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Transdisiplinary Approach

A Transdisciplinary Team Approach:

The Kurrajong Early Childhood Intervention Service (KEIS) promotes a transdisciplinary team approach. This means that the Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech Pathologists, Educators, Psychologists and Family Support Workers work together as a team with the families who are seen as equal and important members of this transdisciplinary team. Working as a team is important because it means that families are offered a coordinated program from people with a range of skills and expertise that is flexible to meet individual family's needs.

An important aspect of the transdisciplinary team approach at KEIS is the Key Worker role. A key worker is the liaison between the family and the service. They ensure that the family receives a service which is designed to meet the families individual needs.

KEIS implements a play based transdisciplinary assessment for all children entering the service. One team member acts as the play facilitator. The play facilitator is responsible for facilitating the child's skills across all developmental areas on behalf of all team members. A parent facilitator is responsible for obtaining information from parents on their child's development and for other members of the team.

We have found that both 'multiskilling' and 'role release' which are the basis of this transdisciplinary approach to be very effective for both the team and the family.

For example, when a child enters KEIS as a child under 12 months the principal worker will most likely be the Physiotherapist or the Occupational Therapist. Both these workers become 'multiskilled' because they work closely with the Speech Pathologist and Educators and so can integrate aspects of the Speech program (eg. turn taking) or Education program (eg. object permanence) while working with the child. This 'role releasing' of the Educator and Speech Pathologist allows them in turn to work more intensively with other older children and become their primary workers.

Another example of multiskilling occurs with the Educators at KEIS. The Educators have to become multiskilled in many areas as they are the main contact with the early childhood setting. The Educators, in consultation with the Therapists, assist the Preschool/Long Day Care Centre workers to implement some aspects of the Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy or Speech Pathology programs.

KEIS is increasing in numbers at a rapid rate. Part of the transdisciplinary team approach is multiskilling and role release. This has been an effective way of coordinating services for families and keeping them family centred.

It is also a solution to continuing to provide quality early intervention service as it is proven to be cost effective in service delivery.