Tailored PD for Health Professionals, designed to elevate your practice in paediatric care.

Upcoming Courses

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Paediatric Functional Neurological Disorder (FND): A Biopsychosocial Approach

Course Description:

This face to face workshop, presented by Rowan Pearce, provides an introduction to understanding, assessing, and managing paediatric functional neurological disorder (FND), a complex condition involving motor or sensory system dysfunction at the preconscious level. Participants will explore evidence-based approaches to identifying FND through positive signs, understanding its mechanisms, and applying biopsychosocial strategies to support children and families.

The course is ideal for physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and other allied health professionals working with paediatric clients who present with functional symptoms, such as chronic pain, movement disorders, or persistent fatigue. Practical tools for education, treatment planning, and multidisciplinary collaboration will equip participants to provide strengths-based, functional interventions.

Key Learning Objectives:

  1. Understanding FND:

    • Define functional neurological disorder and its impact on voluntary motor and sensory systems.
    • Differentiate FND from organic pathologies and address common myths about its diagnosis and treatment.

  2. Assessment Strategies:

    • Recognize positive signs of FND to confirm diagnosis.
    • Implement biopsychosocial assessment frameworks, including identifying precipitating and perpetuating factors.
    • Utilize indirect observation and formal assessments to understand symptom patterns.

  3. Management and Intervention:

    • Explore psychologically informed movement retraining to address functional impairments.
    • Shift attention from symptoms to goal-oriented tasks using creative and engaging strategies.
    • Minimize reliance on compensatory methods during rehabilitation while promoting functional independence.

  4. Multidisciplinary Team Roles:

    • Physiotherapy: Develop movement retraining programs and address safety in functional tasks.
    • Psychology: Reframe symptoms and prepare for reintegration into daily activities.
    • Occupational Therapy: Facilitate goal setting, pacing, and reintegration into school and social environments.

  5. Educational and Family Support:

    • Use strengths-based language and education to help families and patients understand FND as a "software glitch" in the brain.
    • Build confidence in changeable and contextual symptom management.

This workshop equips participants with the knowledge and tools to deliver individualized, functional, and multidisciplinary care to children and adolescents with FND.

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Online Workshop: Paediatric Hypermobility & Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders

Course Description:

This workshop, led by Nicole Pates, is a comprehensive introduction to understanding and managing joint hypermobility and hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD) in paediatric populations. With the latest evidence-based insights, participants will learn about the diagnostic framework for generalised joint hypermobility (GJH), hypermobile spectrum disorder (HSD), and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), including their impact on physical, psychological, and multisystem health.

The course is tailored for clinicians who want to deepen their understanding of hypermobility-related conditions in children and adolescents, explore practical assessment tools, and develop effective management strategies. By the end of the session, attendees will be equipped to recognize signs of systemic involvement, select appropriate intervention strategies, and provide strengths-based care in a multidisciplinary framework.

Key Learning Objectives:

  1. Foundational Knowledge:

    • Understand the differences between asymptomatic hypermobility, symptomatic hypermobility, and connective tissue disorders (e.g., EDS, HSD).
    • Explore the 2023 Paediatric Joint Hypermobility Diagnostic Framework.

  2. Clinical Assessment:

    • Identify musculoskeletal and systemic symptoms associated with hypermobility.
    • Utilize evidence-based tools such as the Beighton Scale, Lower Limb Assessment Score (LLAS), and Upper Limb Hypermobility Assessment Tool (ULHAT).

  3. Management Strategies:

    • Develop individualized physiotherapy programs addressing motor competence, proprioception, and functional capacity.
    • Integrate pain management techniques, graded exposure, and fatigue monitoring.

  4. Multisystem Involvement:

    • Recognize systemic features, including dysautonomia, gastrointestinal issues, and anxiety, that may warrant further investigation.

  5. Practical Skills:

    • Learn how to scaffold exercises, tailor home exercise programs, and prioritize functional and meaningful activities for children with hypermobility.
    • Apply a strengths-based approach in communication with families to empower participation and confidence.

Course Details:

  • Date: Wednesday, February 21, 2024
  • Time: 8:30 AM – 2:30 PM (AWST)
  • Presenter: Nicole Pates, Paediatric Physiotherapist
  • Format: Online

This workshop is ideal for physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and other allied health professionals looking to refine their skills in managing paediatric hypermobility within a collaborative care model.

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Idiopathic Toe Walking: A Comprehensive Approach to Assessment and Intervention

Course Description:

Toe walking presents a unique challenge in paediatric physiotherapy, with its causes and treatment options often unclear. This face-to-face workshop, led by Lead Physiotherapist Alyse Kendall, provides a practical, evidence-informed approach to assessing and managing idiopathic toe walking. Participants will explore the anatomy and pathophysiology underlying toe walking, learn how to conduct holistic assessments, and gain clarity on when to implement physiotherapy interventions or refer to other professionals.
This workshop will introduce key intervention strategies, including serial casting, turtle bracing, and carbon fibre footplates, equipping participants with the knowledge and confidence to escalate care appropriately. With a mix of self-paced preparation, group discussions, and hands-on learning, this course ensures a well-rounded understanding of idiopathic toe walking management.

Course Format:

  1. Pre-Workshop Preparation (Online, Self-Paced):
    • 45 minutes of reading and guided questions to spark critical thinking and provide foundational knowledge.
  2. Face-to-Face Workshop:
    • Date: Friday, 14 March 2024
    • Interactive discussions and hands-on learning.
  3. Post-Workshop Follow-Up (Optional):
    • A 60-minute online group chat for case discussions and collaborative treatment planning (may include 2-3 smaller breakout groups).

This workshop is ideal for physiotherapists seeking a structured yet adaptable approach to idiopathic toe walking, combining practical skills with evidence-based guidance to support children and their families effectively.

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Introduction to the Management of Fussy Eating for Occupational Therapists

Course Description:

Fussy eating is a multifaceted area of practice that demands comprehensive assessment skills and a thorough understanding of the underlying factors contributing to restricted eating behaviours in children. This workshop is designed as an introductory course for occupational therapists working with children aged 18 months to 8 years. It will equip participants with foundational knowledge and practical tools to confidently assess and manage fussy eating within their caseloads, while also identifying when to seek support from other professionals.

Participants will learn to take a holistic approach, considering the child’s developmental, sensory, and environmental contexts, and gain clarity on the OT’s role in a multidisciplinary team. By the end of the workshop, therapists will feel empowered to support children and their families more effectively.

Presenter:

Lauren has worked in paediatrics since graduating OT in 2008. She quickly became interested in feeding and worked on various Government feeding teams in both disability and developmental delay. For the past seven years, Lauren has focused solely on feeding therapy and has extensive experience in working closely with families in this area. In 2022, Lauren joined Western Kids Health from Mealtime Building Blocks and set up the multi-disciplinary Feeding Clinic here.

Key Learning Objectives:

  1. Understand Typical Feeding Development

    • Explore developmental milestones and feeding behaviours in young children.

  2. Comprehensive Assessment

    • Identify the root causes of restricted eating, including sensory, motor, emotional, and environmental factors.

  3. Define the OT’s Scope and Role

    • Clarify the role of occupational therapy in the assessment and intervention of fussy eating, within a collaborative care model.

  4. Knowing When and How to Refer

    • Develop confidence in recognizing red flags and understanding when to refer to other professionals, such as speech pathologists, dietitians, or paediatricians.

  5. Practical Intervention Strategies

    • Gain actionable tools and strategies to support children and their families in overcoming challenges related to fussy eating.

This course provides a strong foundation for occupational therapists to navigate the complexities of fussy eating intervention and collaborate effectively within multidisciplinary teams.

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Workshop Expression of Interest

We are currently taking expressions of interest for face to face and virtual workshops, with topic suggestions. This helps us plan out where and when we are going to teach

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Small Group Mentoring

We are currently taking expressions of interest for small group mentoring.

6 -8 x fortnightly sessions, case study presentations and analysis

Physio | OT | Speech 

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What our participants say...

Course and presenters were so great - really knowledgeable, approachable and engaging! This course helped me question my own clinical reasoning in practice and expand my differential diagnosis when treating paediatrics' in the clinic!

A great day learning about the many intricacies of paediatrics. Nicole and Rowan are experts in the field and made the course fun and relaxed.

Excellent course, ticked everything exactly what I thought I was in for and more. Would recommend to someone that was interested in expanding paediatric repertoire. Helped to understand all the wonderful and different presentations needed to be considered in the paediatric population.

Loved Annie's presentation and she really tried to tailor her session with our CDS service in mind which was brilliant

The course covered relevant content for a one day baby course, with a good balance between theory and practical that isn't offered in many baby courses. Nicole and Erin were professional and knowledgeable in the delivery of the Infant Physiotherapy Course. They were also very skilled in creating a welcoming and non-judgmental environment that encouraged participation, engagement and networking for the attendees.

Loved it. Best course I have done for the last 7 years. Really open to ideas. No judgement. Not too heavy on the theory and more open to going off the slides and led my participants.

Online Courses & Portals

At Western Kids Health, we're committed to enriching your professional journey, no matter where you live, ensuring you're equipped to deliver the best in paediatric care.

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GP Education Portal

Free Monthly online clinical updates and resources for GP's

  • Developmental Milestones
  • Fussy Eating
  • Normal vairance
  • Hypermobility
  • Behaviours & Emotions
  • Gender Diveristy
  • Stuttering

...... and more!

FREE - Register Here
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Child Health Nurse Series

This group is for Australian Child Health Nurses wanting to stay up to day with evidence based practice in paediatric development, facilitated by allied health paediatric professionals at Western Kids Health. Join us in our member only forum for regular online presentations and have your questions answered.

FREE - Register Here
Category-Physiotherapist
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