Student-led speech pathology and occupational therapy services accessed by families who have experienced family violence
Tracks
Concurrent session M2
Early language
Service delivery
Supervision
| Monday, May 27, 2024 |
| 2:30 PM - 2:45 PM |
| Meeting Room 01 |
Overview
Lydia Timms, Matthew Cirroco and Sonal Pindoria
Details
⏫ In-practice
đź“š Assumed knowledge of attendees: Intermediate (some previous learning/working knowledge of topic e.g. treated a few cases)
đź“š Assumed knowledge of attendees: Intermediate (some previous learning/working knowledge of topic e.g. treated a few cases)
Presenter
Dr Lydia Timms
Student-led speech pathology and occupational therapy services accessed by families who have experienced family violence
2:30 PM - 2:45 PMPresentation summary
The repercussions of family violence exposure on children’s development are well documented, with over 60% of Australian family violence survivors reporting that children were involved. Speech Pathologists (SP) and Occupational Therapists (OT) can effectively address the developmental needs of these children and their families; however these services are often not available to these families as they seek to leave and recover from family violence. One Western Australian family refuge sought to address some of the barriers to allied health service delivery by establishing a student-led SP and OT clinic. This study documents this service over an 18 month period.
SP and OT students applied to complete their clinical placement in this context, supervised by experienced clinicians. Their training and service delivery model was developed by a team of highly experienced clinicians, researchers, and refuge staff. The students completed regular reports on their service data between August 2022 and July 2023. The age of children accessing the service, the type of services accessed, the number of services accessed, the duration of interactions, the presence of stakeholders, and the types of activities completed are presented in this study.
Over 650 hours of direct and indirect Allied Health services were provided. The majority of children accessed both SP and OT, with most of the services being provided in a group setting and involving play-based activities. There was a limited presence of mothers and refuge staff during the sessions.
This study highlights a demand for Allied Health services by families who have experienced family violence. Further research should investigate the therapeutic outcomes of the service and formally gather families’ perspective on the service. It should seek to facilitate greater collaboration between Allied Health students, refuge staff, and caregivers to create a more holistic service for children and their families who have experienced family violence.
SP and OT students applied to complete their clinical placement in this context, supervised by experienced clinicians. Their training and service delivery model was developed by a team of highly experienced clinicians, researchers, and refuge staff. The students completed regular reports on their service data between August 2022 and July 2023. The age of children accessing the service, the type of services accessed, the number of services accessed, the duration of interactions, the presence of stakeholders, and the types of activities completed are presented in this study.
Over 650 hours of direct and indirect Allied Health services were provided. The majority of children accessed both SP and OT, with most of the services being provided in a group setting and involving play-based activities. There was a limited presence of mothers and refuge staff during the sessions.
This study highlights a demand for Allied Health services by families who have experienced family violence. Further research should investigate the therapeutic outcomes of the service and formally gather families’ perspective on the service. It should seek to facilitate greater collaboration between Allied Health students, refuge staff, and caregivers to create a more holistic service for children and their families who have experienced family violence.
Key messages
How student led clinics can address a service barrier
The need for trauma informed allied health care alongside family and domestic violence services
The summary of a service in one refuge that could be expanded to similar settings
The need for trauma informed allied health care alongside family and domestic violence services
The summary of a service in one refuge that could be expanded to similar settings
**********
Dr Lydia Timms is a Teaching and Research Academic within the Speech pathology Department of Curtin University. She has the pleasure of working alongside exceptional future speech pathologists as they complete honours, graduate entry masters and postgraduate research projects. She is also part of an active group of health professionals and researchers who work with local community, striving towards improvements in the ear health and communication outcomes of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Children. Apart from research, Lydia coordinates the fieldwork program for the two Curtin courses and teaches into various units on child development and audiology.
Miss Charlotte Chng
Student-led speech pathology and occupational therapy services accessed by families who have experienced family violence
2:30 PM - 2:45 PM**********
Charlotte Ch’ng is a New Graduate Speech Pathologist, who completed this Honours research alongside peers Matthew Cirocco, Beth Forrester, and Sonal Pindoria, under the supervision of Lydia Timms and Lauren Parsons.
Mr Matthew Cirocco
Speech Pathologist
Superyou Therapy
Student-led speech pathology and occupational therapy services accessed by families who have experienced family violence
2:30 PM - 2:45 PM**********
Miss Sonal Pindoria
Speech Pathologist
Superyou Therapy
Student-led speech pathology and occupational therapy services accessed by families who have experienced family violence
2:30 PM - 2:45 PM**********
Session chair
Tim Kittel
Student volunteer(s)
Rania Atee
Curtin University
Laura Pitts
Curtin University
The information contained in this program is current at of the time of publishing but is subject to changes made without notice.
Disclaimer: © (2024) The Speech Pathology Association of Australia Limited. All rights reserved.
Important Notice, please read: The views expressed in this presentation and reproduced in these materials are not necessarily the views of, or endorsed by, The Speech Pathology Association of Australia Limited ("the Association"). The Association makes no warranty or representation in relation to the content, currency or accuracy of any of the materials comprised in this presentation. The Association expressly disclaims any and all liability (including liability for negligence) in respect of use of these materials and the information contained within them. The Association recommends you seek independent professional advice prior to making any decision involving matters outlined in this presentation including in any of the materials referred to or otherwise incorporated into this presentation.
.
