We are very excited to recommence therapies and also warmly welcome those starting OT with Paediatric Potentials in 2021. We remain very aware of the most recent announcements from QLD Health and the lockdown of Greater Brisbane for three days commencing from 6pm tonight, Friday 8 January 2021, until 6pm Monday 11 January 2021.

From 6pm tonight, Friday 8 January, until 6pm Monday 11 January people in the local government areas of Brisbane, Moreton Bay, Ipswich, Redlands and Logan will be required to stay at home except for the following reasons:

Shopping for essentials, food and necessary supplies
Medical or healthcare needs, including compassionate requirements
Exercise with no more than one other person, unless all from the same household
Providing care or assistance to an immediate family member
Work, or volunteering, or study if it is not reasonably practicable to work or learn remotely
Child custody arrangements
Legal obligations
Visit for end of life
Attend funeral or wedding in line with restrictions

During lockdown, masks will also need to be worn everywhere in those local government areas except if people are at home. According to current QLD Health advice, children 12 years and under are exempt from wearing a mask. Masks are mandatory for all other people attending our clinic during this period.

Paediatric Potentials remains an Essential Healthcare Service, with COVID-safe measures in place. We consider it important that we all take sensible steps to look after our staff and the families we work with by minimising exposure to COVID-19 and reducing the risk of spreading it, as much as we can.

We implemented great practices during the initial lockdown in 2020 and have continued to practice the same steps to ensure the clinic remains as safe and healthy as possible.

We continue to ask all clients attending the clinic to observe the following:

Stay home if you are sick;
If you have any COVID-19 symptoms, no matter how mild, get tested;
Hand washing for all clients before entry to our clinic;
Wear a face mask if directed by QLD Health when attending our clinic (ie. due to a lockdown);
Wash hands or sanitise hands regularly;
Sneeze or cough into your arm or a tissue. Then put the tissue in the bin;
Maintain social distancing as best as possible. Stay 1.5 metres away from other people—think two big steps;
One parent per family in the clinic at any one time.

We ask all clients to avoid the following whilst attending our clinic:

Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth, nail-biting and thumb-sucking.
Avoid shaking hands, hugging, kissing or touching other people.

TELEHEALTH - NDIS eligible
We are offering Telehealth sessions as an alternative to face-to-face sessions for all families who would prefer not to come out into the community.

These sessions are conducted over Zoom.

At Paediatric Potentials, we provide international Telehealth services. Since March 2020, we have continued to provide OT via Telehealth (over Zoom) to a number of families. Research in several comparative efficacy studies conclude that there is no significant difference in clinical outcomes between occupational therapy services provided in-person and services provided through telehealth.

HOME PROGRAMS - NDIS eligible
Home Programs are prepared by your child's therapist and include a series of worksheets, activities and administration guidance to assist you with completing the session in the comfort of your own home. These programs are created at the same frequency as your child's therapy (eg. weekly or fortnightly) to ensure that no possible gaps in skill progression and development arise. Your therapist may direct you to send through copies of the completed home program in preparation for them compiling the next program. Payment required prior to home program being released via email.

NOTIFYING US OF A TEMPORARY CHANGE IN SERVICE DELIVERY:

Should you wish to temporarily change the delivery of your child's OT session in lieu please advise in your appointment confirmation reply via text or email:

"Y Zoom" - for session to be Telehealth via Zoom; or
"Y Home Program" - for a home program to be completed and delivered via email.

PRECAUTIONS
We take the health of our families very seriously and are taking every precaution necessary to keep our staff and your family safe.

To date, the following precautions have been put into place:

To assist with maintaining good hygiene, we have removed all waiting room toys - we apologise for any inconvenience this may cause. Additionally, each therapy room is disinfected between every visit. As we are being very diligent about this, you may have to wait a few extra minutes before your session starts to allow time for the cleaning.
All resources are sterilised after use.
If, prior to your session starting, you prefer to wait in your car to avoid the office waiting room, please make our reception team aware and we will contact you when your child's OT is ready for your session to start.
The prize box has been suspended at the current time to avoid unnecessary handling by multiple people.
If our therapists suspect a client attending their scheduled session is sick, the therapist will immediately send the client home as a precaution.

We thank all of you, our clients, for your understanding, patience and cooperation during this most recent lockdown and throughout the entire COVID-19 pandemic. We remain committed to ensuring the highest level of safety to our staff and families, whilst continuing to provide the same high level of service.

Warm Regards,

Gabby Smith (Director)
P: (07) 3186 1390
E: gabby@paediatricpotentials.com.au

Greater Brisbane 3-day Lockdown