Paediatric Brain Injury Rehabilitation Team

The Paediatric Brain Injury Rehabilitation Team (PBIRT) provides specialist multidisciplinary assessment and case management for children and young people with acquired brain injuries.

Services provided

• Support for child and family with transition from the acute hospital setting into the community
• Multidisciplinary medically led rehabilitation clinics
• Initial rehabilitation care planning
• Provision of time limited, goal focused multidisciplinary rehabilitation programs
• Psychosocial support
• Referral to Botulinum Toxin Clinic where indicated
• Consultation on therapy regimes
• Liaison with education and school support staff
• Home / school programmes
• Referral to and ongoing liaison with local community services
• Support for health professionals caring for children living in regional and remote locations including via TeleHealth
• Outreach clinics to Tamworth and Taree

Who provides services?

• Medical Specialist
• Nursing staff
• Allied Health staff including Physiotherapist, Occupational Therapist, Speech Pathologist, Social Work, Psychology, Art Therapy and Music Therapy

Staff

• Dr Robert Smith – Staff Specialist
• Jenny Harben / Ella Aitchison – CNC
• Marney Leeson / Melissa Smith – Physio
• Noni Payling / Katrina Dathan-Horder – OT
• Teigan Keating – SP
• Harriet Ferguson – Social Work
• Wendy McConnell – Clinical Psychologist
• Julie Nichols – Art Therapy
• Sean Nolan – Music Therapy
• Michelle Pietroboni – Child Life Therapy
• Louise Konz - Dietitian
• Donna Jones / Janet Zacharko – Allied Health Assistant
• Connie Carlyon - Administration Officer

Referral Requirements

Children must:

• Have a diagnosis of acquired brain injury after birth with an identified need for a multidisciplinary assessment of function.
• Be aged 0-18 years.
• New referrals for children aged 16 to 18 years will be reviewed on an individual basis to determine allocation to paediatric or adult services.
• Reside within the Child Health Network - Northern
• Require a multidisciplinary assessment, medical and therapeutic interventions (i.e. not a referral for a specific discipline or maintenance)

Resources