It is important to have the right team of medical and health professionals to support your child or young person with cerebral palsy (CP) as they grow and move through different stages of life. Their support team may also include non-healthcare professionals, such as teachers, teacher aides and guidance officers. 

You and your child or young person need to get to know members of the team where possible, so you can build trusting relationships, communicate openly and share information. This can help the team understand your child or young person’s needs and goals and develop appropriate care and support plans for different settings, such as home, school and social situations. 

The role of the team is to support your child or young person’s health, wellbeing, participation and increasing independence. Some of the areas where the team can support them include: 

The teenage years can bring many changes for a young person with CP. These may include moving from school to further education, work or other activities, taking more responsibility for their own health and decisions, and transitioning from paediatric to adult healthcare services. 

It is important to start planning for these transitions early. Talk to your team about strategies to support your young person through these changes and involve them in planning and decision-making as much as possible. For example, this may include preparing a summary of important health information, establishing a relationship with a GP, planning the transition from paediatric to adult healthcare, or preparing for life after school. 

Remember that as a parent, family member or carer of a child or young person with CP, it is also important to look after your own health and wellbeing. Your GP can support your physical and mental health and help you find additional support if needed. 

Alongside support from your child or young person’s healthcare team, other disability, community and family supports may be available. These can include NDIS-funded supports for eligible participants, respite or short-term respite, behaviour support, advocacy, peer support, and programmes for parents and carers. The NDIS may also provide disability-related supports to help eligible young people prepare for employment and life after school.