The MRID SchoolKit is an initiative of the Metro-Regional Intellectual Disability Network. It has been produced with the assistance of the New South Wales Agency for Clinical Innovation.

The Metro-Regional Intellectual Disability Network is a partnership model for improving health care for people with intellectual disability in regional and remote areas of New South Wales. It is one of three specialised projects commissioned by the New South Wales Ministry of Health to provide specialised services for people with intellectual disability.

The Metro-Regional Intellectual Disability Network built on the well-established flagship model of service provision within South Eastern Sydney Local Health District to implement a pilot in another region in which there are limited services. This pilot involved staff from the Kogarah Developmental Assessment Service – a multidisciplinary health service associated with St George Hospital – extending specialist medical disability services into regional and remote areas through an innovative relationship with the disability service sector. The initial focus was on youth with intellectual disability and associated mental health problems living in the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District.

The MRID SchoolKit expands upon the work done in developing school clinics – the basis for the SchoolKit Clinic model – within South East Sydney and Illawarra Shoalhaven to make this successful model of care available to others, wherever they may be. It provides the tools and resources for anyone who wishes to develop and establish SchoolKit Clinics in their community to do so.

The MRID SchoolKit is one of a family of online toolkits – My MRID Toolkits – being produced as an initiative of the MRID Network. Look out for the MRID CodesignKit, coming soon.

Who is Involved?

The MRID SchoolKit has been created by a highly skilled team of professionals who bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the task.

Dr Robert Leitner – Director, Metro-Regional Intellectual Disability Network
Lesley Bruce – Principal, Cairnsfoot School
Linda Sheldon – District Guidance Officer, Cairnsfoot School
Anne Funke – Carer Representative, Metro-Regional Intellectual Disability Network
Lif O’Connor – Clinical Nurse Consultant, Metro-Regional Intellectual Disability Network
Jürgen Wille – Social Worker, Metro-Regional Intellectual Disability Network
Dr Annemaree Bickerton – Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Metro-Regional Intellectual Disability Network
Dr Jane Kim – Paediatric Fellow, Metro-Regional Intellectual Disability Network
Dr Anna Lachowicz – Paediatric Fellow, Metro-Regional Intellectual Disability Network
Tracey Szanto – Intellectual Disability Network Manager, Agency for Clinical Innovation
Dr Jacqueline Milne – Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Centre for Clinical Governance Research, University of New South Wales
Associate Professor Julie Johnson – Deputy Director, Centre for Clinical Governance Research, University of New South Wales
Karen Burton – Research Assistant, Metro-Regional Intellectual Disability Network
Don Francis – IT Specialist
Jayne Wasmuth – Writer

To provide feedback and suggestions, or to ask a question about the MRID SchoolKit, SchoolKit Clinics and SchoolKit Transition Clinics, go to our Feedback page. We look forward to hearing from you.