Few people understand the demands on families caring for a child with a chronic illness.
Because of this, Dr Pam McGrath, from the School of Public Health, Queensland University of Technology is launching a state-wide study to determine just how much help families with children with a chronic illness need and whether they would use a trained volunteer. The study will provide the information needed to develop a volunteer service for families with children suffering from a debilitating disease and who need frequent care and medical assistance. Conditions include cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy and other physical or intellectual disabilities. Dr Pam McGrath with the university s School of Public Health has distributed surveys to 570 Queensland families and is looking for more to be involved. We want to know if people would use a trained volunteer and what they would like them to do.