but make sure that the AT request is to assist with their primary disability and not an unrelated condition
There are many more points in AT forms that are important, we feel those top 4 tend to be the reasons we see AT requests being declined. Always look for a provider who has experience not only at scripting your AT but they also need to be experienced at working in the NDIS framework to fill in the necessary paperwork to try and get a successful request for funding.
#OT #physiotherapy #mawsonlakes #NDIS #ATrequest ... See MoreSee Less
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Why does the government have to have so much red tape when it comes to people in need, yet they let people run the country who have no idea about need. The red tape is made for those who use it to wrap around people who can never afford it. Such a shame people who really, truly are in need have to jump over so many obstacles. I think every person who is in charge of making a decision on someone else's behalf should live like them for a week and see how that goes.
There’s been some progress….. I guess watch this in the media as more comes to light.📣📣Breaking news: The New NDIS Bill 📣📣
Bill Passed the House
🗳️ The new NDIS Bill passed the House of Representatives today.
⚖️ The Bill is not a law yet.
🏛️ The Bill will go to the Senate next.
❓ The Senate might not agree with the Bill.
🌱 Greens Senator Jordon Steele-John said they will not support the Bill.
What Happens Next
👥 The government has more members in the House, so the Bill passed easily.
📈 This is an important step for the Bill.
⏳ We have to wait to see what happens in the Senate.
Overnight Changes in the Bill that they voted yes to.
Removing Transitional Measures
🗂️ The government removed a rule from the Bill.
🚫 This rule said APTOS would be used until new rules were made.
📜 APTOS was not made to list everything NDIS should fund.
Limiting NDIA’s Power
🔍 The NDIA can only ask for information if there is no other way to get it.
🔒 This change is for privacy reasons.
Replacement Needs Assessment
📄 The original Bill did not say when NDIA can ask for a new needs assessment.
📅 The new changes say these conditions may be in future rules.
Clarifying Payments
💵 The new changes explain when NDIA can give more funding before a plan ends.
💸 More funding can be given if:
• 🚨 The person was a victim of fraud.
• ⚠️ There is a big risk to their life, health, or safety.
• 🧠 The person could not ask for a change due to disability or because they did not have decision making support.
• 🆘 There is an emergency.
• 📜 Or other reasons in future rules.
Possible Future Changes
🔄 The government might change the Bill more to work with the Senate.
Reading Process
First Reading
📘 The first reading of the NDIS Bill was when Minister Shorten introduced it in March.
Second Reading
📗 The second reading happened last week.
💬 Members of the House of Representatives talked about the Bill.
Third Reading
📙 The third reading happened today.
🗳️ Members voted on the Bill.
Senate Process
🏛️ The Senate will read the Bill three times too.
🧮 The government does not have more members in the Senate.
🤝 The government must work with smaller parties or the opposition to pass the Bill.
Hard Words
🏛️ Senate: A part of the government that makes laws.
🏠 House of Representatives: Another part of the government that makes laws.
🌱 Greens Senator Jordon Steele-John: A member of the parliament from the Green party.
📜 Bill: A proposed law.
🚨 Fraud: When someone lies to get something, usually money
📋 APTOS: Applied Principles and Tables of Support.
Thanks to Team DSC for the information that formed the basis of this post.
Pic desc: an ai generated illustration of a bunch of people out the front of of Parliament House in Canberra and the words “NDIS Bill passes the house” ... See MoreSee Less
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NDIS ACCESS REQUESTS 👩🦼🚶♂️👩🦽
What is the NDIA looking for in a well written allied health authored access request?
✅ Evidence about the disability (what it is, if it's lifelong and the expected impact over the lifetime)
✅ Evidence about how the disability/ disabilities affect 6 functional domains: Mobility and Motor Skills, Communication, Socialising, Self Management, Learning, Self Care.
✅ Intervention/support to date from other sources: family/friends, the health system, other funding bodies and your expected capacity to function with appropriate support in place
✅ Appropriate standardised assessment tools that target the assessment of the impact of your disability
At Equipt To Thrive, we welcome 16 year olds and up if they would like support with an NDIS access request. We have both male and female Occupational Therapists and have been working in this industry prior to the inception of NDIS.
You are welcome to reach out for some more information on how to prepare for an Access Request or for costing/ other queries you may have. You or your guardian still need to fill out the application, however we fill out the allied health section and supply a seperate document that brings all of the evidence about your eligibility to access the scheme together.
1300 661 670 / info@safeworkpractice.com.au www.equipttothrive.com.au
#ndisaccessrequest #OT #mawsonlakes #FCA ... See MoreSee Less
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Complex Vs Minor Home Modifications. Do you know what they are?
➡ Complex home modifications are typically structural modifications to an area of your home or workplace to make the area more accessible. The cost usually exceeds $20, 000 for the project
➡ Minor home modifications are non structural modifications to an area of your home or workplace to make the area more accessible. The project cannot exceed $20, 000.
Equipt To Thrive have 5 Complex Home Modification accredited Occupational Therapists that work with a team of experience trades that understand the needs of people with disability. Sometimes its working on managing the noise and unfamiliar people involved in the project, maybe it's organising alternate accessible accommodation or getting an accessible trailer ensuite that fits under your garage so you're not showering out the front.
It's the understanding and experience that matters to us.
#OT #complexhomemodification #homemods #mawsonlakes #NDIS #occupationaltherapy Pictures: of some examples of accessible home features, these ones are from Rosedale Homes showroom ... See MoreSee Less
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Custom positioning systems for beds. Thanks Simone from ILS Kids for helping our staff with some scripting upskilling!
#OT #mawsonlakes #atscripting #physiotherapy #bedwedges #sleepsystems ... See MoreSee Less
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How to safely move a load? There are so many ways to perform a manual task, often we need to accommodate our own functional capacity, the environmental constraints and the complexity and logistics of the task itself.
At Safe Work Practice, we teach based on Principles rather than techniques, as we work in the real world and one set of instructions may work for one body/ or in a certain environment but not in others.
By using 5 simple Principles, you will be able to adapt the task demands to reduce your exposure to a Hazardous Manual Task.
#manualhandlingtraining #trainthetrainer #liftingabox #Manutention #mawsonlakes ... See MoreSee Less
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Sticking your butt out to balance the load in front of and behind the base of support like an absolute pro!
MAWSON LAKES PRACTICE!
We thought it was time to share some progress photographs of our year 2024 so far.
Our entire team have contributed to designing a brand new customised space which we knocked down and created from scratch.
We have some lovely Physiotherapy and OT treatment spaces, a large gym equipped with parallel bars (and soon H frame gait training ceiling hoist). With a lift and 1200mm wide doors for wheelchairs, we made this space with accessibility in mind 👩🦼🧑🦽
#mawsonlakes #OT #ndisprovider #physiotherapy #NeuroRehab #spinalinjury #wheelchairaccessible ... See MoreSee Less
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FALLS - They account for 43% of hospital admissions and 42% of deaths (of those admissions) each year in Australia (AIHW 2024).
So what do you do?
🚫 Don't get up straight away, assess yourself/ did you get hurt, are you dizzy, is there danger?
✅ Take your time, if you have not been hurt, call for assistance (if you can) or bring yourself to a sturdy object (couch/ bed)
🚫 Don't move if you have injured yourself, especially if you suspect spinal or head injuries. If a person with a cognitive deficit has had an unwitnessed fall or if the person with functional cognitions tells you they have bene hurt - seek immediate medical assessment.
✅ If you cannot get up, keep yourself thermoregulated as able, hydrated as able and seek attention (use your phone, medic alert, make noise).
If you are not injured and are struggling to get up, this is what you could try:
➡️ Roll onto your side and then over onto 'all fours'
➡️ Crawl to a sturdy surface (couch/ bed), place your hands on it and get into a half kneel if able
➡️ LEAN FORWARD into the sturdy item and and stand up
➡️ Someone may be able to bring in a chair behind you, or you may be able to pivot and sit down on the sturdy object that assisted you.
#manualhandling #falls #mawsonlakes #physiotherapy ... See MoreSee Less
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Our Physiotherapy team have been brushing up on their pool evacuation skills in one of our local hydrotherapy pools.
#Hydrotherapy #mawsonlakes #physiotherapy #poolrescue ... See MoreSee Less
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It’s been a little while since we have been on social media 😅 we have been busy doing lots of internal staff training.
Thanks to Jaime one of our amazing Occupational Therapists, and Novita Tech for supplying their venue- we were able to get stuck into the nitty gritty of some complex client transfers and equipment scripting.
#manualhandlingtraining #OT #Physiotherapy #ndisprovider ... See MoreSee Less
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It was very informative! Great work by Jaime
For those of you heading to WomAdelaide this weekend and need a temperature controlled accessible change room…. 🤗 ... See MoreSee Less
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For those in the Salisbury community, the council has a great project and are providing some much needed free Mental Health Services in the region.
Details in their post below 👇 ... See MoreSee Less
Free Mental Health Support Sessions
flourishaustraliasalisbury.eventbrite.com.au
The City of Salisbury is proud to partner with Flourish Australia to provide free mental health and wellbeing support and service referral.0 CommentsComment on Facebook
We are finally all settled back into the routine of 2024 and have some exciting projects and services we can't wait to share with you in due course, apart from the NDIS Access Requests that we launched late 2023.
Our team are all back in our practice and we have appointments available in just over a week with both our OT and Physiotherapy Teams.
Watch this space for some exciting updates of our new on site gym and some unique services that will be offered amongst our Physiotherapy and OT teams in 2024.
Picture description: Director Lisa visiting Japan to teach Japanese healthcare workers about safe manual handling practices. ... See MoreSee Less
Call Now
EquipT To Thrive
tel:1300661670
At Equipt To Thrive, we are about empowering our clients with the function, equipment and skills nee0 CommentsComment on Facebook
We are pleased to announce that our practice is now able to offer NDIS Access Request Assessments for adults who are eligible and are seeking support to access the scheme ☺️
We understand the costs for such assessments can be expensive, so we have worked with OT Australia and a number of other agencies to create a document and process that keeps these costs to a minimum.
As NDIS does not fund these assessments, we have a method to be able to accept a mixture of payment via private funding, Medicare and/or private health and payment plans can be made available.
If you wish to know more information about the scope of the report, cost or receive a handout on the process of applying to the NDIS scheme, please reach out to our team through our website, through phoning 1300 661 670 or email info@safeworkpractice.com.au
We have availabiity from mid next week at present 😄 ... See MoreSee Less
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Ahead of tomorrow, sending love to those who 2023 has been a real struggle. We hear you- “Christmas” and the celebrations and togetherness that comes with it can be overbearing triggering.
❤️ it is ok to opt out and spend the day how you wish
❤️ it is ok to leave early if you are feeling overwhelmed or triggered
❤️ it is ok to advocate for yourself or your child that needs some quiet time, to open presents over numerous days, to say no to more sugar, to get away from from strong smells and constant noise- and simply go home
❤️ it is also ok to advocate for yourself or your child when they feel uncomfortable with forced affection or when that mask is becoming unbearable to keep up
❤️ it is completely normal for feelings to be intensified at a celebration when you are grieving- it is ok to opt out or attend in a way that makes you feel more comfortable
I know at least a dozen people and families who tomorrow will be chilling at home doing their own thing, 2023 has been rough for many. Sending love ❤️🩹and positive vibes that soon enough, the universe might offer some peace and time to heal so you can find joy again. ... See MoreSee Less
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We will be OPEN during the festive period due to the urgent nature of our services.
Our team still have availability in 2023 for urgent and non urgent support.
If you need support during the festive period, you can contact us via our website www.equipttothrive.com.au , via phone 1300 661 670 or email info@safeworkpractice.com.au
🎄🎅🏻🎁 ... See MoreSee Less
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We are so grateful to have such a humble, supportive, caring and nurturing team. We were so focused on being present- that we missed a group photo opportunity. Here’s some happy snaps from our festivities at Hijinx Hotel #challengerooms #tenpinbowling #arcade
Our practice will remain OPEN over the Christmas holidays, with plenty of capacity for December and January support ❤️ ... See MoreSee Less
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Such an empowering story from one of our treasured Therapy Coordinators Anna.
Many of us no doubt can resonate with the many challenges of being diagnosed, particularly later in life - whether it be yourself or someone you support.
So proud of you Anna 🙂 Lived experience goes a long way to being able to connect with others travelling a similar journey. ... See MoreSee Less
'You don't look autistic': The reality of Autism Spectrum Disorder
www.abc.net.au
Busting myths and stereotypes about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is important as it helps people to avoid making assumptions, write Anna Hennessy and Aiden Marks.0 CommentsComment on Facebook