The Transport Accident Commission pursuant to section 23 of the Transport Accident Act 1986 hereby authorises the services described in this Schedule to be rehabilitation services for the purposes of the Act.

Each of the Rehabilitation Services listed below must be approved in advance in writing of its provision, by a TAC officer.

Definitions

In this schedule:

• Rehabilitation is the provision of goal orientated and outcome focused services to assist in the process of restoring a person to the level of function consistent with their injuries and pre-accident status.
• Rehabilitation Services are those services defined in section 3 and authorised under section 23 of the Transport Accident Act 1986.
• Vocational Services are those services defined in section 3 of the Transport Accident Act 1986.
• Registered means a person whose professional discipline is registered by a Board listed in the Appendix - Authorised Service Provider Eligibility Criteria (Rehabilitation and Disability).
• Qualified means a person whose professional discipline has formal qualifications.
• Accredited means a peer based accreditation requirement, for that professional discipline.
• Recognised means an agency or person whose discipline has no formal qualifications and/or accreditation procedures but which satisfies the criteria set out in the Appendix - Authorised Service Provider Eligibility Criteria (Rehabilitation and Disability).
• Authorised means authorisation by the TAC in accordance with section 23 of the Transport Accident Act 1986.

Rehabilitation services

1. The services listed below may be provided to a client as a rehabilitation service, either individually or as part of a structured rehabilitation program.
For details of service provider eligibility criteria for each service type, refer to the Appendix - Authorised Service Provider Eligibility Criteria (Rehabilitation and Disability).

Listed rehabilitation services

1a. Alcohol and other Drug services

Alcohol and drug treatment services contracted by the Commonwealth government or through state governments and provide:

• assessment of drug and alcohol service need
• AOD counselling
• non-residential withdrawal
• residential withdrawal
• therapeutic day rehabilitation
• residential rehabilitation
• pharmacotherapy

In some rare circumstances, it may not be possible to access a publically funded AOD provider. If this occurs, the TAC may consider paying for a private organisation when approved in advance by the TAC and on a case-by-case basis for a limited period.

See also the TAC Alcohol and other drug services policy.

1b. Allied Health Assistance services
Allied health assistance provided by a qualified Allied Health Assistant, with the appropriate personal indemnity insurance, acting under the supervision and direction of a Physiotherapist, Occupational Therapist or Speech Pathologist. See also the TAC Attendant care policy.

1c. Audiological services
Audiological services provided by a qualified and accredited audiologist. See also the TAC Hearing services policy.

1d. Client Independence Skills Services (CISS)   
Client Independence Skills Services (CISS) are time limited and goal directed skill development services aimed at increasing clients' independence and reducing their reliance on formal supports, such as attendant care.  CISS are designed for clients with an acquired brain injury (ABI) as a result of their transport accident who require targeted input to learn or relearn a skill to increase their independence.  CISS allows a client to learn or relearn a skill in a safe and focused environment through a method of repetitive practice, targeted strategies and/or access to equipment.

CISS can only be provided by Disability Service providers and ABI support organisations.  The service provider must:

• be pre-approved by the TAC in writing
• provide SMART client goals (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timely) that are consistent with the client's Independence Plan focus on empowering the client to achieve pre-defined independence outcomes
• use a model of supported repetitive functional task practice.

A CISS worker must be an employee of a Disability Service provider or ABI support organisation and possess either an Associate Diploma or Certificate IV qualification in disability, community services or equivalent.

The TAC authorises Client Independence Skills Service (CISS) as an approved rehabilitation service.

See also the Client Independence Skills Service (CISS) policy.

1e. Community neurobehavioural services
Community neurobehavioural services delivered by a multidisciplinary team of highly trained allied health and support staff who use the Community Access through Participation (CAP) model of intensive neurobehavioural rehabilitation therapy in a community setting. The goal of the service is to reduce behaviours of concern and increase independence so the client can transition into their preferred living situation in the community.

The TAC authorises the community neurobehavioural service as an approved rehabilitation service.

1f. Dietitian services
Dietitian services provided by a qualified and accredited dietitian. See also the TAC Dietitians and weight management policy.

1g. Driving Instruction services
Driving instruction provided by an instructor holding Driving Instructor Authority under the Road Safety Act (1986) and who is implementing a driving program supervised by an occupational therapist. See also the TAC Driving instructor guidelines.

1h. Educational Support services
Education support services authorised by the TAC include:

• Inclusion programs in preschool and childcare
• Integration support programs in primary and secondary schools
• Tutoring programs for primary, secondary and tertiary education
• Specialist support, such as therapist, education specialists or other specialist professionals.

Education support services assist in the process of restoring a client's participation in education to a level consistent with his/her injuries and pre-accident status or maximising a client's participation in an education program. These services are part of a client's overall rehabilitation program and require the achievement of measurable learning and development outcomes.

A person who is authorised to provide education support services for TAC clients include:

• Inclusion Support Facilitator employed by an Inclusion Support Agency contracted by the Australian Government.
• Integration Aide with a Certificate 3 in Integration Aide/Integration Support, grade 1 in third year of integration experience
• Integration Teacher who is a classroom teacher with a recognised undergraduate qualification in Primary or Secondary school teaching, in fifth year of teaching experience
• Tutors who are:
• a teacher registered with the Victorian Insitutute of Teaching
• a teacher, lecturer or tutor employed by an educational institution
• an employee of a Tutoring agency that has:
• demonstrated, adequate professional indeminity, public liability and workers compensation insurance
• agreed to comply with and accept the Victorian Human Rights Charter and the TAC privacy and secrecy provisions.

All authorised persons must have appropriate police checks and other compliance with working with children legislation, where relevant

See also the TAC Education services guidelines.

1i. Exercise Physiology services
Exercise physiology (also referred to as physical education) is a rehabilitation service that uses exercise as a form of therapy. The role of the exercise physiologist is to apply the principles of exercise for rehabilitation to the specific needs of the client and his/her injuries.The exercise physiologist will also aim to equip the client with the necessary skills and knowledge to progress his/her own exercise program independently.

An exercise physiologist is defined as a person who has obtained accreditation by Exercise & Sports Science Australia (ESSA), as an exercise physiologist.

The TAC authorises exercise physiology services to be an approved rehabilitation service when provided:

• in a community setting, or
• as part of an approved rehabilitation program in a rehabilitation hospital setting

See also the TAC Allied health and physical therapies policy and the Hospital treatment policies.

1j. Family Planning Education services
Family Planning Education services authorised by the TAC include group and individual education programs that cover:

• Contraception choice and education
• Sexual decision making.

Family Planning Education programs aim to re-educate TAC clients in issues such as contraception and sexual decision making where injuries sustained in a transport accident have affected memory, behaviour, impaired inhibitions or put the client at potential risk of abuse or unwillingly falling pregnant/impregnating others.

A person who is authorised to provide Family Planning Education programs for TAC clients include:

• Disability Educators employed by Sexual Health Victoria, or
• Educators employed by an Interstate Family Planning office.

The TAC authorises Family Planning Education as an approved rehabilitation service.

See also the Family Planning Education policy.

1k. Family Support services
Family support services provided by agencies funded by the Department of Human Services and complying with its family support program services and quality improvement program.

1l. Neurobehavioural Rehabilitation services
Neurobehavioural rehabilitation services are provided by a multidisciplinary team of allied health and support staff who have been trained in and deliver the Brain Injury Rehabilitation Trust (BIRT) model of rehabilitation.  Neurobehavioural services refer to a non-medical model of rehabilitation that has an emphasis on behaviour management.  All client goals are directed towards assisting an individual to maximise his/her independence in activities of daily living by reducing the incidence of challenging behaviour.

Neurobehavioural rehabilitation services consist of programs and services authorised as a rehabilitation service in accordance with section 23 of the Transport Accident Act 1986.

A neurobehavioural rehabilitation service provider must be authorised by the TAC, in accordance with section 23 of the Transport Accident Act 1986,to provide neurobehavioural rehabilitation services having:
met specific selection criteria in a TAC tender process for the provision of neurobehavioural rehabilitation services, and

• signed a contract with the TAC to provide neurobehavioural rehabilitation services.
• The TAC authorises Neurobehavioural Rehabilitation services as an approved rehabilitation service.

1m. Neuro Orthopaedic Institute (NOI) Recognise program    
The Neuro Orthopaedic Institute's Recognise program is a program designed to assist with Graded Imagery treatment provided by physiotherapists.  Graded Motor Imagery is a treatment technique that uses visual and perceptual movement cues to exercise parts of the brain that are involved with interpreting movement, sensation and pain.

The Recognise program provides an online subscription based forum for the administration of Graded Motor Imagery that allows the client's account to be monitored by their physiotherapist to ensure that exercises are being completed correctly, and to grade the client on their rehabilitation activities.

The TAC authorises the Recognise program when it is provided by the Neuro Orthopaedic Institute (NOI) to be an approved rehabilitation service.

1n. Occupational Rehabilitation services
Occupational Rehabilitation services provided by occupational physicians; Tim Hwang and James Chan, to work with TAC spinal cord injury clients to improve vocational outcomes.

1o. Orientation and Mobility services
Orientation and mobility services for the vision impaired provided by a qualified orientation and mobility instructor. See also the TAC Orientation and Mobility policy.

1p. Orthoptic services
Orthoptic services provided by a qualified and accredited orthoptist. See also the TAC Optical, orthoptic and optometry services policy.

1q. Orthotic services
Orthotic Equipment refers to a support, brace or splint used to support, align, prevent or correct deformities in weakened joints or muscles and improve the function of the body.

Orthotic services authorised by the TAC includes:

• the prescription
• manufacture, and
• fitting of orthotic equipment.

A person who is authorised to provide orthotic services includes:

• Orthotists eligible for full membership of the Australian Orthotic Prosthetic Association Inc.

The TAC authorises orthotic services to be an approved rehabilitation service.

The TAC can fund the cost of orthotic services when:

• there is clinical justification
• the orthotic services are likely to be effective and acheive or maintain a measurable functional improvement
• the orthotic services promote progress towards functional independence, participation and self-management.

See also the TAC Medical and rehabilitation equipment policy.

1r. Outreach Services
The Outreach Service (also referred to as Psychiatric Disability Rehabilitation and Support Services - PDRSS) is a time limited support service that is recovery oriented and based on psychosocial interventions.

The role of the outreach support worker (also known as PDRSS worker) is to provide support that will assist the client with a mental injury to experience an improved quality of life, learn or relearn the skills of daily living, participate to the maximum extent in social, recreational, educational and vocational activities and to live successfully at an optimal level of independent functioning in the community. For this service the client will have a mental injury that has resulted from a primary mental injury (no physical injury) or, have/be at risk of developing a secondary mental injury (mental disorder arising from a physical injury and including persistent pain).

An outreach support or PDRSS worker is defined as a person employed by a non-government organisation that has entered into a service agreement with the Department of Health for the provision of PDRSS or Home Based Outreach Services.

The TAC authorises Outreach Services to be an approved rehabilitation service when provided:

• in a community setting
• as part of an approved rehabilitation program.

The TAC authorises Outreach Services to be an approved rehabilitation service.

See also the Additional disability support services policy.

1s. Rehabilitation at home program

Rehabilitation at Home is a time limited, multi-disciplinary hospital substitution program designed as an alternative to admitted hospital rehabilitation care. It will address a client’s specific rehabilitation goals, including treatment related outcomes or personal functioning outcomes.

The goals of Rehabilitation at Home are to:

• Safely discharge clients from hospital to their home environment faster;
• Increase resilience; promote greater autonomy, safety and wellbeing; and
• Reduce length of hospital admission by creating an alternative discharge option
• Provide greater autonomy and client choice over their Rehabilitation
• Improve overall outcomes and client satisfaction with their care

The client’s discharge team may refer the client to Rehabilitation at Home where it is identified as an appropriate and safe discharge option. The referral will outline the client’s rehabilitation goals to be  met and clinical needs.

Clients are eligible for Rehabilitation at Home if their injury is a result of their transport accident, they require multi-disciplinary care, have rehabilitation goals and would have otherwise required an inpatient rehabilitation hospital admission.

Outcome measures of progress and attainment of client goals are required to be reported to the TAC using TAC specific forms at initial assessment and discharge of the Rehabilitation at Home program Furthermore client satisfaction surveys will also be completed as outlined in the TAC Rehabilitation at Home service model.

The Rehabilitation at Home provider must register and be approved by the TAC to provide Rehabilitation at Home services in line with the TAC’s expectations as set out in the service standards. The service standards clearly outline the KPIs providers will be accountable to and must uphold to remain a registered provider.  The Rehabilitation at Home provider must only accept referrals that align to the provider’s capability and capacity.

To be authorised to provide Rehabilitation at Home to a TAC client, all providers must be approved by the TAC to provide services in line with the TAC service standards. Minimum qualifications required are outlined in the service standards and align with TAC standards for nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, social work and rehabilitation physicians.

See also the TAC Rehabilitation at home policy.

1t. Social Work services
Social work services provided by a qualified and accredited social worker. See also the TAC Social work guidelines.

1u. Special Education Consultant services
Special education consultant services provided by a teacher with postgraduate qualifications in a relevant specialist area. See also the TAC Education services guidelines.

1v. Speech Pathology services
Speech pathology services provided by a qualified speech pathologist. See also the TAC Speech Pathology policy.

2. Equipment which may be for therapeutic or educational purposes or adaptive equipment, which may be for mobility, household, domestic, independence, safety or recreational purposes. See also the TAC Medical and rehabilitation equipment policy.

2a. Equipment transportation services
Equipment transportation services authorised by TAC is the transportation of TAC funded equipment from a client's home to an approved holiday destination within Australia or from a client's old place of residence to his/her new place of residence.

The TAC can fund the equipment transportation costs for a client to take his/her TAC funded equipment on holiday with him/her when:

• the equipment is required for medical purposes or for mobility purposes directly related to the transport accident injuries.
• the equipment is not available for hire at the destination point. For example, due to specialised needs or customisation.
• the travel is within the Commonwealth of Australia.

The TAC can fund the equipment transportation costs for a client who is moving from his/her old place of residence to his/her new place of residence when:

• the equipment is required for medical purposes or for mobility purposes directly related to the transport accident injuries.
• the transportation is within the Commonwealth of Australia.

Equipment transportation services can be provided by the following persons:

• The TAC equipment brokers
• A registered or recognised removalist company
• A person on behalf of the client who can drive a hired vehicle or tow a hired trailer
• Any other person authorised by the TAC.

The TAC authorises Equipment Transportation costs to be an approved rehabilitation service.

See also the TAC Medical and rehabilitation equipment policy.

3. Gymnasium and swimming memberships authorised by the TAC include memberships for the purpose of exercise rehabilitation, when requested and monitored by a registered medical practitioner, physiotherapist, chiropractor, osteopath or an accredited exercise physiologist, where the program:

• is clinically justified and will assist the client to achieve his/her specified physical rehabilitation goals, and
• will assist a client in the transition from provider based treatment to a self-managed program.

Memberships that the TAC can fund include gymnasium memberships at facilities that are designed and equipped for various modalities of exercise, sports and  physical training, or swimming memberships held at a swimming pool or aquatic centre that is designed for public use. The facilities and swimming pools/aquatic centres must also:

a. Be staffed by practitioners who hold a minimum qualification in Cert III / IV in Fitness, or are accredited by AUSactive

b. Be staffed by practitioners who hold a current First Aid certificates

c. Hold current public liability insurance

d. Have a privacy policy

The TAC authorises gymnasium and swimming memberships to be an approved rehabilitation service.

4. The reasonable cost of specialist laundry services when required due to 'soiling' caused by transport accident injuries.

5. Funding towards the provision of a rehabilitation camp within the structure of a rehabilitation program, including the provision of allied health services. See also the Outpatient rehabilitation services policy.