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Health Services > Statewide & Community Health Services > QSCIS

TRP Rehabilitation Programs

The Transitional Rehabilitation Program (TRP) is an innovative program developed to enhance the transition from hospital rehabilitation to community living for people affected by spinal cord injury. We offer a flexible, client-centred rehabilitation service that allows clients to be discharged from hospital early, while continuing to work towards their rehabilitation goals in a supportive environment.

TRP delivers rehabilitation services to clients of the Spinal Injuries Unit either in their own homes or in a homelike setting outside of the hospital environment. It allows clients to re-establish family relationships that have been disrupted by lengthy periods of hospitalisation. It enables them to begin to re-gain some control and direction in their lives and to 'polish off' the physical skills needed to live at home and in community. It provides them with more a satisfactory rehabilitation environment, better quality of life and enhanced outcomes.

The TRP is staffed by a dedicated multi-disciplinary team consisting of Nursing, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, and Social Work professionals. Personal Care Assistants are employed to assist with personal care tasks.

The TRP Rehabilitation Plan

For clients from the Brisbane metropolitan area, TRP services are provided in their own homes if this is possible. Clients from outside Brisbane are able to live in one of three houses that TRP has based in the local community. These are wheelchair accessible homes located in suburban areas of Brisbane. Clients are able to live in these houses with their own families or significant others while participating in TRP. Once the client is able to function safely and independently given support services similar to those available in the community they are referred by the Spinal I juries Unit treatment team to the TRP.

The client and TRP work collaboratively to identify rehabilitation goals and strategies to achieve these. The TRP team as well as other hospital and community resources might be utilized in meeting the identified goals and strategies. Flexibility and individuality are seen as the key to success.

A treatment program, is negotiated with each client, which incorporates their identified goals and priorities and strategies to achieve these goals. A written contract outlining the program plan, commencement and completion dates as well responsibilities of both TRP team members and the client is signed prior to the commencement of the program. Personal care is provided if needed for the time the client is in TRP. We are also able to provide specialised equipment, such as lifting hoists, pressure relieving mattresses, wheelchairs and pressure relieving cushions, to be used during the program. During the course of TRP clients and staff work together to achieve their rehabilitation goals and refine personal care and equipment needs.


Why TRP?

Some of the advantages of this approach to providing end-stage rehabilitation are:

  • It provides a safe environment for people to practice new skills and care routines in a "real life" setting that mirrors their home and community environment
  • It encourages the exploration of recreational, transport, and vocational options without the restrictions of hospital environment
  • To reduce anxiety related to leaving a "safe" hospital environment
  • Providing private time and space for families to re-establish relationships and adjust to lifestyle changes in a supportive environment
  • Assisting individuals to gain confidence in re-adjusting to family, community and social roles
  • Providing practical training for family or paid carers
  • It provides experience in managing paid carers (where necessary)
  • It supports better integration of services by linking with existing community supports.

    • This page last updated: January 2008
    Review date: January 2009