We welcome Carol to the NDIS Relationship Manager role where her extensive experience across the NDIS sector will bring great insight working with Victoria’s case managers and participants helping them to maximise independence, confidence, comfort, and safety.
Carols disability and aged care experience ranges from working as a support worker for RDNS Homecare providing personal care and domestic support in the home, to delivering training in Disability/Aged Care as the Education Manager for E-focus Training.
In the past two years she has worked as a Local Area Coordinator for the NDIS, employed by Latrobe Community Health Services. This role involved working directly with NDIS participants and their carers in the development and implementation of NDIS plans.
Working in the disability sector has taught her gratitude for the abilities you have and respect for others who have different abilities.
She enjoys connecting with people and assisting them to access meaningful support networks to help them to achieve their life goals and looks forward to making connections and lives better with Empower Healthcare.
In her free time she enjoys regular morning walks around Lilydale Lake, yoga classes and paddle boarding. She likes cooking, knitting, sewing and quilting. Living in the Yarra Valley she also enjoys time with friends and family at local wineries and markets.
Welcome to the team Carol.
Let Us Help You with Your NDIS Needs
As a registered NDIS provider with experience in the assessment & treatment of a variety of conditions and strong partnerships with leading equipment and home modification providers, we can facilitate all your allied health needs provisioned under the NDIS.
We assist NDIS participants from 15 onwards.
Our convenient, NDIS services range from provide clients with high quality occupational therapy, physiotherapy, podiatry, and dietetics, and in the comfort of their own environment including timely and effective communication to support the administration of your clients’ funds.
We want your participants to experience the best allied health services, and stay independent, happy, healthy in their own home.
We Understand Your NDIS Needs and Deliver
Rapid Response
We acknowledge all NDIS referrals immediately
Prompt Treatment
Initial appointments completed within a short time frame of receiving referral.
Continuity of Care
The same clinician will be assigned to all appointments for a consumer.
Timely Reporting
We update Case Managers on the same day or within 48 hours of initial appointment.
Cost Effective Services
There are no hidden fees.
Our pricing includes travel, treatment and documentation time.
Professional and Friendly Team
We take the time to get to know every consumer, allowing us to create meaningful care plans to support their life goals.
We are experts in co-ordinating services provided through the NDIS and scheduling private consultations.
Amy’s diverse experience brings a wealth of knowledge to Empower. Having worked in areas of aged care, community, mental health and disabilities across Queensland, her OT clinical experience is broad.
What drives Amy in her professions is
OT is very diverse! I can work in different areas and meet a lot of people. I can also be creative in ways which I help my clients and collaborate with them
Out of work she enjoys good tea, music, travelling and reading. Amy spends time with her family and enjoys cooking fresh beef or chicken jerky for her cat.
Amy’s appointment marks our commitment to growing and developing our services across Australia as we continue to deliver high quality healthcare solutions.
Occupational Therapy Services
Our Home Care Occupational Therapy (OT) team are experts in helping people live safely and independently. They employ a range of strategies to improve functional independence, increase confidence in daily activities and engage in the community.
Our services include;
Functional assessments
– Home modifications
– Neurological rehab – stroke, brain injury, spinal cord injury
– Cognitive assessments
– Falls prevention
– Equipment and assistive technology prescription
– Home assessments
– Pressure care recommendations
– Mental health OT
Empower Healthcare was founded in 2016 by two people who were determined to improve the standards of allied health services in residential aged care. With industry knowledge and an innovative approach, Adam and Matthew set about defining what allied health services can be when quality and person-centred care is placed before all else in healthcare.
The partnership, that merged clinical expertise with business acumen, soon established Empower Healthcare as a leading provider of quality physiotherapy services in residential aged care facilities in Victoria. This success fueled the expansion of our services within residential aged care, home care and NDIS to deliver occupational therapy, physiotherapy, nursing, podiatry, dietetics, osteopathy, massage and speech pathology.
Now offering comprehensive allied health services with more than 180 dedicated and passionate clinicians working in Victoria, Western Australia, New South Wales and Queensland. Empower Healthcare is growing and taking our unique approach with us.
A lot has changed over the years but not our commitment to the highest quality care, delivered by expert clinicians, aimed at improving the independence and quality of life of our clients. Helping our clients live their lives the way they want to.
How To Get Clients Started With Our Home Care & NDIS Services
Simply click on the image below for our referral form.
Attending group therapy is a great alternative or additional service for people living with a disability or chronic health condition. Therapy groups can help to combat feelings of isolation and boredom while facilitating learning and skill development.
Group Therapy programs are carefully developed to suit the needs of the participants with emphasis on learning, skill development, improved independence, and social support. The Dietitians, Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists who run therapy groups assess the individual needs of participants and tailor group sessions to benefit all those who attend.
Proven benefits of Group Therapy include:
Interacting with others experiencing similar circumstances enriches the learning experience.
Working and learning in a group allows the opportunity to learn from peers.
Providing a sense of support.
Improved motivation, while decreasing social isolation and depression.
Increased coping skills and mood.
Improved life satisfaction.
Effective skill development that is cost effective and convenient.
Group therapy can be utilised for cooking, activities of daily living, social skills development, exercise, and education.
This fun, social and effective way to learn and improve skills and function can be funded through the NDIS and conveniently provided by mobile therapists in many different settings from group homes, day services and community houses to retirement villages and gyms.
Call 13000 HELPU or 1300 043 578 to find out more about our programs and how to access group therapy services through Empower Healthcare.
Promoting Independence At Home and in the Community
At Empower Healthcare, we are passionate about promoting the independence and quality of life of people living, studying, and working at home and in the community.
We know that our clients have their own goals, dreams and ambitions and that achieving them is a journey that takes time and consistency, that’s why our organisation is shaped around a commitment to continuity of staff for clients. We believe that people get better outcomes when they can build strong relationships and trust with the clinicians who treat them.
Changing Lives With Exceptional Care
We understand that our clients have needs and goals that are as unique as they are. Our focus is on tailoring therapy and nursing support to suit each individual we see. We acknowledge that when choosing us, our clients expect services that place dignity, integrity, and respect at their core. We achieve this by approaching things differently – by delivering innovative, high-quality therapy solutions that constantly evolve to exceed the needs of our clients and their communities. Our service model integrates five service commitments that empower clients to improve their independence, quality of life, and ability to live, work and thrive in their own homes and communities.
MVP winner Tim Cooper, Senior Physiotherapist shares his background and love for aged care physio. Regarded highly by his colleagues as “the loveliest physiotherapist” his kind, gentle and encouraging personality is admired by many of our clients. With an affection for basketball, kayaking and the Foo Fighters, what’s not to love about Tim!
Why did you choose Empower?
I was moving on from 10 years in private practice and looking for employment that was flexible with my schedule of looking after kids, while decreasing some of the stress that a private clinic can bring.
I got an instantly warm vibe from both Matthew (COO) and Adam (CEO), who made the Empower team seem like a big family. I haven’t felt so relaxed in an interview, which I knew was a sign that this was a place I wanted to be.
To top it off, being a tragic Michael Jordan fan growing up, I saw a framed Jordan poster in Matt’s office during my interview and knew I was making the right decision!
What do you love most about your job?
In aged care, you often see clients for longer periods than in a private practice setting. I believe this allows you to form strong bonds with the people you are treating. It’s a fulfilling sensation providing a service to someone who you get to know so well. I have one client who says I remind her of her son and loads me up with chocolate (not any old chocolate either – Ferrero Rocher!) before I leave each session. It doesn’t get much better than that.
What has been your most memorable moment?
Helping someone restore function that has been lost for so long is as satisfying to me as it is to the client. It may not seem like much, however I have a client who hadn’t been able to touch her head (making self care impossible) due to her shoulder pain over a number of years. After a progressive strengthening program she is now able to do all of her self-care independently, whilst also reaching to the top shelf of the fridge!
In what ways has Empower supported your growth personally & professionally?
Empower have been so accommodating in supporting my work-life balance, which can be difficult to find in some workplaces. This has been highlighted recently by allowing me to juggle of seeing clients while managing recent home-schooling duties that accompanied the COVID-19 outbreak.
Empower host regular PD events, help foster team cohesion, in addition to having a supportive management team. All these factors are vital in providing the scaffolding for professional growth. When I started at Empower I had several staff members share hints and tips to make my transition into the workplace easier. Coming from a busy private clinic, this support was most welcome.
In your new role, what will you be looking to achieve in 2020?
In any job, it is important to set personal goals and always work towards something to keep things interesting. I have several goals that I am working towards this year. After working in private practice for so long, my clientele with neurological disorders were rare. As there is a variety of conditions across all aspects of physiotherapy in aged care, my aim is to brush up on a range of specific neuro-physiotherapy treatment techniques.
The joy of physiotherapy comes with helping a client achieve their goals. My main focus for the year is to make as many of their goals a reality. Due to Empower having a multi-disciplinary team at your fingertips, in addition to working closely with case managers, I am looking forward to utilising these services to really make as much of a positive impact for my clients.
What piece of advice would you give your new graduate self?
Don’t be afraid to ask questions of more experienced physios. Clinical experience is where most of your learning will come from, which as a new graduate is obviously in short supply. Building rapport with your team leader to discuss clients and conditions is the most effective way to put all the pieces together.
Out of the workplace, what are your interests and hobbies?
Other than spending quality time with my wife and 2 kids, my other passions involve a lot of sports. I still play basketball, enjoy the football (mad Eagles supporter) and enjoy taking my kayak out in the bay over the summer. I have a fiddle around with my guitar, which normally involves a feeble attempt to play along with the Foo Fighters. I also love podcasts and go through countless episodes from my favourite hosts when travelling between appointments.
Health related issues for people with a disability are not uncommon, and often impact on their ability to independence and choice under the NDIS. The NDIA recognised this last year and in October 2019, included an additional range of disability-related health supports to purchase using NDIS funding, if they are a regular part of the Participant’s life and a result of their disability.
Many of these health-related disability supports can be claimed using existing line items for disability support workers and therapists (including OTs, physiotherapists, psychologists, ECEI specialists, dieticians and exercise physiologists).
Here’s a dietetic example of how we can now provide additional allied health-related support services.
“With a PEG the role of a dietitian is working out the feeding regimes. We don’t do tube changes or assist in maintenance of the PEG, but we do give advice on water flushes of the tubes which is just a part of PEG management. The main care for a PEG is done by medical of nursing staff. We can also assist care facilities on developing or reviewing their PEG policies”
Empower Healthcare’s Range of Disability-Related Allied Health Supports
Empower Healthcare provides the following services for these health-related supports and can discuss how these supports can be assessed and implemented.
Podiatry Disability-Related Health Supports
Assessment, development, implementation and periodic review of a podiatry care plan by an NDIS-funded suitably qualified and competent clinician
Training of an NDIS-funded suitably qualified and competent worker to implement the podiatry care plan and perform any required daily maintenance and care related to the plan
Diabetic Management Disability-Related Health Supports
Development and periodic review of a diabetic management plan by an NDIS-funded suitably qualified and competent clinician
Implementation of a diabetic management plan and daily maintenance and care by an NDIS-funded suitably qualified and competent worker
Training of an NDIS-funded suitably qualified and competent worker to implement a diabetic management plan
Nutrition Disability-Related Health Supports
Dietetic consultations and the development and periodic review of a nutritional meal plan by an NDIS-funded suitably qualified and competent clinician
Implementation of a nutritional meal plan by an NDIS-funded suitably qualified and competent worker
Training of an NDIS-funded suitably qualified and competent worker to implement the nutritional meal plan
Provision of PEG maintenance and care by a suitably qualified and competent worker
Training of an NDIS-funded suitably qualified and competent worker to provide PEG maintenance and care
Wound and Pressure Care Disability-Related Health Supports
Wound care and pressure care (including pressure injury management) by an NDIS-funded suitably qualified and competent worker.
For more information, download the Department of Social Services fact sheet
As a registered NDIS provider with experience in the assessment & treatment of a variety of conditions and strong partnerships with leading equipment and home modification providers, we can facilitate all your allied health needs provisioned under the NDIS.
We assist NDIS participants from 10 – 64 years of age.
Our convenient, NDIS services range from provide clients with high quality occupational therapy, physiotherapy, podiatry, and dietetics, and in the comfort of their own environment.
These services also include timely and effective communication to support the administration of your clients’ funds.
We want your client’s to experience the best allied health services, and stay independent, happy, healthy in their own home.
We Understand Your NDIS Needs and Deliver
Rapid Response – that’s our service guarantee
We acknowledge all NDIS referrals within 4 hours.
Appointments are booked within 48 hours.
Prompt Treatment
Initial appointments completed within 14 days of referral.
Continuity of Care
The same clinician will be assigned to all appointments for a consumer.
Timely Reporting
We update Case Managers on the same day or within 24 hours of initial appointment.
Cost Effective Services
There are no hidden fees.
Our pricing includes travel, treatment and documentation time.
Professional and Friendly Team
We take the time to get to know every consumer, allowing us to create meaningful care plans to support their life goals.
We are experts in co-ordinating services provided through the NDIS and scheduling private consultations.
Our friendly support team to get started on (03) 9583 1364…
