For Health Professionals

Our Team consists of:

• Rehabilitation Physicians
• Physiotherapists
• Occupational Therapists
• Social Worker
• Orthotist
• Speech Pathologist
• Dietitian

We are also able to access other allied health, nursing, medical and surgical services available at St Vincent's.

We help adults manage their own healthcare, through:

• Specialist medical and allied health assessment and support
• Referral to other specialist services, within and external to St Vincent’s
• Goal-directed therapy
• Equipment assessment and advice, including wheelchairs, orthotics and home modifications
• Establishing links to GPs and local therapists

The primary goal of the service is to link individuals with local health services.

Key areas of expertise offered by the YACDS team:

Comprehensive team assessment:

• Multidisciplinary initial and review appointments are completed with the patient and their family/carers. This involves assessment and goal setting according to individual need. A documented care plan is developed in consultation with the patient, who also receives a copy.  

Medical:

• Comprehensive medical assessment and management of disability related problems, such as; spasticity, pain, recurrent pressure areas, constipation, continence, progression of deformity, associated health conditions/needs. Referral to adult specialist services as required. Engagement with the general practitioner in long-term medical management.

Physiotherapy:

• Assessment and management of physical disability, including; postural management, prescription of specialised equipment such as wheelchairs, walking aids and standing frames, spasticity management, gait training.

Occupational Therapy:

• Assessment and prescription of specialised equipment, pressure care management, assessment of the home environment and recommendations for modifications, and vehicle modifications. Equipment prescription covers all aspects of daily living, from wheelchairs to transfers and personal care.  

Social Work:

• Psycho-social assessment, patient and carer support to manage care needs, future planning, transitioning to and navigating the adult service system. Individual advocacy to address funding gaps, linking/referral to adult based services.        

Orthotics:

• Assessment, review and prescription of orthoses and footwear. Equipment may be provided YACDS, or referred to a local provider. 
   

Speech Pathology:

• Identifies swallowing, communication and oral care needs. Preliminary management of identified issues is provided through YACDS, with referral to an appropriate local speech pathology service for long term assessment and management. 

Dietetics:

• Nutritional assessment, management of complex disease states, management of enteral feeding, weight management.

The service is based at St. Vincent’s Hospital, Fitzroy, with additional clinics operating regularly at St. George’s Hospital in Kew.      
Clinic appointments at Fitzroy are held on the ground floor of the Bolte Wing (Building F). At St George’s, the clinic appointments are held in the Community Rehabilitation Centre, ground floor (up one level from the underneath parking).

For further information please feel welcome to contact the service or follow the links to the St Vincent's maps and parking and transport pages.

• YACDS Parking Information: Fitzroy
• YACDS Parking Information: St Georges

Multidisciplinary clinics run most Monday’s and alternate Thursdays between 9.00am – 4.00pm

Individual medical and allied health appointments can be arranged on other days.

The service operates on a part time basis.

About the Service

• Young Adult Complex Disability Service Brochure
• What to expect at your first appointment
• Department of Health: Young adults with complex disabilities services brochure

Referral Forms and Guidelines

• Referral Templates and Pre-Referral Guidelines

Refer to the SACS Referral Form area

• Sacs Referral Form

Equipment

• State Wide Equipment Program (SWEP)
• Independent Living Centre (ILC)

Support Services

• National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
• CP Support Network
• Carer Gateway
• Centrelink
• DHHS
• Office of the Public Advocate

Therapy

• OT Australia
• Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA)

Transition

• Royal Children’s Hospital

This site has information for young people, families and health professionals about adolescent transition.  It also has a large number of links and references to publications about transition.