Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton is calling for the Labor Government to provide ongoing funding to Royal Far West to allow the service to continue its vital work supporting children in the bush.

Mr Coulton moved a motion in Parliament this week urging the Government to continue funding the Royal Far West’s National Paediatric Telecare Service (NPTS) which is delivering crucial paediatric services to country children via schools.

“In recent years, it’s become incredibly difficult to access paediatric services if you live in regional Australia,” Mr Coulton said.

“I know many families in my electorate are being forced to wait years to get in to see a specialist or have to fork out thousands of dollars to travel to access much-needed support for their children.

“In 2019, Royal Far West received $19.7 million in funding from the former Coalition Government to establish the NPTS, which is helping to fill this gap in services and enables country children to access the support they need without having to travel.

“The service, which is being delivered in schools across rural and remote Australia, provides children with access to various clinicians including speech pathologists, clinical psychologists, occupational therapists and social workers via telehealth.

“It’s currently being delivered in 143 schools and 56 early learning centres in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia, with 565 children receiving support each week.

“Last year, the service supported more than 21,000 children – 20 per cent of which are Indigenous and 50 per cent under eight years old. We all know that the earlier a child can receive intervention, the less likely they are to fall behind in their development. It’s not only filling a gap but helping to Close the Gap.

“While I understand that telecare is not a replacement for healthcare, this service is helping to reach a large number of children to ensure they can get the help they need before it’s too late.”

Mr Coulton said Narromine Public School in the Parkes electorate is a great example of what can be achieved through this type of service.

Royal Far West has been working with Narromine Public School for 10 years after the school had concerns about the development of some children starting school.

“I’ve actually sat in on some of the lessons,” Mr Coulton said.

“There is an occupational therapist, a speech therapist, or whoever working on screen. What the therapist has is replicated in the school. We’ve seen, after the initial assessment’s done of the child, significant improvements in student outcomes, behaviour, wellbeing and social skill development.”

Funding for the NPTS runs out in June next year and there is currently no Federal funding bucket available for this type of program.

Royal Far West has plans to expand the program into another 150 schools across the country but will be unable to continue it at all unless they secure funding.

“I’ve had multiple meetings with Royal Far West over the past few months and they’re very concerned about how they’re going to continue funding this service without Government support,” Mr Coulton said.

“We’ve got an election coming up so there’s uncertainty around that and whether there will be a Budget before then.

“They need certainty from the Government.

“Royal Far West does a wonderful job in supporting rural children in a practical and meaningful way and this is making a huge difference in communities throughout the country.

“I strongly urge the Government to look at providing ongoing funding.”

Next month, the Royal Far West will be celebrating 100 years of supporting the health and wellbeing of country kids, families and teachers.

The charity was founded in 1924 by Cobar-based Reverend Stanley Gillick Drummond while he was recuperating on a beach in Manly and conceived the idea of bringing country kids to the coast for respite.

“I can proudly say that its roots are firmly planted in the Parkes electorate,” Mr Coulton said.

“The first lot of children that came in from the country came from places like Brewarrina, Bourke and Cobar.

“Royal Far West has a long and proud history of delivering care to children from remote parts of Australia, largely New South Wales, but it has now expanded into other areas.”