Townsville Support Services

 for children with Down syndrome

Read Townsville Bulletin article here

DSQ FECS (upto 6 years):  (OT, Speech, Psych and Social Worker) Call Local Disability Services Office for More information 

Physio, Diet, Feeding :        Womens and Children's Allied Health at TTH

Early Childhood Ed ;           Vincent School Contact Karen Herbett  (now called ECDU)

Special Education:               Townsville Community Learning Centre (primary upwards)

Extra Speech:                       JCU speech clinic (all ages) – fantastic and free!

Dental:                                  Community Health at Kirwan

                                              (free to QLD health care card holders)

Mental :                                 Community Health at Kirwan

Private Physio using extended care program:  Luthile Arlett

                                            (Townsville and suburban clinic (Charles St))

Private OT and behavioural specialist - Jillian Ballantyne

ENT – TTH or private :        Dr Lindsay Allen

Hearing:                                TTH or Australian Hearing

Eyes:                                     Dr Gaeme Kelly  thru TTH or private

Cardiologist:                         Dr Radford via TTH.  Women's and Children's clinic.

Paed :                                    Dr William Frischman private or TTH.

Gastro:                                  Dr William Frischman

Sleep clinic:                          Mater Brisbane (publicly funded), travel costs paid by TTH

The extended Medicare program (using GP management plan) can get you some subsidised access to private allied health professionals i.e. physio, speech. The program can also provide access to Psychologist (counselling) for parents/carers etc.  Talk to your GP or medical practice manager.  If they don't understand it find someone who does.  There are ways around almost every hurdle.

 If having problems getting appts get your Paed to ring them or for hospital ring surgical clinics reception (ENT, Hearing) and tell them your child has DS and needs to be seen as a higher priority than 3. Follow up on all referrals to the public hospital.  Make sure the referrals get there and you have an appt when you expect one.  If not harass (in a nice way) until you get what you need.

 If you need help with Family Support Packages seek advice from Community Connections or Centrecare.

 Parent Support
 Karen Edwards  ( Lauren- 3 yrs old )         4775 5259
Tanya Boatwright ( Skylar- 9 months old ) 0400 799 136

 Local Support Group –
‘Down but not Out’ (all ages) – Contact Karen or Tanya as above 


STATE ORGANSIATION IS DSAQ  . You can visit them at www.dsaq.org.au