ISSUE SIX : JUNE [ 2006 ] THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE CHILDREN, YOUTH AND WOMEN'S HEALTH SERVICE Family Home Visiting celebrates two years As the first of our Family Home Visiting clients complete the award winning initiative, a timely celebration was held to acknowledge those who have been instrumental in making it happen. More than 60 families across metropolitan Adelaide have now graduated from Family Home Visiting. A key component of the State Government’s Every Chance for Every Child initiative, Family Home Visiting, aims to give all children in the state the best possible start in life so they can develop to the their fullest potential. More than 1300 families have accepted the offer to enter the program where they will receive regular visits over a two-year period. Health Minister John Hill joined the celebration and acknowledged that the program has been an enormous success - due largely to the fact that the child health nurses who deliver the program are extremely dedicated and have made it work. “They have also been well supported by social workers, psychologists and family support workers and they have all received comprehensive training to meet the specific needs of families,” said Minister Hill. “Parents develop skills based on the latest knowledge about what children need in order to make the most of their potential.” Every family in South Australia with a newborn baby is offered a Universal Contact Visit by a community child health nurse in the first few weeks of their baby’s life. Those families who would benefit from additional on-going support are then offered the opportunity to take part in Family Home Visiting. Brooke Allan, a recent graduate of the Family Home Visiting program, said Family Home Visiting has provided her with a great support network over the past two years. “My home visiting nurse helped me with all sorts of things from breastfeeding to any parenting issues I had. Over the two years, I developed a great rapport with my nurse. It was wonderful having someone who could help with any issue and who could connect me to other services and people in my local area,” she said. Child health nurse Ali Smart said it’s a great privilege to work as a family home visiting nurse. “It’s wonderful to be involved with families for an extended period of time. I have developed a strong relationship with clients over the past two years and helped them developed their own support networks,” she said. CYWHS CE Heather Gray said by working in partnership with families, our nurses can assist them to develop their own problem- solving skills and strategies and enhance self-esteem. BROOKE ALLAN AND HER DAUGHTER TIAJUANA CELEBRATE THEIR GRADUATION WITH HOME VISITING NURSE ALI SMART.
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ISSUE SIX : JUNE [ 2006 ]
THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER
OF THE CHILDREN,
YOUTH AND WOMEN'S
HEALTH SERVICE
Family Home Visiting celebrates two years
As the first of our Family Home Visiting
clients complete the award winning
initiative, a timely celebration was held
to acknowledge those who have been
instrumental in making it happen.
More than 60 families across metropolitan
Adelaide have now graduated from Family
Home Visiting.
A key component of the State Government’s
Every Chance for Every Child initiative,
Family Home Visiting, aims to give all
children in the state the best possible
start in life so they can develop to the
their fullest potential.
More than 1300 families have accepted the
offer to enter the program where they will
receive regular visits over a two-year period.
Health Minister John Hill joined the
celebration and acknowledged that the
program has been an enormous success -
due largely to the fact that the child health
nurses who deliver the program are
extremely dedicated and have made it work.
“They have also been well supported by
social workers, psychologists and family
support workers and they have all received
comprehensive training to meet the specific
needs of families,” said Minister Hill.
“Parents develop skills based on the latest
knowledge about what children need in
order to make the most of their potential.”
Every family in South Australia with a
newborn baby is offered a Universal
Contact Visit by a community child health
nurse in the first few weeks of their baby’s
life. Those families who would benefit from
additional on-going support are then offered
the opportunity to take part in Family Home
Visiting.
Brooke Allan, a recent graduate of the
Family Home Visiting program, said Family
Home Visiting has provided her with a great
support network over the past two years.
“My home visiting nurse helped me with all
sorts of things from breastfeeding to any
parenting issues I had. Over the two years,
I developed a great rapport with my nurse.
It was wonderful having someone who could
help with any issue and who could connect
me to other services and people in my local
area,” she said.
Child health nurse Ali Smart said it’s
a great privilege to work as a family
home visiting nurse.
“It’s wonderful to be involved with families
for an extended period of time. I have
developed a strong relationship with clients
over the past two years and helped them
developed their own support networks,”
she said.
CYWHS CE Heather Gray said by working in
partnership with families, our nurses can
assist them to develop their own problem-
solving skills and strategies and enhance
self-esteem.
BROOKE ALLAN AND HER DAUGHTER TIAJUANA CELEBRATE THEIR GRADUATION WITH HOME VISITING NURSE ALI SMART.
2
Further to our front page story, I would
personally like to say thank you to all of the
staff who have been involved in the
successful rollout of Family Home Visiting.
I am extremely proud to be able to deliver
such a valuable program.
Family Home Visiting is recognised nationally
as being a gold standard program that has
the potential to make a difference to South
Australian families.
There has been an extraordinary amount of
work involved in the development of the
program, and I would particularly like to
thank staff for their passion and
commitment to making a difference in the
lives of our children.
I would also like to extend a very big thank
you to those involved in the day-to-day
delivery of the program. Our nurses have
been well supported by a multidisciplinary
team which includes social workers,
psychologists and an implementation team.
The program continues to expand and we
are starting to identify families that will
benefit from Family Home Visiting through
the Hospital’s antenatal service.
Our health service has a unique role in being
able to influence the health outcomes of
South Australians through early intervention.
When the Minister for Health, the Hon. John
Hill, visited our service late last month, we
were able to showcase how our early
intervention and acute services provide a
continuum of care for the children, young
people and women in our state.
The Minister’s visit started at a child health
clinic, where we deliver outpatient clinics for
Midwifery Group Practice, and concluded at
our youth division’s central site, where he
was provided with an overview of how Child
and Adolescent Mental Health Services
complement some of the youth division’s
programs.
The Hospital’s unique statewide acute
services, for both children and women, were
also showcased along with the work being
carried out by our researchers.
Heather Gray
Chief Executive
Fro
m t
he
Ch
ief
Exec
uti
ve Lack of sleep does more than make us tiredLatest research from the WCH has found
that children who have their tonsils and
adenoids removed, because of snoring and
apnoeas, sleep better, snore less and have
fewer behavioural problems. However, the
surgery doesn't cure all symptoms.
The Hospital's Sleep Disorders Unit and the
University of South Australia conducted a
three-year research study involving 50
children who underwent
adenotonsillectomies and who experienced
some type of sleep breathing disorder, and
50 children with no evidence of sleep
disorders.
The children, aged between three and 12
years old, underwent a series of tests before
and after surgery covering learning, memory,
attention and behaviour. Their night-time
sleeping patterns were also closely
monitored.
Study researcher Mark Kohler says the sleep
disorder, also known as sleep-disordered
breathing (SDB), results from partial or
complete airway obstruction. This causes
sleep interruption and/or disruption in
airflow. About 10 percent of parents report
that their children snore regularly.
“Research has shown that obstructive sleep
apnoea, in which the upper airway becomes
blocked repeatedly during sleep, can often
be effectively treated by adenotonsillectomy,
especially in terms of snoring and sleep
patterns,” Mark said.
“But we didn’t know whether previously
reported impairments in attention, memory,
and language skills, together with behaviour
changes such as increased hyperactivity,
were also reversed by this surgery.
“We were delighted to find that sleeping did
indeed improve and snoring decreased, with
parents reporting their children were less
grumpy in the mornings and easier to rouse.
In addition, children’s visual spatial
processing skills improved.
“However, the children still showed most
of the other deficiencies when re-tested
six months after surgery,” Mark said.
Some improvements may take longer to
manifest themselves and it is hoped
children involved in the trial will be
followed up again after four to five years
post surgery.
“We don’t know what the mechanisms
are for impairments in attention, memory
and behaviour associated with sleep
disorders,” Mark said.
“Our research is currently focusing on
the disruption to normal sleeping
patterns and reduction in oxygen
LINDA DEUTER WATCHES OVER HER SON CALEB. PHOTO COURTESY THE ADVERTISER.
Our organisation recently launched a new
health promotion package to help improve
the health and wellbeing of young South
Australians.
‘Health Promotion: better health, better
learning’ outlines how health services can
work with schools and preschools to improve
children and young people’s learning and
their health and wellbeing.
The new guidelines were developed in
response to requests from health workers for
information and tools to help them make
their health promotion work with schools
and preschools more effective.
The package includes a checklist of
questions for health workers and educators
to consider together when planning and
reviewing joint health promotion work.
“Using this checklist will encourage health
workers and educators to prioritise health
promotion work and consider how it can
improve the health and wellbeing of the
whole school community,” said Centre for
Health Promotion Project Officer Tracy
Buchanan.
The guidelines and checklist were developed
by the CYWHS Centre for Health Promotion,
in collaboration with the Department of
Health, and supported by a steering group
representing community health and education
sectors across the state. They include the
Department of Education and Children’s
Services, CYWHS Youth Services, Country
Health and SHine SA.
The package is now available online at
http://www.wch.sa.gov.au/chp.html.
For more information contact Tracy Buchanan
on 8161 7777.
Launch of new Health Promotion Package
(hypoxia) typically experienced by children
with SDB.
“If your child snores regularly and you
notice him or her gasping and having
pauses in breath during sleep, it may be
well worth seeing your local doctor to
query the presence of SDB, particularly
if disruptive or inattentive behaviour and
problems at school are also noted.”
3
All systems go for Emergency DepartmentAfter years of planning and construction,
our $9.2 million Emergency Department has
officially opened its doors to the public.
Premier Mike Rann opened the state-of-the-
art facility for our paediatric and obstetric
emergency patients.
“The new Emergency Department will
provide improved technology and facilities
that will enable more effective and timely
treatment. It has a more calming, private
atmosphere for women, children and their
families,” Premier Rann said.
Medical Unit Head of the Paediatric
Emergency Department Dr Jeremy Raftos
said there will be thousands of women and
children who are going to benefit each year
from this new multi-million dollar re-
development.
“A visit to the Emergency Department can be
stressful, especially when it is crowded and
busy. The redevelopment will reduce the
trauma and stress for children and their parents
coming through the unit,” said Dr Raftos.
Six year old Maggie Ward from Port Pirie
was the first patient to be treated in the
new emergency department. Parents Andrew
and Melissa said they brought Maggie into
Emergency after noticing she had a high
temperature and was covered in spots.
“We thought she may have had chickenpox
so we thought we better get her checked
out,” Andrew said.
“We were impressed with the high quality of
care Maggie received. She was seen by a
doctor straight away. The service and staff
were fantastic, it was a good experience all
round.
“We travel from Port Pirie to Adelaide every
second weekend so it’s comforting to know
that there’s a state-of-the-art facility where
we can take our children and know they will
be well looked after.”
The new facility, which co-locates the
Paediatric Emergency Department and the
Women’s Assessment Service, offers a first-
class resuscitation area, an acute area with
15 assessment rooms, a 12 bed short stay
ward, 10 women’s assessment rooms, new
triage areas, patient waiting rooms and staff
work areas.
The State Government has provided $4.5m
towards the total cost of the project. Savings
& Loans Credit Union has contributed $2.5
million through the Women’s and Children’s
Hospital Visa Card initiative, the WCH
Foundation has committed $1.3m and a
further $900,000 has been fundraised
through the community.
CYWHS CE Heather Gray said the
relationship between the Savings & Loans
Credit Union and the Women’s and
Children’s Hospital has meant the difference
between this redevelopment going ahead or
staying firmly on the drawing board.
“It’s a truly inspirational example of what
can be achieved when two organisations
work together to provide positive outcomes
for the community,” she said.
“A project of this magnitude takes a lot
of planning, consultation and co-operation.
I extend my personal thanks to all staff who
have contributed to our Emergency
Department re-development.”
A highly successful Research Open Day was
held recently at the WCH for senior high
school and university students considering a
career in medical research.
During the morning, 80 year 11 and 12
students from 10 invited schools, had the
opportunity to tour four WCH laboratories
and learn about exciting career paths in a
public teaching hospital.
Internationally recognised genetics
researcher Professor Grant Sutherland began
the morning workshop inspiring students to
get into a career in medical research.
“This Open Day was a great opportunity to
show students that hospitals aren’t only places
for treating sick people. There are good job
opportunities in research in hospitals for
people with backgrounds other than medicine
and nursing,” Prof Sutherland said.
A tour through Haematology gave students
a rare insight into stem-cell research and a
bone marrow transplantation laboratory.
Students also viewed the new tandem mass
spectrometer used to screen newborn blood
for genetic diseases. They were shown new
genetic technologies and how diagnostic
tests for various infectious and non-
infectious diseases are developed.
Winner of the 2005 Young Investigator
Award, Branka Grubor-Bauk, presented her
award-winning research into the herpes
simplex virus which causes cold sores.
During an afternoon workshop, about
80 university students from all three South
Australian universities, heard about the
many facets of medical research at a
graduate level and research opportunities
in genetic medicine, child health, cerebral
palsy and mental health. They also listened
to personal stories from current PhD
students as well as research presentations
from senior CYWHS research staff.
Research Open Day inspirestomorrow’s research leaders
COLIN STORY DEMONSTRATES BONE MARROW STORAGE DURING THE TRANSPLANTATION TOUR.
• Total cost of the redevelopment project
was $9.2m.
• The new facility co-locates the
Paediatric Emergency Department and
the Women’s Assessment Service.
• The Emergency Department treats and
cares for about 36,000 children each year.
• The Women’s Assessment Service treats
more than 13,500 women each year.
• The new facility offers a first-class
resuscitation area.
• The acute area has 15 assessment rooms.
• There is a 12 bed short stay ward
which accommodates up to eight
percent of all hospital admissions.
• The short stay ward has a 95 percent
discharge rate.
• There are 10 beds in Women’s
Assessment Service - six single
examination rooms and two double
share rooms.
• There are new triage areas, patient
waiting rooms and staff work areas.
Savings & Loans Credit Union Emergency Department facts
PREMIER MIKE RANN SHARES A SMILE WITH SEBASTIAN THOTTATHIL IN THE NEW SAVINGS &
LOANS EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT.
4
Kids ’n’ You opensin ElizabethKids ‘n’ You Family Services has officially opened its newly renovated centre and children’s
facilities at the Elizabeth Grove Primary School.
“The launch of co-located services at the Elizabeth Grove Primary School is an exciting
development for the children and families in the local community of Elizabeth and
Elizabeth Grove,” said Heather Gray, CYWHS CE.
“The move means that Kids ‘n’ You staff can now work collaboratively with school staff to
provide immunisation, training for peer supporters and support programs.
“The Elizabeth Grove campus is now in a position to offer a one-stop-shop of child care,
preschool, school, child health and family support services.”
Kids ’n’ You Family Services is an early intervention program that increases family and
community capacity to raise children in safe, supportive and nurturing environments. The
service is part of the Children and Families Integration Service provided by CYWHS.
The service provides centre-based programs for families and children aged up to five years
who have experienced the effects of domestic violence, mental health problems and
childhood abuse. Children attending the service are assessed and each child then
participates in a tailored program to enhance their development.
Kids ‘n’ You Family Services also includes intensive home visiting and group work for
families with children aged up to 18 years old, a Fatherhood Program and a DADS
support group.
Graduation news
Like mother, like daughterIt was a case of history repeating itself, when 24-year-old Nicole Hentsel recently gave
birth to daughter Hannah.
Hannah was born 26 weeks premature and weighed a tiny 540 grams. Twenty-four
years ago, Nicole was also born 26 weeks premature weighing only 800 grams.
Not only were mum and daughter both premature babies, but Cardiac Surgeon at the
WCH, Mr Ian Ross, performed the same operation on both girls. They needed surgical
closure of a small foetal blood vessel – called a duct – that lies just outside the heart,
and commonly stays open in premature babies causing persistent breathing difficulties.
Associate Professor Ross Haslam, Head of Neonatology at the WCH, said there are many
common problems that premature babies face.
“Immediately after birth, it’s important to establish and maintain the baby’s breathing
and blood pressure. Once this has been stabilised, the baby needs nutrition so he or she
can put on weight. I’m very confident about Hannah’s situation because her breathing is
exceptionally strong.
“The most important thing now is for Hannah to put on weight. She will need to
quadruple her birth weight before she can go home.”
At a time when life can be stressful and exhausting, Nicole has found enormous support
from the staff in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
“The staff have helped a lot, they are just wonderful. It’s a lovely feeling being a mum.
Hannah is the first grandchild in my family and is doing remarkably well. We are hoping
to be able to take Hannah home on the 18th of June, that’s the date she was due.”
NICOLE HENTSEL AND DAUGHTER
HANNAH SHARE A SPECIAL BOND.
PHOTO COURTESY THE ADVERTISER.
New research trial
March saw a number of staff graduate from a
variety of nursing and midwifery programs
offered by the Centre for Continuing
Education.
These programs include the Graduate Nurse
and Midwife Programs, Paediatric Nursing
Studies and Paediatric Critical Care Nursing
Studies.
Susan Magarey was awarded the Midwifery
Education and Research Fund prize in
recognition of excellence in midwifery theory
and practice.
Midwifery refresher and re-entry programs are
now being offered as part of a joint initiative
between the CYWHS and Flinders Medical
Centre.
We are also working with the Royal Adelaide
Hospital to offer a Post-Enrolment Enrolled
Nurse Diploma.
In addition, twenty-six of our Health Support
Officers graduated from TAFE SA with a
certificate in Community Services and Health.
Willing participants are being sought to take
part in a new research trial to test the
effectiveness of antibiotics in the treatment
of acute bronchitis.
Participants must be over 18 years old and
have at least one of the following symptoms
with their cough - phlegm, breathlessness,
wheeze, chest pain or fever.
Project Officer Bronwen Paine says
participants cannot have a known respiratory
problem such as asthma, emphysema or
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
“They will have a medical examination, a
blood test and an X-ray and will be asked to
complete a brief questionnaire with a GP.
They will be given either a six-day course of
antibiotics or dummy medication and will
need to record their symptoms over 14 days.
The treatment is free,” she said.
The trial is being conducted by the CYWHS,
in collaboration with the University of
Adelaide and the Central Northern
Adelaide Health Service.
Anyone interested in taking part in the trial
can contact Dr Jan Walker at the WCH
Immunisation Clinic General Practice on
8161 6206. For further information about
the study please phone 8303 6274.
5
The CYWHS hosted the second National
Parenting Conference - Parenting
Imperatives II at the Adelaide Convention
Centre at the end of May.
The Conference brought to Adelaide world
leaders with special parenting skills and
knowledge. The five key issues under the
spot light this year were fathering,
behaviour management, Indigenous health,
cross cultural health and the Incredible Years
programs.
Conference organiser and manager of the
CYWHS Centre for Parenting, Pam Linke said
the conference raised a wide range of
parenting issues and targeted people who
provide support and education to parents
and professionals who work with and care
for children.
Best selling author Professor James
Garbarino gave keynote presentations about
aggression and violence in children and how
a traumatic experience can affect
a child’s development. Prof Garbarino has
received many US national and international
awards for his work with children.
Tim Parquette, from Canada's National
Fathering Project, presented his extensive
work on a range of fatherhood projects. He
explored the imbalance between the role of
fathers and the expectations society has of
fathers and the positive contributions that
dads make to the lives of their children.
Director of the Mother-Baby Behaviour
Sleep Lab at the University of Notre Dame,
Professor James McKenna, gave a keynote
address entitled ‘Stone age infants in a
space age world’.
He spoke about how care for infants and
children has been subject to intense and
often uncompromising family and medically-
based opinions and value judgments
throughout our cultural history.
Dr Judy Hutchings, a Consultant Clinical
Psychologist with the North West Wales
National Health Service Trust, gave her
keynote presentation about the Incredible
Years. Dr Hutchings has worked with
disadvantaged children and their families for
30 years and has been using the Incredible
Years programs since 1998. Incredible Years
are effective research-based programs
designed to reduce children's aggression and
behaviour problems and increase social skills
at home and at school.
The conference also had a strong focus on
Indigenous health. Dr Gary Robinson, the
Co-Director of the School for Social and
Policy Research at Charles Darwin University,
spoke about ‘Let’s Start’, a targeted early
intervention program, for children aged
between three to six years old, and their
parents living in the Tiwi Islands and the
Darwin region.
The program was well received with
speakers attracting wide-spread media
interest.
Shaving for a cureIn May CYWHS staff, including CE Heather Gray, helped raise money for the Leukaemia
Foundation’s World’s Greatest Shave event.
Some young WCH patients with leukaemia had a chance to even the score by shaving the heads
of three doctors - Dr David Caldicott, Dr Nan Vasilunas and Dr Michael Osborne.
Ms Gray helped the fundraising efforts by having her hair dyed pink. For a substantial donation
towards the Leukaemia Foundation, Dr Caldicott also parted ways with his trademark ‘mutton
chop’ sideburns.
“The event gives us an opportunity to raise money for a great cause,” said Dr Caldicott.
“The Shave puts smiles on the faces of some very young people who are undergoing what is
often a pretty unpleasant course of treatment.”
Many CYWHS nursing and allied health staff joined in the nation-wide fundraiser which offered
the option of hair colouring for those less inclined to lose it all.
Work colleagues wishing to avoid the shave paid for their ’immunity’ privilege to avoid the
enthusiastic shave team. DR MICHAEL OSBORNE LOSES HIS PRECIOUS LOCKS.