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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.”
You may have seen some people in the community with a lanyard with a sunflower representing Hidden Disabilities.
Although every day individuals should normalise neurodiversity, this week is dedicated to raising awareness behind its meaning.
Disabilities have such a wide range of presentations, often when the public see an accessible park, or hear the word “disability”, what comes to mind is an individual in a wheelchair with an “obvious” disability.
Let’s normalise neurodiversity. For many of us it’s a super power 🦸♀️ ... See MoreSee Less
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Support Needs Assessments - what do we know as an industry?
"Support Needs Assessments" have been talked about by the NDIA and appear to suggest that they may replace the current Functional capacity Assessments that detail a person's function and link recommendations for plan considerations.
What do we know? - not much! We know that it will be rolled out over 5 years commencing September 2025, but there is no detail into who will conduct these assessments, their scope or the speed at which they will be rolled out.
We do however, have some information after a tender to allied health professionals was shared recently:
"An approach to market that invites organisations to tender to develop a support need assessment tool for adults (16 and over). The NDIA has explicitly stated that the tool that will be developed must primarily assess disability support needs rather than function, impairment or quality of life.
A request for information about off-the-shelf needs assessments tools which assess targeted disability support needs in relation to:
➡Assistive technology
➡Vehicle modifications
➡Home modifications
➡Disability-related health supports
➡High level attendant support"
What are your thoughts on what is known so far? ... See MoreSee Less
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Wheelchair scripting - Insight into the process of creating a supporting and comfortable seating solution!
It is important when reaching out for support to script or modify a wheelchair, that there is a suitably qualified individual who is able to assess your postural and functional needs and identify how wheelchair accessories and their placement can offset the risk of their current seating circumstances.
➡At the initial assessment, the Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist will listen to your goals, your history and any challenges that you may have with current seating.
➡They will then liaise with you about having a MAT assessment done (a postural assessment of your body in a seated position)
➡ Wheelchairs and their accessories can then be scripted and trialled for their effectiveness in maximising function and maintaining comfort.
Often when a wheelchair is scripted or revised, an Assistive Technology report needs to be completed, in order for the NDIA to assess the need as 'reasonable and necessary', so that finds can be made available in your Capital Supports budget to fund the purchase.
For more information, you can reach out to us on 1300 661 670 or place an enquiry through our website www.equipttothrive.com.au ... See MoreSee Less
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Therapy Assistants - do you know much about them?
Therapy assistants are qualified allied health assistants, that work independently under the direct instruction of a Physiotherapist of Occupational Therapist. Their role is to follow a therapy program that is handed over to them by the client's therapist.
Often therapy assistants can be a cost effective way of receiving regular therapy for clients whose needs may change slower over time.
What types of therapy might a therapy assistant do?
- In home or clinic based exercise programs
- In home or in clinic skills development programs
- Hydrotherapy
As a neuroaffirming AND neurodiverse practice, our team understands and can relate to lived experience when engaging with individuals who may identify as neurodiverse - which is often important when choosing an individual to lead a therapy program.
Similarly, our therapy assistants go through robust manual handling training from our physiotherapy team around manutention techniques - so even people with the most complex of physical needs can feel safe knowing that their needs are in qualified hands.
If you would like to know more about therapy assistance services in our practice, please reach out on 1300 661 670 or through the enquiry page on our website
www.equipttothrive.com.au ... See MoreSee Less
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Hydrotherapy is a great type of therapy to assist your body to move, reduce adverse effects of your disability or your physical condition and provide an avenue where you can reduce the effects of gravity and increase the effects of buoyancy!
Hydrotherapy occurs in a pool that is around 37 degrees. Pools have different types of access, so it is useful to understand whether the venue you select has the access requirements you need to safely access the pool and change rooms (hoists, pool chairs, adjustable change tables, shower hoses etc).
Hydrotherapy has many benefits, including but not limited to:
✅ reduction in gravity - your body doesn't have to work as hard to remain upright or to hold the weight of your limb/s
✅ buoyancy - it can actively help you to passively participate in moving your body, or provide a force to make your muscles work against
✅ increased blood flow to working muscles
✅ management of oedema
✅ increased relaxation of muscles for those struggling with high tone or the effects of gravity
..... and many more!
Our physiotherapy and therapy assistance team provide this service to over 16's at many pools in South Australia. You are welcome to reach out through our website at www.equipttothrive.com.au or by phone 1300 661 670 ... See MoreSee Less
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Thankyou Tim for helping us maintain our web page and feeding all of our educational content through the web page 😊Today the website for EquipT To Thrive turns 3! 🎂
Equipt To Thrive's main objective is to EMPOWER people with the ‘biomechanical tools’ and equipment to live a more independent quality of life. They provide a mobile-based service in the community and also offer a customised therapy space in Mawson Lakes.
We have enjoyed being just a small piece of their growth jouney and look forward to seeing their achievements in another 3 years!
Thank you for a great 3 years, Lisa! ... See MoreSee Less
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Not happy with the NDIA's decision when putting together your plan? - Administrative Review Tribunal (ART)
Unfortunately you are not alone 😞 More and more as clinicians we are hearing of adverse outcomes to plans being grossly underfunded.
Once a plan has been generated, sometimes there is a window of opportunity to contest and have it reviewed by an internal panel.
Other times, your letter might state that if you are unhappy with your decision, that you need to reach out to the ART.
Having been through this process ourselves, both as clinicians and some of us as nominees to participants, the process compared to the AAT seems to be a little easier to navigate - at least the application process. So what do you need to know?
➡ You have 28 days to lodge an application with the ART. (you can apply for an extension if you can prove why you could not respond within 28 days)
➡ You need to create a user account with the ART
➡ You select which government decision you'd like to be reviewed (select NDIS)
➡ You then select whether you are going to represent yourself or whether you are nominating someone else to fill out your application
➡ Clearly state why you feel the plan is underfunded and what support you wish to have considered for approval
➡ Upload your letter of outcome and any additional supporting information
Done! They will then contact you within 5 business days to inform you of the next steps. As this process is quite new, it is unclear on how quickly the turnover of this review process is. However there is a 1800 number that you can ring for urgent assistance.
Here is the link to the website for ART where you can apply.
www.art.gov.au ... See MoreSee Less
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Replacement Supports...What are they and how they might be relevant to you.
➡ The NDIA has a term called 'replacement supports', which refers to you nominating a service/ equipment that is intended to:
✅ Replace a support in your plan
✅ Cost the same or less than the support provided in your plan
✅ Be the same of better for you than the support in your plan
A 'replacement support', may be an alternate avenue for you to pursue assistive technology or other supports that are directly related to your disability, if they don't fall within the 'would we fund it' guidelines.
As an example, Jo Bloggs has his request knocked back for a smart watch that would assist him to manage his day due to his brain injury. Despite a clear AT report outlining how the request is related to the individual's disability and how it is the most cost effective option and would decrease the need for additional formal support, it was knocked back.
Jo Bloggs then approached the NDIA to consider this request as a 'replacement support' and demonstrated that without the watch, he required a support worker to assist him in managing his day. The idea of a smart watch was so Jo Bloggs could independently manage his day.
This time Jo Bloggs had success in having his smart watch funded by the NDIS.
Here is a link to the article that provides a more in depth summary of 'replacement supports'.
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What does NDIS fund? | NDIS
ourguidelines.ndis.gov.au
Participants can only use their NDIS funds for items listed as approved supports. There is also a list of things NDIS funding cannot be used for. In some circumstances participants may be able to requ...0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Announcement from NDIA regarding 'Needs Assessments'.
On Thursday 5th of February 2025, the NDIA released an update about 'Needs Assessments'. Although this process is not developed, nor have they given any indication of how it will look, who will provide the assessments, what standardised assessments are used and how frequent these assessments required.
We quote, that the review has said:
- that participants will no longer need to source their own reports and provide evidence that they need a range of supports, which imposes costs and time burdens
- that participants will have more equitable and fair budgets, reflecting individual support needs
that participants will have more flexibility in their plan to determine their preferred support arrangements.
The NDIA has a budget of $280 million and has put out a tender for allied health organisations to seek support in working out the best method of collection and representation of an individual's support needs. They expect to have a process "rolled out over the course of 5 years".
Here is the link to the article:
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New tools to better understand participants’ support needs | NDIS
www.ndis.gov.au
The NDIA has released an approach to market (via a Request for Tender) for support need assessment tools for adults (16 years and over) and an industry consultation process (via a Request for Informat...0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Understanding our referral process
Like many practices, health professionals have their expertise in a particular scope of practice. The scope varies from practitioner to practitioner and collectively a practice can have quite a broad range of scope.
At Equipt To Thrive, we have such a diverse range of scope within our team of Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists. Our scope typically ranges from supporting individuals who are:
🫶 older than 16 years
🫶 presenting with a wide range of physical, cognitive and intellectual disability (including neurological and neurodiverse presentations).
🫶 presenting with stable mental health/ psychosocial needs or in a period of time where dips in mental health are managed
We have a fantastic network with other providers who we can refer you to for:
➡ diagnostic assessments (e.g. ASD diagnostic assessment)
➡ complex mental health presentations
➡ mental health crises
When you or someone who you are contacting on their behalf reach out for support, our Principle OT and Principle Physiotherapist review the information and discuss whether we are the right service, which of our therapists would be best placed to support you and given an immediate booking. Our appointment availability is usually good, between 1-4 weeks as we book to 50% capacity to enable us to support the community with urgent referrals.
To reach out to us to refer an individual, the best way forward is to fill in some details on our website and we will contact you through your preferred method within 24 hours.
🫶 #occupationaltherapy #mawsonlakes #physiotherapy #NDIS ... See MoreSee Less
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Navigating the paperwork for 'Assistive Technology'
Assistive technology is a term that the NDIA uses for 'disability related equipment'. Often after a trial with a healthcare professional, it can sometimes be unclear what paperwork is required and if the item can be purchased straight away, or if it requires approval from the NDIA.
To break it down, the NDIA characterises AT into 3 types according to its cost and risk:
✅ 'Low Cost AT', is characterised by the item posing low risk to the user and the cost price is less than $1500. This item requires the healthcare professional to write a short letter of support to justify how it meets the participant's goals and the reasonable and necessary criteria, in addition to supplying a payable invoice for the item. The funding for these items is located in 'core supports'.
✅ 'Mid cost AT', is characterised by the item costing between $1500 and $15, 000. A participant needs to have funding in their plan for 'mid cost AT', to enable the healthcare professional to provide a letter of support similar to the one described above. If the participant does not have mid cost AT funding, an AT report is required to ask for funding to be added to the plan.
✅ 'High cost AT', refers to items which exceed $15, 000 in price or may pose a high risk to the participant. An AT report is required for these items for the health professional to justify in black and white why the item is needed, how it meets the reasonable and necessary criteria and how NDIS is the most appropriate funding avenue to achieve the participant's goals.
All of our reports within our practice are peer reviewed, to provide the author with scrutiny and clinical oversight to ensure that the document is as well justified as possible.
If you require assistance with selecting or justifying the purchase of AT, please reach out to our team who are experts at navigating this process. #AssistiveTechnology #NDIS #occupationaltherepy #occupationaltherapy ... See MoreSee Less
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Therapy Assistant
Have you ever wondered why they are beneficial and how they work in conjunction with your treating therapist?
A therapy assistant is a trained health worker who works directly under the guidance of a treating health professional (physiotherapist/ occupational therapist/ psychologist etc). They can implement therapy from a therapy plan/skills development plan and stretch out your funding between therapy visits with our compromising on your therapy input!
Therapy assistants undergo extensive training, either as a student of an Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy or Psychology degree or hold a Certificate 4 in Allied Health Assistance.
We have 4 wonderful and highly experienced therapy assistance in our practice who work tirelessly under our allied health professionals either in your home, your workplace, in a hydrotherapy pool or in our Mawson Lakes clinic.
Should you wish to engage the services of our therapy assistants, please feel welcome to reach out to us through our website or on 1300 661 670. #therapyassistant #mawsonlakes #occupationaltherapy #physiotherapy ... See MoreSee Less
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Safe Operating Procedures
Safe Operating Procedures are a set of instructions that a PCBU must provide to their workers in order for them to understand how to perform tasks in their job role. There is legislation both Nationally and at a state level, that provide guidance on the scope of instruction that is required by a PCBU.
As WHS health professionals, we spend a lot of time working with organisations on creating customised SOP's for their organisation. We have our own library (job dictionary) with SOP's that align with our manual handling training, to provide a generic set of instructions for the task. However, workplaces are required to ensure that their SOP's are specific to their organisation. As such, we work with businesses to use our existing templates as a base to modify to the organisation's specific needs to reduce the cost and time to produce a high quality set of instructions.
If you'd like a preview of the quality of our SOP's, please feel welcome to view this example or reach out at info@safeworkpractice.com.au for more examples and information on how we could assist your organisation with this necessary set of instructions. #safeoperatingprocedure #healthcare #healthcare #manualhandling #manualhandlingcourse #manualhandling ... See MoreSee Less
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Beach access in South Australia ⛱☀️🍦
There is still a long way to go in order to make beaches more readily accessible in South Australia. Whether it be beach access mats or beach chairs, there are still so many ways access can be improved to provide even a basic level of access in South Australia.
Here is a website which can provide some basic information about beach access in some South Australian beaches. inclusive.sa.gov.au/inclusion-in-action/beach-access-for-all
Upon reviewing some of these accessible options for ourselves over summer, we have found some council initiatives that have made beach access become more accessible for individuals with physical access needs:
🏖 permanent raised beach ramps
⛱ temporary flexible ramps
🏝beach wheelchairs
🏖 jetty rails that retract and enable a lower level to cast your rod
There is still a lot of work to be done by local councils to create equality with beach access, however we hope the link above provides a good starting point to plan a day at the beach. #beachaccess #adelaidebeaches ... See MoreSee Less
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Can anyone relate to the logistical challenges when planning a trip into the community when you have accessibility requirements?
Our team have come across a useful app...... Pavely.
pavely.com.au
Pavely is an app designed for South Australians that is run by the community. The app allows users to plan their trip in the community and use search filters to customise what kind of accessible requirements you need.
The app enables you to:
✅ geographically search for venues in your desires area that meet your accessibility requirements
✅ narrow the search of your accessible requirements (e.g. if you require a wide/ flat levelled doorway, if you require automated doors, a low sensory environment etc).
✅ read users feedback on different venues
Planning community access can be challenging without specific venue information, however we hope this information might help you or someone you know gain the confidence to get out in your community! #occupationaltherapy #AccessibleVenues #communityaccess #physiotherapy ... See MoreSee Less
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Did you know that all of our reports are PEER REVIEWED?
Our Principal Occupational Therapist Laura and Senior Occupational Therapist Sharmaine work very hard behind the scenes, providing clinical oversight into every document that is produced by our practice.
We do this as a complimentary service, which sees the content of the document validated by a second Occupational Therapist.
Why do we do this?
✅ Peer reviewed documents are often considered by the NDIA to be of a high quality, due to the validation by a senior or principal clinician (similar to that of a peer reviewed Autism diagnostic assessment)
✅ The justification of the recommendations in the document are challenged internally, which then creates a high level of justification within the way they are written
✅ The interpretation of the information gathered during the assessment, is analysed by 2 clinicians to discuss and choose the most appropriate level of support required.
Although there are many organisations that do not do this, we do find that the extra level of scrutiny with our internal process provides the individual with the most holistic analysis and most valid and well justified document to present to the end party. #peerreview #FunctionalCapacityAssessment #occupationaltherapy #occupationaltherapy ... See MoreSee Less
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The scope of an OT! - We are asked this question quite frequently!
We are so grateful that our team of 6 OT's offer a broad range of skillsets. We are also fortunate to have an incredible Principal OT and a number of OT's with a Senior background. It would be difficult to spell out their scope, but here is a sneak peek into their typical scope in our practice:
✅ Functional Capacity Assessments
✅ Home and Living Assessments (including for SDA)
✅ Sensory Assessments + therapy
✅ Manual Handling Assessment + Plans
✅ Assistive Technology/ equipment scripting (including complex seating/ sleep systems)
✅ Complex Home Modification (we have many credentialed OT's)
✅ Skill Development Programs
✅ Support for AAT hearings
😅 ... and many more. There is such a broad scope of an OT in our practice!
If you'd like more information on our services, or wish to view a biography of team members, please reach out! ... See MoreSee Less
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Scope of a physiotherapist.... this is a question we are often asked as the scope of a physiotherapist can be quite broad!
In our team, we are extremely grateful to have 7 highly experienced physiotherapists that enable our team to have a wide scope of experience.
So what can our physiotherapy team do?
✅ Manual Handling Plans
✅ Manual Handling Training
✅ Functional Capacity Assessments - for individuals with physical disabilities
✅ Equipment/ AT assessment and prescription (including complex wheelchair and sleep system scripting)
✅ Therapy - we offer land based clinic and home therapy, we offer hydrotherapy and we also have a one of a kind ceiling hoist to enable our physiotherapists with a neuro background to offload different weights in a hoist lifter WHILST the user is weight bearing!!! This isn't something that can be done in any ceiling hoist with any sling!
.... and many services in between! 😅
We get the 'happy goosebumps' when our support has empowered the individual to achieve their goals - we LOVE the opportunity to empower other people, this is our passion! ... See MoreSee Less
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Manual Handling Plans - what are they and why are they beneficial?🙋♀️
"A 'Manual Handling Plan' is a set of instructions and descriptions that provide the wishes and the needs of a person that requires physical support to move their body".
➡ A Physiotherapist or Occupational Therapist will conduct an 'in home' manual handling assessment, looking at how the person moves and what physical support they require to complete the task.
➡ A manual handling plan will look at everything from how to move between a bed and a chair, to how the person mobilises, positioning to eat/drink (if applicable), how the person accesses the community and how they engage in tasks of interest.
✅ A great manual handling plan will always have the individual at the centre of mind and consult with them and their family/ supports to ensure that the person's wishes are directing the assessment
✅ A great manual handling plan details specific step by step instructions on how to support the individual with the task. This includes but is not limited to what equipment is required and how to use it, preferences for seated and lying postures and when and how support is needed.
✅ A great manual handling plan will have pictures (with consent) showing the steps required to support the individual
✅ The scope of the manual handling plan should always align with the manual handling training that is offered to support the individual's needs.
Our team have been teaching manual handling training and writing manual handling plans for more than 20 years. We have a solid understanding of risk management and how to work with the individual and abide by the legislative requirements to create a plan that maintains independence and choice for the individual, whilst meeting WHS requirements. ... See MoreSee Less
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Wheelchairs - boy have the choices of accessories and customisation changed in the last decade!
A wheelchair is often an individual's primary equipment to enable them to be mobile. Some individuals are needing to spend 8-12 hours in their seated equipment - meaning that not only is postural support important, but also the functionality!
So what else is available in the equipment market?
➡ Power assist devices. These attach to the existing wheelchair and enable the wheelchair user and/or their support person to electronically power a manual wheelchair. Essentially turning a manual chair to a power chair, but with the ease of folding storage for vehicle transport.
➡ Interchangeable accessories. Leg rests, calf rests, head supports, arm rests, lateral supports - many of these accessories have compatible hardware between different brands. Choosing the most appropriate accessory is where an OT or Physiotherapist can assist, as they look at how to maintain neutral posture and maximise independence with function.
➡ One arm drive capability. People who have had a brain or spinal cord injury that affects one arm often find themselves propelling with one arm and steering with one foot, often going in circles. Some manual chairs have a 'one arm drive' feature to enable the user to propel forward/ backward and turn all with one arm!
➡ We will do a seperate post on wheelchair cushions and back rests - as they are soooooo diverse, but almost all cushions and back rests are compatible with any model of wheelchair.
If you'd like to learn more, you are welcome to reach out to our team who can assist you to navigate through this process of selecting what will work right for you. ... See MoreSee Less
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The 'Life Box'! What is it and why is it important to assess for a person who has challenges maintaining a neutral posture?
➡ The 'life box' is a term used by clinicians to describe the available space between an individual's rib cage and pelvis.
➡ The 'life box' contains vital organs and as such, it is ideal to maintain a SQUARE or RECTANGULAR life box to allow the body to function as intended.
➡ When a person has an asymmetrical life box (triangular frontal plane or anterior/posterior pelvic tilt), the posture may permanently affect the functioning of these vital organs, complicating the health of the individual.
✅ Having a thorough MAT assessment (mechanical assessment tool) by a qualified practitioner can identify what unique posture an individual has and use customised postural supports to maintain this vital 'life box'.
If you or someone you know has challenges with maintaining neutral anatomical posture, you are welcome to reach out to our highly experienced team to assist with reviewing postural support strategies to maximise optimal health outcomes for the individual ... See MoreSee Less
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What is a MAT assessment?
➡ A 'MAT' assessment is an abbreviation for 'Mechanical Assessment Tool'
➡ A 'MAT assessment' is a tool used by Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists to assess your resting posture in either a seated or lying position.
✅ These assessments enable the practitioner to custom script a variety of equipment supports to match your unique functional needs and postural requirements
➡ This type of assessment might be used to script/build you a custom wheelchair
➡ This type of assessment might be used to build/script a sleep system
MAT assessments should be performed regularly when a person has challenges with maintaining a neutral body position, to make sure that equipment is adjusted to ensure comfort and to maximise functional movement - particularly for those with conditions that are progressive in nature.
✅ Our team of 6 Occupational Therapists and 7 Physiotherapists have extensive experience with MAT assessments and can work with suppliers to customise an ideal seated or lying script to meet your needs.
Feel welcome to reach out if you'd like some more information about this process and to learn more about the importance of having access to a customised postural support system to maximise your functional capacity 🙂 ... See MoreSee Less
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NDIS Changes - There have been many changes in October and December, how are you going keeping up?
😅 We also find it challenging to keep up with these changes as they often happen with no obvious prompt. So how can you stay on top of changes?
➡ You can use this link www.ndis.gov.au/recent-content which can give you any update at the time of searching
➡ Your support coordinator can update and guide you through any changes
➡ If it falls within the scope of what services we provide, we will walk you through any changes that are relevant. ... See MoreSee Less
Recent content | NDIS
www.ndis.gov.au
The National Disability Insurance Agency acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of Country throughout Australia and acknowledges their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We ...0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Our team enjoyed some lovely company at our bi-yearly get together. Our team loves to participate in social events, this year we did The Handlebar followed by some wonderful food.
A shout out to our AMAZING TEAM, you are all incredible and we are so humbled to have such amazing colleagues.
Wishing everyone a very merry Christmas, thank you for all of your support in 2024.
To our valued clients, advocates, support coordinators and families, we will remain open as usual over the festive season should you require support. ❤️ ... See MoreSee Less
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PACE - what is it and how might it affect you?
PACE is the new payment portal that NDIS has rolled out to replace My NDIS Provider Portal and PRODA. All new NDIS plans are being transferred over to the new PACE system.
What this might mean for you?
- agency participants will need to 'endorse' their providers to enable them to invoice for their services. The provider will need to nominate specific staff members that support you (that you will need to provide consent to), in order for them to invoice their services.
- plan participants will not need to endorse their providers and at the present moment, do not need to do anything differently as this will be the role of the plan manager.
- self managed participants do not need to endorse their providers.
The best thing for you to consider is having signed service agreements for your providers, so that you have a clear understanding on how you have chosen to allocate your funds, to ensure that your providers are servicing what you have consented.
For more information, you can reach out to your plan manager, support coordinator or jump on the NDIS website for more information. ... See MoreSee Less
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Accessing the NDIS: With recent changes to the access requirements for NDIS, it can sometimes be overwhelming to understand the process that is required to meet eligibility requirements.
There are 2 main pathways that you can access the NDIS:
1: Meeting the disability requirements (s.24)
2: Early Intervention (s.25)
(Or you may meet both pathways).
This means that whose wishing to access the NDIS will need to provide specific evidence from an allied health and/or medical professional to meet the eligibility criteria. However this may also mean that a 're-assessment of eligibility' may occur for existing NDIS participants.
We are finding that despite some participants that we support having an obvious permanent disability; and having already provided evidence of this - are often contacted to evidence their access requirements again.
If you are an existing participant who has been contacted, or an individual wishing to access the scheme, please reach out to your support coordinator/ LAC (if you have access to one), or alternatively please reach out to our team who can guide you through this process. ... See MoreSee Less
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With Christmas fast approaching, many providers are shutting down during the festive period.
As we understand that your needs don't 'pause' during this period of time, we would like to share that Equipt To Thrive will be open as usual during the festive period, closed only on public holidays.
We also have access to Assistive Technology hire/purchase items with Homecare Equipment also being open during this period, for all of your urgent needs.
We wish everyone a safe and merry Christmas and thank you for your support in 2024. ... See MoreSee Less
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Manual Handling Plans: What are they and why are they needed?
A 'manual handling plan' is a customised document that provides a participant's support team with the knowledge of how they wish to be supported for physical tasks in their day.
The plan is written by a Physiotherapist or Occupational Therapist, and will provide an in depth background of the participant's preferences/ the equipment they use/ how they wish to communicate/ any safety prompts and how they transfer/mobilise.
A manual handling plan will have sections that provide an overview of the steps required to perform a physical task to support the participant, including but not limited to:
- how to support them with a transfer (bed transfer/ stand transfer/ mechanical transfer)
- how to support them to mobilise (ambulate or use assistive aids)
- how they wish to be positioned and the frequency of positioning support that is required
- set up for various tasks (sitting for meals or activities)
- completing activities of daily living (showing, elimination of bowels/bladder)
- how they access the community
...... the scope of the manual handling plan can be more extensive or less detailed depending on the amount of support required.
#manualhandlingplan #physicaldisability #occupationaltherapist #physiotherapist ... See MoreSee Less
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Hazardous Manual Tasks. What are they and why is identification and risk management so important?
A 'Hazardous Manual Task', is defined by Safe Work Australia as as task that is:
- repetitive or sustained
- requires an awkward posture
- exposes the workers vibration
- involves restraining a person or animal
- involves an unstable or unbalanced load
It is important that workers and employers understand and identify these traits, to provide customised 'Manual Handling Training' to their staff. Employers have obligations under the various legislation in your state and the 'Hazardous Manual Tasks Code of Practice 2018'. ... See MoreSee Less
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