Spina Bifida Adult Resource Team

The Spina Bifida Adult Resource Team is an initiative funded by NSW Health which commenced in 2009. The team, which consists of a Clinical Nurse Consultant and a Senior Occupational Therapist, aims to provide clinical consultation, education, support and preventative health strategies to adults with spina bifida across NSW health services.

It is a state wide service and some of the aims of the service are to:

• Assist young people making the move from paediatric to adult services
• Orientate young people to their new adult health service
• Assist with any medical concerns as well as provide education and support to adults with spina bifida
• Linking adults to appropriate health services as required
• Promote healthy lifestyles for all clients with Spina Bifida
• Attend adult Spina Bifida Clinics across NSW
• Educate community services about spina bifida

Click on the below links for some more information on this service and relevant resources:
Spina Bifida Adult Resource Team Service Flyer
Moving on to adult health services booklet
Referral Form to Spina Bifida Adult Resource Team

Northcott's Spina Bifida Adult Resource Team has its own facebook page. Get connected by logging into facebook and then go to the SBART Facebook page.

Contact Us
Spina Bifida Adult Resource Team
Phone: 02 9472 5215
Email: jade.baynes@northcott.com.au

Northcott Spina Bifida Group

The Northcott Spina Bifida Group is run by Northcott Disability Services and provides support and information to individuals with spina bifida and their families living in NSW and the ACT.

Services include:

• Producing a bi-annual publication, Torque magazine
• Distributing information to families, teachers and the general public.
• Conducting an annual Spina Bifida Awareness Week campaign (1-7 September)
• Subsidising the purchase of continence aids and equipment
• Maintaining a fully accessible holiday home at Budgewoi on the Central Coast (Budgewoi Cabin Flyer)

Download the Northcott Spina Bifida Group service flyer.

SPINA BIFIDA AWARENESS WEEK - September 1-7

The Northcott Spina Bifida Group works in partnership with Northcott’s Marketing, Communications and Media Department to develop an awareness campaign each year. This involves celebrating the achievements of people with spina bifida as well as reminding people about the importance of taking folic acid at least one month before conception and during the first three months of pregnancy.

Spinasaurus, the Northcott Spina Bifida Group mascot, who has a gap in his spine to represent spina bifida, makes appearances across NSW to educate the community about the disability.

SPINA BIFIDA CHECKLIST AND EMERGENCY HEALTH CONTACT CARDS

The Northcott Spina Bifida Group worked in partnership with the Greater Metropolitan Clinical Taskforce and South East Sydney Illawarra Area Health Service to produce a Spina Bifida Health Checklist and Emergency Contacts card.

The advantage of this card over larger health diaries is that it folds down to credit card size with a plastic cover and can easily fit within a wallet or purse. The card also contains specific information about spina bifida and relevant health and emergency contacts to assist people with spina bifida to better manage their health.

The cards have been distributed to Spina Bifida Clinics across NSW and people are encouraged to work alongside medical staff to complete the relevant information.

If you do not attend a spina bifida clinic, but would like to receive a card, please contact the Spina Bifida Group on (02) 9890 0990. There is no cost for the card.

Useful websites:

International Federation for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus - www.ifglobal.org
Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus (UK) - www.shinecharity.org.uk
The Spina Bifida Association of America (SBAA) - www.spinabifidaassociation.org

CONTACT US

Spina Bifida Group
Phone: (02) 9890 0990
Fax: (02) 9683 2827
Email: sbgroup@northcott.com.au