Information for professionals

Education Professionals

Down Syndrome Victoria conducts an annual Education professional day early in the year. Topics at our one day workshop vary each year but may include an overview of Down syndrome, learner profile, behaviour etc and guest speakers on various topics. The 2010 workshop will be held on 17th March. Please email RSVP to register your interest.

Education Support Service - Down Syndrome Victoria offer a support service for students with Down syndrome, their schools and families. Click here for more information or contact Ian Cook.

Information Packs - We also have an Education Professionals information pack (free for members or $15 for non-members) which includes a self-run Power Point PD which can be used with staff (or students) to give an overview of Down syndrome.

Boardmaker (available from Down Syndrome Victoria) is a communication and learning tool containing Picture Communication Symbols (PCS) to enhance learning and communication for individuals with intellectual disability. Please click here for more information.

Health Professionals

Maternity Hospitals - At the birth of a baby with Down syndrome, please contact our Family Support Coordinator to arrange for information and/or a support visit to the family.

To best support the new family and to help make their stay in your hospital a positive experience you may like to consider referring to our tips on 'What to Say' to families.

Professional Development - Our Health Professional in-services are designed to educate about Down syndrome, to provide a parent/family perspective and to present hints and tips to assist nursing staff in dealing with families during the early days of diagnosis.

In-service sessions are free for Maternity Hospitals.

Feedback from past participants suggest that the practical hints and tips and the personal experiences shared during the sessions are invaluable in helping them to better perform their role.

Here is a link to a health practitioner's guide that has been written by the National Down Syndrome Congress. It contains information concerning how to tell families that their baby has or may have Down syndrome.

Information Packs - Our Health Professional Packs are currently being reviewed and should be available mid 2010. New Parent Information packs are provided to individual families when they contact Down Syndrome Victoria and in most cases will be hand delivered to the family by our Family Support Coordinator.

For further information or to refer a family please email or phone 1300 658 873.