Royal Far West
Royal Far West is on a mission to ensure children and families in Central Queensland can easily access the developmental health services they need to thrive, and we are proud to support the cause.
Astonishingly, one in five children across Australia enter the school system with developmental challenges.
And the stakes are high; a solid foundation of healthy development isn't just beneficial – it's essential in shaping a child’s education and life prospects.
Early intervention for lifelong impact
In 2017, Glencore identified a crucial gap in the availability of paediatric allied health resources, particularly in speech pathology and occupational therapy, in the rural communities of Springsure, Clermont, and Collinsville near our coal operations.
This led to a collaboration with Royal Far West to develop a program aimed at transforming the lives of children grappling with early language and developmental issues.
The program offers free developmental health screenings for young children across three kindergartens in Collinsville, Clermont and Springsure.
A Royal Far West clinician working with a student.
Through these screenings, Royal Far West clinicians can identify early signs of developmental difficulties and provide extra support to children in need.
It’s all about early detection and prevention to ensure that every child enters the school classroom ready to learn and thrive.
A multifaceted approach
The impact doesn't conclude with a single visit. The program combines face-to-face engagement with telehealth consultation to ensure a sustainable approach for rural families.
Additional assistance is given to identified children, offering speech or occupational therapy as they transition to primary school.
Clermont Kindergarten and Day Care Centre staff during a Royal Far West teleconference.
Clermont Kindergarten and Day Care Centre
Clermont Kindergarten and Day Care Centre has already seen the benefits of the program.
A multidisciplinary team including a speech pathologist, occupational therapist, and psychologist spent a week working in the centre, conducting developmental assessments, therapy sessions, and providing information and resources for parents.
Royal Far West speech pathologist, Liz, at Clermont.
The program also extended support, mentoring and professional development for local schools, and facilitated collaboration with existing service providers.
Sheree Crawford, Director of Clermont Kindergarten and Day Care Centre, said the team's hands-on approach had produced tangible results, amplifying the development of children during their formative years.
“The resources, tools and strategies that Royal Far West provided us to go forward with these children were amazing,” Ms Crawford said.
“We have definitely seen the benefits of the team working one-on-one with our children.”