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T
he GoKids Mobility Van
is the first specialised
physiotherapy service for
rural children in Victoria who
have profound and complex
physical disabilities.
An initiative of disability
organisation Scope, the fully mobile
service travels to various rural
locations to make adjustments to
wheelchairs and mobility devices,
and was founded as part of Scope’s
commitment to ensuring that rural
isolation is not a barrier to accessing
essential physio services.
Six year old Archie Sims, from
Ballarat, is one child who has
benefitted from the service. He used
to travel with his mum, Anna, for
almost three hours to get his Hart
Walker fitted and adjusted. Now, the have had an enormous impact on if that meant making a three-hour
service comes to his door. their lives. drive,” said Anna.
“Scope saw an enormous need
“Before it was difficult for Archie
“Now that the GoKids service is
to support children living in regional to stand, let alone walk. The Hart able to travel through and visit regional
communities,” says Scope chief Walker has changed all of this. He’s Victoria, families that may have never
executive Dr Jennifer Fitzgerald. now free to move on his own. Archie been able to drive up can now access
can now play, run and walk like any the same services Archie did.”
specialised physiotherapy services in
“With the limited number of
other kid,” said Anna.
rural Victoria, families began opting by The Bowness Family Foundation,
out of essential fittings because the to do what’s best for your child. And includes support from Scope’s
distance to go to these centres in what was best for Archie was to go to specialised physiotherapists, ranging
Melbourne was too far,” she said. a specialised physiotherapy service from initial consultations for mobility
that understood and could assist with devices, ongoing reports, equipment
the complexity of his disability, even implementation and after-care.
Archie’s mother, Anna, says the
GoKids service and the Hart Walker
“As a parent, you always want
The service, which is supported
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