Dr Lau and community partners involved in the successful CEGS Project.

Another Positive Community Engagement Grants Scheme Outcome

In Australia, 1 in 400 babies are diagnosed with cerebral palsy*. It is a lifelong condition seen in the first 12–18 months of life affecting a child’s ability to control and coordinate different parts of their body.
Although there is no known cure, there is much to be done to reduce the impact of cerebral palsy on a child’s everyday life.

In collaboration with the Physiotherapy Department at Wollongong Hospital and The Disability Trust, Dr Sim Lau from UOW’s Faculty of Informatics, developed a DVD resource kit to help children with cerebral palsy reach their full potential.
Supported by a 2008 Community Engagement Grant, Dr Lau developed a kit which enables a child to carry out their daily stretching exercises in a home setting. With filming completed in October 2008, the next phase of the project is to develop a website that allows parents and members of the community to download exercises that suit their children, as advised by their health professional.

“Working with Dr. Lau to progress and help deliver this final product has been one of the highlights of my career to date. The Centre for Educational Development and Interactive Resources staff helped us to produce a professional product and resource that is clear and easy for parents, children and therapists to use. I hope this DVD will help parents to empower their child to develop good daily stretching habits, just like cleaning their teeth and eating their vegies!”
Joanne Morrell, Senior Paediatric Physiotherapist, Wollongong Hospital

*Cerebral Palsy Australia, 2009

Project Title: Supporting children with cerebral palsy (Awarded $9,940 in 2008)

Project Leader: Dr Sim Kim Lau, Faculty of Informatics

Partners: Wollongong Hospital SESIAHS and The Disability Trust