Young Adult Complex Disability Service (YACDS)

Service overview

The Young Adult Complex Disability Service (YACDS) is a statewide service that supports young people (aged 18-40 years) with complex disabilities (predominately Cerebral Palsy) to transition from paediatric healthcare into adult healthcare services through:

Multidisciplinary patient centred approach
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 community based therapists

Team members

Rehabilitation Physicians
Physiotherapists
Occupational Therapists
Social Worker
Orthotist
Speech Pathologist
Dietitian

Service delivery

Multi-disciplinary clinics run Tuesday – Thursday
Individual allied health therapy appointments may be Monday – Friday.

Eligibility criteria

Referral purpose is to transition from paediatric to adult health care services
Age 17 – 40 years old
Diagnosis is a combination of complex physical and medical needs (single diagnosis not eligible)
Medical and allied health input is required (single discipline referrals not accepted)

Catchment

Victorian Statewide service

Referral process

Written referrals can be emailed: YoungAdult.ComplexDisability@svha.org.au or faxed: (03)9231 3808

Minimum referral information:

Principal diagnosis
Detailed medical and surgical history
Reason for referral
Any alerts eg. Any behaviour of concern
Results of relevant radiology or pathology

Contact details

Young Adult Complex Disability Service

St Vincent's Hospital
PO Box 2900
Fitzroy, Victoria 3065

Ph (03) 9231 4672

Fax: (03) 9231 3808