Undetected, hearing problems can disrupt a child’s entire life – Care South Health Hubs are helping kids in care access the medical checks they need to thrive. Photo: Care South.
Running the kids to and from doctors, dentists and specialists around work and school commitments can feel like an impossible task.
For kids in out-of-home care, it often is.
Across the Illawarra and Shoalhaven, not-for-profit Care South has made sure kids in care, or in families who are doing it tough, have access to the care they need.
Care South’s Health Hubs events bring six vital services to one place, where they provide free GP, dental, hearing and speech check-ups, as well as occupational therapy and NDIS consultations.
Care South regional manager for the Illawarra Tamara Lacelles-Smith said the Health Hubs focused on children who were in out-of-home or residential care or were part of early intervention programs.
“These children have had a challenging start to life, and we have an obligation to them,” she said.
“These hubs reduce the travel a family might have to do, reduce the number of appointments they have to make, and reduce the stigma for kids who need a lot of health interventions.
“Often in the regions, access to health means significant travel and time off work for parents and carers who can’t afford it.
“We can provide transport to bring families in and make sure the environment is comfortable so kids with sensory needs aren’t overwhelmed.”
Vulnerable children are less likely to use primary and secondary healthcare services during their first five years of life, but use significantly more emergency department services, according to research from Griffith University.
This means chronic conditions such as poor hearing or dental health can go under the radar and cause serious problems at school or later in life.
Trauma can also result in children having a fear of clinical environments, adding another layer of stress for them and their families.
Tamara said early intervention could change the course of a child’s life – they just needed access.
“Wait lists are really long in the public system,” she said.
“A child might have a GP appointment, be referred to a dentist, then referred to a speech therapist, and it can take a really long time.
“That child might end up in emergency, and in the meantime they’re struggling at school because their conditions haven’t been picked up and addressed.
“If they got care in a timely manner, their condition could have been managed.”
This year, about 40 children across the region attended the hubs, which have been supported by ClubGRANTS.
Tamara said she knew there were more children who could use the service to thrive, but Care South needed more support to make it happen.
“We know public health services are there, but access isn’t as simple as just turning up to an appointment for a lot of children,” she said.
“We would love to expand the Health Hubs program and open it up to more families.
“But to do that, we would need more donations and support.”
If you’d like to help support the Care South Health Hubs program, head to its website.
