CDDH Victoia

Highlights

People with disabilities – a rewarding challenge in general practice

Jane Tracy

The April 2011 edition of Australian Family Physician features two articles on Disability by Dr Jane Tracy

Welcome to an issue of Australian Family Physician that is particularly close to my heart. My son has an intellectual disability, and I understand firsthand the importance and challenges of maintaining optimal health in this group of patients.

Australians with Down syndrome – health matters

Jane Tracy

The health and life expectancy of Australians with Down syndrome has improved dramatically over recent decades, resulting in more people living into adulthood and accessing community and hospital based health and social services.

Link to articles in Australian Family Physician

 

EDAR/CDDHV partnership wins Victorian Community Sector
‘Think Innovation’ Award!

The partnership established between CDDHV and Eastern Disability Access Resource (EDAR) in which tutors with disabilities are employed by Monash University to contribute to medical student teaching has won a Victorian Community Sector ‘Think Innovation’ Award for new approaches to partnerships. The Award was presented by Minister for Community Development Lily D’Ambrosio at the 2010 Think Innovation Summit in Melbourne.

Since March 2009 young adults with a disability from EDAR have been employed as tutors within teaching programs run by the CDDHV. The aim of this partnership between EDAR and CDDHV is to build the confidence and competence of

  1. Monash University medical students in communicating clearly and effectively in simple and accessible ways with people who have communication difficulties
  2. EDAR clients in public speaking and giving feedback to health professionals about their communication.

The teaching sessions are enjoyed and highly valued by both medical students and EDAR tutors. Medical student evaluations were very positive, with the following quote being representative of the feedback received “I found that this session was fantastic – I haven’t had much exposure to people with developmental disabilities and so this experience was so helpful and confidence building.  Bringing in the tutors with disabilities gives first hand experience of the challenges and frustrations associated with communication difficulties.”

The EDAR tutors also enjoyed the session and valued the opportunity to play an important role in teaching the next generation of medical practitioners. In the words of the EDAR tutors “this morning was a great success” and “I enjoyed it”. The regular program has allowed the educational sessions to become experiences for which the EDAR participants regularly plan and prepare.

Both the CDDHV and EDAR organisations are committed to maintaining the tutorial opportunity as an integral part of their program for the foreseeable future both for medical students and tutors from the EDAR service.

Further developments in the relationship between EDAR and Monash University has lead to Monash medical students attending EDAR Services as part of their Community Based Practice Program which in turn has facilitated the development of new understandings and the production of a range of resources..

See attached video clip (mov 8.42mb)

Video Transcript (doc 22.5kb)