Spinal health: how professional organisations can help
There are a number of professional organisations that can help young people, families and schools by providing information, training, resources, advice and other forms of support in relation to spinal health. Following is a list of some of these organisations and a brief description of how they can help. By clicking on the links, you will be able to visit their website for more detailed information. This is not an exhaustive list but will hopefully provide some guidance for those wanting further information and assistance.
Children's Hospital Institute of Sports Medicine
The Children's Hospital Institute of Sports Medicine (CHISM) was established in 1995 to provide a comprehensive, specialised approach to children's sports medicine and exercise science. CHISM seeks to provide leadership in achieving this goal by:
- Advocating for children and youth in sport and physical activity.
- Developing and promoting guidelines for best practice in physical activity and sport for children with disabilities as well as children who are chronically ill and able-bodied.
- Conducting and coordinating community projects and research in paediatric exercise science and sports medicine.
- Creating and encouraging a culture of research in paediatric exercise science and sports medicine.
- Providing interdisciplinary education and training programs.
- Providing clinical services in paediatric sports medicine.
For further information please contact Julie-Anne Hawker on (02) 9845 0761 or by email at julieh6@chw.edu.au.
Kids Health
Kids Health is the health promotion unit and bookshop at The Children's Hospital at Westmead. Among other things, Kids Health produces fact sheets on a range of health and safety issues. The factsheets are written by health professionals at both The Children's Hospital at Westmead and Sydney Children's Hospital. They can be downloaded from the website listed above. For further information contact Kids Health on (02) 9845 3585.
Australian Physiotherapy Association
Physiotherapists are experts in the assessment and treatment of movement disorders. If you are experiencing back, neck or shoulder pain from carrying loads or using computers, physiotherapists can help. Using a wide range of techniques, physiotherapists relieve pain, restore movement and help you to prevent further damage occurring.
Members of the APA are keen to share their knowledge about safe load carrying and prevention by talking to students at their local schools. Contact the Association if you'd like a physiotherapist to visit your school or university.
The APA endorses a backpack, the PhysioPak, which has been designed from research by physiotherapists at the University of South Australia.
You can "find a physio" and get more information through the Australian Physiotherapy Association website. Alternatively there's a branch of the APA in each state and territory, or call the national office on (03) 9534 9400.
Youthsafe
Youthsafe's focus is the prevention of serious injuries in young people aged 15 to 25 years. This is achieved in a variety of ways including advocacy for injury prevention with key decision-makers, supporting organisations and individuals involved with young people as well as developing educational programs and facilitating networking. The Youthsafe website includes information on youth injury on the roads, in sport and recreation settings, and in the workplace. There is also a section to search Youthsafe's Resource Library for more information on a specific topic.
Contact Youthsafe on (02) 9808 9202.
Other useful websites
Acknowledgements
This package was developed with the support of a number of organisations. The Children's Hospital at Westmead's Advocacy Committee would like to thank the following organisations for their involvement in the development of the Spinal Health Package:
- NSW Department of Education and Training
- Catholic Education Commission, NSW
- Association of Independent Schools of NSW
- Federation of Parents and Citizens Associations, NSW
- Parents Council of NSW
- Injury Prevention and Policy Unit, NSW Health
- Australian Physiotherapy Association
- Spartan School Supplies
- Kids Health, The Children's Hospital at Westmead
- Children's Hospital Institute of Sports Medicine, The Children's Hospital at Westmead
- Physiotherapy Department, The Children's Hospital at Westmead
- Public Relations Department, The Children's Hospital at Westmead
- Orthotics Department, The Children's Hospital at Westmead
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