Queensland Paediatric Rehabilitation Service

Find a service
Queensland Paediatric Rehabilitation Service
Limb Difference Clinic
Day Rehabilitation Program

The Queensland Paediatric Rehabilitation Service (QPRS) provides coordinated family-focused rehabilitation, health assessments and interventions for children and adolescents with a range of disabilities resulting from injury, illness or disease. Our goal is to maximise function, prevent or minimise predictable complications and improve quality of life for children. Our team cares for children and adolescents with:

acquired neurological injury or illness e.g. brain injury
spinal cord dysfunction
cerebral palsy and similar conditions
limb difference and amputation
rare complex conditions e.g. achondroplasia for developmental guidance.

Download our Queensland Paediatric Rehabilitation Service fact sheet
View all rehabilitation fact sheets
View all Cerebral Palsy fact sheets

We also provide the following services:

Inpatient Rehabilitation

The inpatient rehabilitation unit is located on Level 8 (8a).

Outpatient Rehabilitation

QPRS provides outpatient rehabilitation services for children accessing tertiary health services through QPRS. This includes group or individual goal directed therapy to support health interventions, splinting, casting and transition to adult services.

Day Rehabilitation Program

The Day Rehabilitation Program is conducted in the day hospital on Level 6 (6e).

Specialised Rehabilitation Programs

QPRS has specialised multidisciplinary teams that provide rehabilitation programs tailored to the key clinical areas of limb difference, acquired brain injury (including mild traumatic brain injuries) and spinal cord injury.

Cerebral Palsy Health Programs

QPRS provides tertiary health and rehabilitation programs for children and adolescents with cerebral palsy and similar conditions. These include:

Hip surveillance
Botulinum toxin A
Selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR)
Intrathecal baclofen (ITB)
Orthopaedic surgery.

Cerebral Palsy: A guide for parents and caregivers

Specialist Outpatient Clinics

QPRS runs the following specialist outpatient clinics:

Rehabilitation Medicine Clinic
Botulinum Toxin Injecting Clinic
Physical Assessment Clinic
Limb Difference Clinic
Cerebral Palsy Orthopaedic Clinic
Hip Surveillance Clinic
Neurocognitive Clinic
Achondroplasia Clinic
Feeding and Nutrition Clinic
Spinal Disabilities Clinic
Complex Concussion Clinic.

Complex Concussion Clinic

The Complex Concussion Clinic accepts patients who have:

persistent post concussive symptoms beyond 4 weeks OR
are high risk of persistent symptoms (e.g. more than 3 concussions or previous concussions where symptoms lasted longer than 7 days) OR
multiple repeat presentations to the emergency department

Spinal Disabilities Clinic

The Spinal Disabilities clinic (previously known as Spina Bifida clinic) manages Children with a Congenital Spinal Cord abnormality.
This is a Multidisciplinary clinic which includes the specialties of Paediatric Rehabilitation, Orthopaedics, Neurosurgery, Ophthalmology and Urology.

How to Refer:

All referrals to the Spinal Disabilities Clinic require named referrals to Paediatric Rehab, Dr Priya Edwards and each relevant specialty via the link Referring patients.

Appointments with other Medical/Allied Health teams are coordinated where possible.

Please contact the Spinal Disabilities team by phone or email.

t: 3068 2736 (general enquiries – Spina Bifida Clinical Nurse)
e: chq.spinaldisabilities@health.qld.gov.au

You can read more about Spina Bifida at – www.spinabifida.org

Statewide Services

Hubs
QPRS funds hub therapy positions at 5 regional centres: Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, Rockhampton, Gold Coast, to provide local support, therapy and co-ordination.
To contact a hub therapist please email QPRS@health.qld.gov.au.
Hip Surveillance
QPRS runs a Hip Surveillance Program which provides monitoring of hip status for early detection of subluxation for all Queensland children with a diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy or similar conditions.
Telehealth
QPRS provides the option of telehealth consultations for families and clinicians across Queensland.
Outreach Clinics
QPRS partners with paediatric teams in major regional centres to provide twice yearly multidisciplinary Paediatric Rehabilitation clinics in the following locations:

Cairns
Townsville
Mackay
Rockhampton
Hervey Bay
Bundaberg
Gold Coast
Toowoomba
Mount Isa

View the outreach timetable for more information or phone us on 07 3068 2950.
Education and support
QPRS provides education and support as part of outreach and statewide services.

Who can access this service?

New patients

Referrals are accepted up to 16 years of age (prior to 16th birthday). Patients with an acquired brain or spinal cord injury over 16 years of age and still at school may be referred for consultation.

Existing patients with complex care needs

Referrals are accepted up to their 18th birthday (patients are usually transitioned to adult services by this time).

Catchment area

This service is available to children living in Queensland and northern New South Wales.

Do I need a referral?

You will need a formal referral to access this service.

How do I get a referral?

Referrals are accepted from:

medical specialists
general practitioners.

Other referral information

Children with complex conditions should be referred to a general paediatrician for shared care.
Cerebral palsy patients will require a general paediatrician to be involved in their care.

Please bring the following items to your appointment:

neuroimaging
hip X-rays (if available)
assistive devices such as walking aids or orthoses (if used).

Wait times are based on clinical information such as acuity of injury, medical concern, psychosocial complexity, pain and change in function.

Information for health professionals

The Queensland Paediatric Rehabilitation Service (QPRS) provides specialist paediatric rehabilitation for children and young people with limitations of function as a consequence of an acquired injury, illness or disease. Our goal is to maximise function, prevent or minimise predictable complications and improve quality of life for children.

Acquired brain injury (ABI) resources

The Queensland Paediatric Rehabilitation Service has developed a number of resources to help guide health professionals as they provide care and/or support to children and families living with an acquired brain injury (ABI). There is also an ABI schools pack aimed at helping educators support children with an ABI in the school environment.

View all ABI resources for health professionals and educators

Who may benefit from this service

Children with:

acquired neurological injury or illness e.g. brain injury
spinal cord dysfunction
cerebral palsy and similar conditions
limb difference and amputation
rare complex conditions e.g. achondroplasia for developmental guidance.

Referral instructions

Referral to QPRS for children with head injury and brain injury guideline (QH staff only)
Specialist referral requirements

All referrals must be made by a medical practitioner.
All referrals should be addressed to a named consultant.
All referrals should be marked Attention QPRS or Attention Queensland Paediatric Rehabilitation Service.

Please refer to the Director or named consultant (as below in the ‘Our team’ section).

Urgent referrals
Contact the rehabilitation registrar or on-call consultant via the hospital switchboard.
t: 07 3068 1111

Our team

Director

Dr Priya Edwards MBBS, FRACP, FAFRM

Dr Edwards has more than 15 years’ experience in Paediatric rehabilitation for conditions including brain and spinal injuries, cerebral palsy and limb differences. She has experience with spasticity management and movement disorders. She is an experienced Botulinum toxin injector. Her research interests include Botulinum Toxin injections for care and comfort goals. Dr Edwards has an interest in the use of gait analysis to inform management of spasticity and movement disorders.

Interests
Botulinum toxin injector, spinal disabilities, limb difference and gait analysis.

Paediatric rehabilitation consultants

Dr Priya Edwards

Dr Kim Mclennan MBBS, FRACP, FAFRM

Dr Mclennan is a paediatric rehabilitation specialist with more than ten years’ experience working with infants, children and young people with congenital and acquired neurological disabilities or limb differences. Her expertise includes rehabilitation management for patients with a neurological injury or illness such as an acquired brain and spinal cord injury. Dr Mclennan also provides management for spasticity and movement disorders including medications, Botulinum toxin A injections and selection for neurosurgical interventions.

Interests
Acquired brain injury, spinal disabilities, spasticity and movement disorders, limb difference.

Dr Lisa Copeland MBBS FRACP FAFRM

Dr Copeland has been a consultant with the Queensland Paediatric Rehabilitation Service since 2008 and currently leads the paediatric intrathecal baclofen program in Queensland. Dr Copeland has special interest in the management of cerebral palsy and complex movement disorders including the use of intrathecal baclofen, deep brain stimulation and Botulinum toxin A. She is the chief investigator for the Australian Paediatric ITB research group and an associate investigator with the Predict CP study.

Interests
Paediatric rehabilitation, management of cerebral palsy, complex movement disorders.

Dr Theresa Carroll MBBS, FRACP, FAFRM

Dr Carroll is a paediatric rehabilitation specialist with more than ten years’ experience working with infants, children and young people with congenital and acquired neurological disabilities. Her expertise includes rehabilitation management for patients with a neurological injury or illness such as an acquired brain or spinal cord injury. She also provides multidisciplinary management plans for spasticity and movement disorders including medications, Botulinum toxin A injections and selection for neurosurgical interventions.

Interests
Traumatic and acquired brain injury, spinal disabilities, management of spasticity and movement disorders.

Dr Owen Gillies BSc(Hons), MBBS, FRACP, FAFRM.

Dr Gillies graduated from The University of Queensland in 1996. He achieved his fellowship in paediatrics in 2009 and a subspecialist qualification in rehabilitation medicine in 2011. Dr Gillies also graduated with an honours degree in psychology from Monash University before studying medicine.

Interests
Management of spinal cord injuries and spina bifida, movement disorders and cerebral palsy, and acquired brain injury in children.

Dr Sasaka Bandaranayake MBBS, FRACP, FAFRM

Sasaka worked as a general paediatrician in regional Queensland before specialising in paediatric rehabilitation. She has a special interest in children with congenital or acquired limb difference, but also manages children with cerebral palsy, spinal injury and acquired brain injury, including the use of Botulinum Toxin A (Botox) for spasticity. Her research interests include motor outcome in premature infants and diagnosis and management of cerebral palsy in developing countries.

Professor Karen Barlow, MBChB, Msc, PhD, FRACP

Professor Barlow is a paediatric neurologist specialising in acquired and traumatic brain injury.

Paediatricians

Dr Nicola Previtera MBBS, DCH (Lond), FRACP

Dr Previtera is a paediatric specialist with more than 17 years’ experience working with infants, children and young people. She practiced as a paediatrician in Cairns for 5 years before relocating to Brisbane in 2004. Dr Previtera currently works in the Paediatric Department at Children’s Health Queensland. She has provided a paediatric service to QPRS for the last 12 years and her expertise includes multidisciplinary assessment and management of children with cerebral palsy and acquired brain injury.

Interests
Working with infants and young children at high risk of cerebral palsy.

Orthopaedic Surgeons

Dr David Bade

Dr Bade completed his medical and orthopaedic surgical training in Queensland. He underwent further training in paediatric orthopaedics and completed a Fellowship at the British Columbia Children’s Hospital, Vancouver. Dr Bade provides outreach services to Townsville and Roma.

Interests
Hip conditions from infancy to adolescence, sports injuries of the knee and ankle, neuromuscular conditions, paediatric fractures and general paediatric orthopaedics.

Dr Ivan Astori, Orthopaedic Surgeon MBBS, FRACS (Ortho)

Dr Astori is a Queensland-trained orthopaedic surgeon who specialises in adult hip and knee surgery, sports injuries and fracture care. He also treats children and has a particular interest in hip reconstructive surgery and limb lengthening for post-traumatic and congenital deformities. Dr Astori is a certified medical examiner and a member of the Royal Australian College of Surgeons, Australian Orthopaedic Association, Australian Paediatric Orthopaedic Society and Australian Limb Lengthening and Reconstruction Society.

Interests
Hip reconstructive surgery, limb lengthening for post-traumatic and congenital deformities.

Dr John Walsh

Associate Professor Walsh is an orthopaedic surgeon with clinical interests in paediatric orthopaedics and neuromuscular diseases in children.

He completed his undergraduate training at Manchester University before obtaining his Fellowship with The Royal College of Surgeons, London. Following this, A/Prof Walsh completed his Masters in Orthopaedics in Liverpool.

Dr Walsh opened the first gait lab at Alder Hey Hospital in Liverpool and instigated the inaugural paediatric orthopaedic instructional course for the orthopaedic fellowship of the combined Royal Colleges of Surgeons, United Kingdom.

Interests
Neuromuscular diseases in children and general paediatric conditions.

This service is available at

Rehabilitation (6g)
Rehabilitation Day Unit (6e)
Queensland Children’s Hospital
Level 6
501 Stanley Street
South Brisbane
QLD 4101
View map

Contact details

t: 07 3068 2950 | 07 3068 1111 (after hours via hospital switchboard)
f: 07 3068 3909
e: QPRS@health.qld.gov.au
If you would like to subscribe to our ‘Rehab Rap’ newsletter please contact us via the email address above.

Operating hours

Monday to Friday, 8am-4.30pm.

Related services

Limb Difference Clinic
Queensland Children’s Motion Analysis Service

Resources

Developing the skills for growing up
Learning to live with an Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) – Tip sheets for kids
Timetable for growing up
View all Cerebral Palsy fact sheets
View all rehabilitation fact sheets
Cerebral Palsy: A guide for parents and caregivers
Kids Concussion fact sheets

Children’s Health Queensland

Queensland Children’s Hospital

Research