Research project begins for the provision of therapy services in rural and remote NSW

Media Release from the Minister for Disability Services, 10 March 2010

The NSW Minister for Disability Services Paul Lynch today welcomed the start of a major research project into the provision of therapy services in rural and remote NSW.

Mr Lynch said the four year project, a joint enterprise between Ageing Disability and Home Care (ADHC) and the University of Sydney would focus on the effectiveness of the delivery of psychology and therapy services to people with disabilities living in rural and remote NSW.

“The project will be managed by Professor Craig Veitch of Community Based Health Care at Sydney University and ADHC’s Western Region Director, Scott Griffiths and his staff,” Mr Lynch said.

“The project will focus on three areas of therapy provided by ADHC in the Western Region - speech, occupational and physiotherapy, and psychology.

“The researchers will cooperate with clinicians who are working with people with disabilities in the Western Region.

“Given the lack of research in this particular area, there is little doubt the project will provide a new set of information will assist in the formulation of policy, future education of psychology and therapy students, as well as how they will deliver services in rural and remote communities,” he said.

The Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Sydney, Professor Gwynnyth Llewellyn, said the project is vital to the ongoing development of services for people with disabilities.

Professor Llewellyn launched the project on Wednesday 10 March 2010 at Ageing, Disability and Home Care Regional Office,Dubbo