Page 4134 - Week 13 - Thursday, 31 October 2013
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school, sport or other forums that we take for granted. Early intervention in the life of these children will give them the best possible opportunities to live a fulfilling life and contribute to the community.
Evidence suggests that some of the most significant leverage points in bringing about change for children with developmental delay and disability are at the early stages of their life or at early points during important transitions. Therapy ACT provides an extensive range of services for children and young people with developmental delay and disability. Prioritisation of Therapy ACT services is based on the principles of early intervention occurring at all levels of the service.
The therapy assistants program provides assessment and intervention for children in preschool and kindergarten who are identified by their teachers as experiencing delay or disability. In 2012 the program provided a direct service from therapy assistants to children who had communication needs or fine or gross motor needs. More than 40 per cent of those students had not been previously identified as needing intervention and were starting their school life potentially not having the skills needed to learn and develop. In the first year of the program 80 per cent of children reached or exceeded the goals set for them. As a result these young people are better equipped to engage with the curriculum and reach their potential.
In 2014 mainstream schools partnering with Therapy ACT have been identified in suburbs with significant economic and educational need, so that as many children as possible with early intervention needs can access this program. This includes schools with high numbers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander enrolments, so that the unique needs of this population for early intervention can be addressed more effectively.
In addition to the therapy program, more than 2,000 children aged from nought to five years access Therapy ACT services each year for speech pathology, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, social work and psychology interventions. For more families, this early intervention will form the basis of a positive start for their child and they may not need further assistance to fully engage with the community. Where children do not receive this vital early intervention, the outcomes can result in disengagement from school, poor educational outcomes and limited vocational choices.
Another vital initiative in the area of early intervention is the child, youth and family gateway, which commenced operation in December 2012. The gateway is the primary point of contact for referrals to the child, youth and family services program network. It is a service for children, young people and families who are looking for help with the “tough stuff” but are not sure where to go. Gateway workers have assisted families by attending meetings with a range of parties, advocating on the family’s behalf and providing support letters, actively referring families to an extensive range of support services provided by the government and community partners, and providing practical assistance such as food vouchers. The practical assistance offered by the gateway is the kind of assistance that families at risk really need. The intention is to strengthen this model and continue servicing the Canberra community through coordinated service delivery.
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