MBS Nurse Provides Support for Intellectual Disability Advocacy Group

The Connect-Able Intellectual Disability (ID) Advocacy Group project was developed to create awareness around Intellectual Disability and form strong partnerships within the industry. These partnerships included healthcare professionals, healthcare workers, intellectual disability and carer organisations, family member carers and support workers.

Nurse Jane Griessl, from Mount Barker South Medical Centre, has been an active participant and made major contributions to the project as a Nurse Advisor. Jane worked within the group to identify opportunities for localisation and broader development/review in the area of intellectual disability. Key aims were to increase awareness of how to provide better care in general and allied health practice, through education and training.

Jane became involved with the project in response to expressions of interest from Country PHN and Summit Health. The newly established group aimed to find and create appropriate audit tools to undertake access audits of primary health care sites, including but not limited to general practice, community health, pharmacy, allied health.

With support from the clinic’s Dr John Entwistle, local Allied Health Professionals, and Jane, Audit Tools have been developed and tailored specifically across the three local healthcare disciplines (general practice, allied health, pharmacy). Jane was able to draw on her experience at Mt Barker South Medical Centre and offer insights and systems of care that aim to optimise and advocate for people with an Intellectual Disability.

“I found it invaluable to connect with a range of Health Professional across a broad spectrum of specialities, says Jane.

“We discussed the needs of our clients and patients and how we could make improvements and raise awareness of their particular needs.”

The Connect-Able Intellectual Disability project was due to end in June 2021, however the great progress made by the Advocacy Group has led to further meetings to plan for the coming year.

We wish to congratulate Jane for all her hard work and dedication to this cause, and the difference it will make for Intellectual Disability awareness.