Purpose: Throughout the world, people with a disability who live in rural and remote areas experience difficulty accessing range of community-based services including speech-, physio- occupational therapy. This paper draws on information gathered from carers adults living area New South Wales (NSW), Australia to determine extent which may receive person-centred therapy service. Methods: As part larger study NSW into delivery services, focus groups individual interviews were conducted 78 10...

In the Westernised world, numerous children are overweight and have problems with bullying mental health. One of underlying causes for all three is postulated to be a decrease in outdoor free play. The aim Sydney Playground Project demonstrate effectiveness two simple interventions aimed increase children's physical activity social skills. This study protocol describes design 3-year cluster randomised controlled trial (CRCT), which schools clusters. consists 13-week intervention 1 week each...

There is a global movement for people with disability towards person-centred practices opportunities self-determination and choice. Person-centred approaches may involve individual funding (IF) the purchase of required support. A shift to model IF should allow their carers greater choice in therapy access. However, individuals who live rural remote areas have less access services than metropolitan counterparts. Drawing on data from larger study into service delivery area New South Wales,...

In Australia and around the world, people with disability their carers living in rural areas face additional challenges compared to urban-dwelling counterparts. This cross-sectional study explored current access therapy services for western New South Wales as reported by primary carers. Data were collected using an online paper survey distributed carers, from December 2012 until June 2013. Information was sought about person they care for, physiotherapy, speech pathology, occupational...

Click to increase image sizeClick decrease sizeKeywords: therapyrural and remoteAustralia Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts interest. alone are responsible for the content writing paper.

AbstractAbstractBackground People with disability living in rural areas are vulnerable to the loss of access allied health services due a critical shortage professionals (AHPs). This study aimed investigate recruitment and retention issues importance AHPs providing people New South Wales, Australia.Method Focus groups semistructured interviews were conducted 97 purposively sampled service providers sector. Interviews focus digitally recorded transcribed. A modified grounded theory approach...

The uneven distribution of allied health professionals (AHPs) in rural and remote Australia other countries is well documented. In Australia, like elsewhere, service delivery to communities complicated because relatively small numbers clients are dispersed over large geographic areas. This AHPs impacts significantly on the provision services particularly areas special need such as mental health, aged care disability services. study aimed determine relative importance that (physiotherapists,...

The Test of Playfulness (ToP) is a unique observational rating scale assessment used to systematically observe and quantify child's approach activities (also called playfulness). This study investigated the effect length observation on ToP scores. Twenty typically developing preschool-aged children were videotaped during two 30-minute sessions that separated by 2 3 weeks. Three trained raters then scored first 15 minutes, last entire 30 minutes each recording. mean scores for significantly...

Experiential learning opportunities, such as work integrated placements, are often challenging for health professional students. It is therefore imperative that students adequately prepared before engaging in placement learning. Operationalising 'readiness on placement' a construct, necessary providing quality student feedback and assessment.An integrative mixed methods approach was adopted this study, utilising survey to canvass the perspectives of academics, students, educators around...

This paper describes the development of a discrete choice experiment (DCE) questionnaire to identify factors (attributes) that allied health professionals (AHPs) working with people disability as important encouraging them remain practising in rural areas.

Purpose: The Australian National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) will provide people with individual funding which to purchase services such as therapy from private providers. This study developed a framework support rural therapists meet the anticipated increase in demand.Method: consisted of three stages utilizing focus groups, interviews and an online expert panel. Participants included delivering New South Wales (n = 28), disability service users 9) key representatives range relevant...

With increasing pressure on placement capacity for allied health students, a need novel and creative means through which students can develop foundational skills prepare practice-based learning opportunities has arisen. This study aimed to explore the experiences of domestic international first-year completing pre-clinical preparation programs, contrasting between in-person simulation online options contribute best practice evidence program design delivery.First-year from physiotherapy,...

Policy that supports rural allied health service delivery is important given the shortage of services outside Australian metropolitan centres. The professionals means clinicians work long hours and have little peer or support. Service to remote communities further complicated because relatively small numbers clients are dispersed over large geographic areas. aim this five-year multi-stage project generate evidence confirm develop evidence-based policies evaluate their implementation in...

Abstract The lack of culturally appropriate services contributes to the low participation rate Indigenous people in disability services. Understanding how is conceptualised essential developing This study aimed critically compare conceptualisation between and NSW government non‐government service agencies. policy sources were obtained from purposive snowball sampling. was understood through representations by spokespeople journal newspaper articles audiovisual materials. agency represented...

Background This study describes the development and trialling of Family Life Interview (FLI), a clinical tool designed to examine sustainability family routines. Materials Methods The FLI, self‐report instrument completed by parent within semi‐structured practitioner – interview, was administered 118 parents, with re‐test interviews being conducted 39 parents. Rasch analysis used scale structure, evidence for construct validity precision measurement FLI items. Logistic regression explore...

Abstract Throughout their lives, all people, including those who have a disability, use broad range of community services. Community services are important in assisting people with impairments to participate communities. Vast geographic distances and lack therapists rural remote regions A ustralia pose significant barriers for implementing policy aimed at supporting disability. The aim this study was investigate the extent which metropolitan‐formulated encompassed unique geographic,...

To explore the characteristics of allied health professionals (AHPs) working with people disabilities in western New South Wales (NSW).A cross-sectional survey was conducted using an online questionnaire.Rural NSW.AHPs including physiotherapists, speech pathologists, occupational therapists and psychologists ('therapists') disabilities.AHPs characteristics.The majority respondents were women (94%), a mean age 39 years; average time since qualification 14 years current position 6. Most worked...

The authors illustrate a three-stage process for developing assessments that are consistent with occupational therapists' conceptualizations of the interactions among individuals, environments, and occupations. Existing Test Playfulness (ToP) Environmental Supportiveness (TOES) data from 265 children aged 15 months to 12 years were used. In Phase 1, ToP was altered by dropping statistical adjustment rater severity (facet). 2, raw TOES scores, collapsed into categories, added as measured...

AbstractWhen a child is born with, or an individual acquires, disability in rural Australia, one of the decisions faced by family whether to remain living area move larger metropolitan centre access support services such as therapy. Understanding factors that carers weigh up making decision stay can inform successful implementation National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) areas. Seventy-eight were recruited participate interviews focus groups discuss therapy services. Data analysed using...

Abstract Background The implementation of the Australian National Disability Insurance Scheme is expected to generate a responsive, person‐centred system that will empower people with disability choose services and support they receive. However, little attention has been paid examine how users spend their individual budgets. This study aimed determine quantitatively relative importance carers living in rural Australia place on different therapy service delivery characteristics. Methods A...

Australia's dispersed population in rural areas contributes to poor access therapy services and the inability of existing workforce meet demand. As a result, children with developmental delay wait long time for therapy. This paper describes participant perceptions facilitation service model that has worked improve these circumstances. The model, given pseudonym ‘Outback’, operates remote western New South Wales. ‘Outback’ employs local people work under guidance therapists based larger...

Occupational therapists are interested in clients' performance of activities daily living real-life contexts. To maximize the validity inferences made from assessments, occupational conduct observations everyday environments: at home, school, and work community. Although these context arguably more valid, they potentially less controlled, which affects reliability data obtained. may wonder about evidence when evaluating observational assessments for use or question considerations developing...