Community Outreach Services

Service Description

The Community Outreach Service addresses the rehabilitation needs of people when they leave hospital following a traumatic brain injury.

The service is provided to clients who;

Have sustained a traumatic brain injury.
Are between 15 - 64 years of age.
Live in the southern or south western area of Sydney

The Community Outreach Service provides rehabilitation, community re-integration and long term support to assist people who have had a brain injury to maximize their potential, facilitate personal and family adjustment and develop a network of support appropriate to individual needs.

The Community Outreach Service has an active Caseload of over 600 clients at any one time. More than 80 percent of community clients are male. Around a third of clients come from a non–English speaking background.

People continue to be clients of the service while they are working on brain injury rehabilitation goals. Some clients meet their goals within a few months others may continue as clients for several years. Some people are re-referred to the service at a later time when new challenges arise in their lives and the person needs a period of re-focusing on brain injury rehabilitation goals.

Community Outreach Team

The Community Outreach Service Team comprises a wide range health professionals in order to target the many different areas of a person’s abilities and life that can be effected by a traumatic brain injury.

The staff work together in a multidisciplinary approach to provide the assistance required by a particular client. A client’s progress is reviewed regularly and variations made to their rehabilitation plan as needed.

The Team includes the following health professionals:

Community Team Coordinator
Case Manager
Clinical Psychologist
Neuro-psychologist
Occupational Therapist
Physiotherapist
Diversional Therapist
Rehabilitation Psychologist
Staff Specialist in Rehabilitation Medicine
Social Worker
Speech Pathologist

Other services provided include:

Assessment
Case management
Accommodation assistance
Counseling
Family support
Information and education
Avocational assistance
Therapy
Community development
Liaison with other agencies

Referral Process

Referrals and referral enquiries are taken by the Senior Case Manager. All referrals are discussed by the Team at the Community Outreach Service Case Conference.

If a referral is accepted, the usual first step is a Clinic appointment for the person with the Staff Specialist in Rehabilitation Medicine for an initial medical rehabilitation assessment. This assessment takes place in Building J, Clinic 117. Clients will need to bring any relevant imaging, reports, and current medications with them to their initial appointment. There is no consultation fee, however patients should also bring along their medicare card. Following this appointment the Staff Specialist will discuss the person’s needs with the Team at a Case Conference and decide on a management plan.

The Community Outreach Service is available for both compensable and non-compensable clients. When a client is compensable, due for example to a work related or motor vehicle injury, the service liaises with appropriate insurance company regarding the rehabilitation plan for the client.