Teaching kids to walk

Healthy Strides Foundation
Committed. Passionate. Inspiring

Physiotherapist and researcher Dayna Pool worked with the Perth Children’s Hospital to develop an innovative technique that has helped about 40 Western Australia children with neurological disorders learn walking skills.

This inspired her to set up the non-profit Healthy Strides Foundation in 2018 to provide desperately needed, affordable, evidence-based therapy services in Western Australia and has since helped over 200 children with learning walking skills. The early days were tough, and she remortgaged her home to buy equipment.

“Our intensive programs and research have significantly accelerated skill development. They mean less time out of school and reduced interstate travel to access services,” Dayna says.

The work has been recognised nationally, with Dayna and her team winning the Australian Allied Health Excellence award in 2020.

One heart-warming example of Dayna’s impact is a boy with cerebral palsy who could not walk or play without his mother’s help. After several intensive programs, he now enjoys being included in kindy and his community. “We are privileged to have been part of his journey,” says Dayna.

She’s thrilled and privileged to be nominated as a Westfield Local Hero. “It reflects the importance of the work that we do and the impact that it has on individual lives, families and the community. Being nominated is so encouraging.”

Westfield Local Heroes are nominated and voted for by their communities, with the three top finalists per Westfield centre each awarded a $10,000 grant for their affiliated organisation. Healthy Strides Foundation will be able to fund electronic equipment for a new research program, CP-Movetime, which aims to reduce sedentary behaviour among children.

For further information on the Westfield Local Heroes program, click here