Cape York families will benefit from the expansion of Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service’s (TCHHS) Child Development Service.
The outreach service completed their first visit to Lockhart River and Coen in October and is already being embraced by local families.
Child Development Service supports children and their families with complex developmental delays, assessing and linking them to ongoing therapy.
It is designed for children aged 0 to 18 years.
The service was launched after TCHHS successfully obtained more than $3.6 million in 2023 through the State Government’s Connected Community Pathways funding program.
The Child Development Service team includes a psychologist, speech pathologist, occupational therapist, physiotherapist, Allied Health Manager and administration officer. They work in close collaboration with paediatricians, local maternal and child health services, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers and the rural generalist allied health team.
As part of their community engagement, the Child Development Service team visited local schools, met with local Indigenous health workers and connected with other services including the Child and Youth Mental Health team.
TCHHS Allied Health Child Development Service Manager Jane Hopkins said early detection of developmental delays would improve health outcomes for children.
“The Child Development Service spend time with a child and their family to understand their child’s strengths and areas of difficulty,” she said.
“Once the child is assessed, we provide recommendations and connect families with local community resources.
“This helps families to receive the support they need, in their community, delivered in a clinically and culturally safe way.
“We are really excited to bring this service to the Cape York region to help children and their families.”
Jane said children can currently be referred into the service by childcare educators, school guidance officers, allied health clinicians, health workers, maternal and child health nurses, doctors and health partners including Apunipima Cape York Health Council Ltd.
Common reasons for referral include complex developmental concerns in multiple areas including communication, learning and play, social and emotional skills and gross and fine motor skills.
TCHHS Executive Director Amanda Wilson said the Child Development Service would have a significant impact on children and families in the Cape York communities.
Under the Putting Queensland Kids First Initiative, the service received funding for two new allied health positions. The Child Development Service will be recruiting an occupational therapist and psychologist to meet the increased demand for these services, in particular cognitive assessments.
The service also plans to recruit a dedicated Health Worker to the team. This will provide a vital link between the Child Development Service and community, helping families feel supported in the most culturally informed way.
“We are dedicated to providing clinically and culturally safe care closer to home, and the Child Development Service is a fantastic example of this,” she said.
“This outreach service reduces the cost and stress of travelling away from home for families.
“We work closely with local Health Workers, allied health clinicians and maternal and child health nurses to support our clients and empower families to share their hopes and concerns for their child in a culturally safe way.
“And by partnering with community leaders and other service providers in health, education and disability, children and their families will receive the wrap-around support they need, in their community.”
A follow up visit to Lockhart River and Coen is scheduled for December.
The Allied Health Child Development Service Manager visited Kowanyama earlier this month with the rural generalist allied health team. Planning is underway for service visits to Aurukun and Pormpuraaw in February 2025.
Referrals can be made to the service via: TCHHS-Referral-Intake@health.qld.gov.au.
General enquiries can be made to the Child Development Service at: TCHHS-AH-CDS@health.qld.gov.au.