A Perth physiotherapist who remortgaged her house to start an intensive therapy practice helping children with neurological conditions and injuries is achieving such dramatic advances that NDIS Minister Bill Shorten wants the model replicated nationwide.
Dayna Pool created Healthy Strides in 2018 based on research she led at Perth Children’s Hospital, building it into a lauded NDIS provider that has assisted hundreds of kids with walking and other motor skill disabilities.
They undergo six-week programs then practise those new skills at home for a few months before returning for more, using high-tech rehabilitation solutions.
Brianna Van Beek says her 17-month-old son Remi, who has Turnpenny-Fry syndrome and muscular dystrophy, has come a long way in two six-week blocks.
He went from not sitting to “running around as fast as he can” in his supported stepping device then “commando crawling” to get independent movement on the floor.
“Just smashing goals,” Ms Van Beek said.
Kellie Fearnall said her son Nate, 7, who has cerebral palsy, got “really huge gains” out of the therapy.
“He just seems each time to achieve beyond what we even set,” she said.
She added that he was now kicking footballs through goalposts.
After 20 years as a physio, Dr Pool was “still amazed by the kind of results that we see day in, day out”.
“When you follow the science and evidence, and we learn from each other as researchers from all over the world … we can get real outcomes.“
Mr Shorten said the success of the programs gave him “goosebumps”, describing them as “scaleable, replicable, and clever”.
Telethon trustee Christine Simpson Stokes said it was an amazing service, praising Dr Pool’s energy and vision.