Bringing early detection and intervention to WA kids with cerebral palsy.
- Perth Children's Hospital Foundation
Bringing early detection and intervention to WA kids with cerebral palsy.
- Perth Children's Hospital Foundation
Your support can help detect CP sooner in regional WA children.
West Aussie kids in regional and remote areas can now have cerebral palsy (CP) detected earlier, helping reduce the impact of severe disability and improving quality of life – thanks to a new program supported by PCHF and boosted by the Hospitals United for Sick Kids campaign with Coles.
Perth Children’s Hospital’s (PCH) world-leading early intervention service at Kids Rehab WA is expanding across the state under the CONNECT-CP program. CP is the most common form of childhood disability in Australia and is caused by damage to the brain before, during or after birth. One in 700 Australian children are born with CP.
Babies can now be diagnosed with CP, or identified as high-risk, as early as three months of age, when the brain has greater plasticity and the opportunity to rewire itself to improve movement and function.
Previously children were not diagnosed until closer to two years of age, missing key windows to take advantage of neuroplasticity. Using General Movements Assessments, from infant videos as well as MRI scans, clinicians can diagnose babies much earlier.
After receiving support very early in life, 15-month-old Ali Hadi is thriving. Cerebral palsy affects all his limbs, particularly the left side, and he began therapy at PCH after being identified as high-risk from birth, following the loss of his twin in utero and early MRI findings of brain injury.
Ali has similar physical abilities to a much younger child. He can lift his head but cannot yet roll, sit independently or grasp toys. Despite these challenges, Ali is a bright, engaged little boy who loves cars, being outdoors and story time. His mum, Farah, incorporates physiotherapy and stretching into his everyday play and credits the PCH team for giving Ali the best possible start in life.
“Intervening as early as possible to get the best supports possible, came into our life at the perfect time, pretty much as soon as Ali was born, before even seeing the true impact of CP on his life,” said Farah.
Local workforces will be equipped to deliver best-practice, culturally appropriate early assessments and therapies, helping reduce disability and improve quality of life for many vulnerable children and families across the state.
“For families, it means less fear and uncertainty; they get clarity early, instead of months and months of worry,” said Jess Morris, PCH Senior Physiotherapist. “With early detection, we’re now minimising the negative impacts of disability on function and can maximise opportunities for successful participation.”
How you can support.
PCHF CEO, Carrick Robinson, said: “We’re enormously grateful for the ongoing generosity and support of Coles and Hospitals United for Sick Kids, which will help us tackle the urgent need for early CP detection and intervention in regional and remote areas of the state.”
Coles Acting Group Corporate Affairs Officer Jace Armstrong said: “As a founding partner of Hospitals United for Sick Kids, Coles customers have been able to help make a tangible difference to the lives of thousands of children across the country.
“These initiatives have already helped countless families in their time of need, and we look forward to supporting even more children and families by helping to raise further funds in this year’s campaign.”
CONNECT-CP’s life-changing impact is also supported by major funder, Stan Perron Charitable Foundation.
