The Royal Far West regional children's health charity has secured about $4 million in federal and state bushfire recovery funding which will go toward a program that addresses developmental vulnerabilities of regional children.
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Royal Far West (RFW) will continue to provide speech, occupational therapy, and clinical psychology assessments, as well as therapy for children in need of long-term clinical interventions.
Over the past 18 months, the program has been working with 22 primary schools and 12 preschools across the Eurobodalla Shire, City of Shoalhaven, Bega Valley Shire, Clarence Valley, Kempsey Shire, Glenn Innes Severn Shire, and Nambucca Valley.
RFW is an Australian charity based in Manly, New South Wales that connects Australian country children to developmental care.
RFW's Bushfire Recovery Program was established in early 2020, shortly after the Black Summer Bushfires, through funding and support from partners UNICEF Australia and Paul Ramsay Foundation.
The program, delivered by multidisciplinary health clinicians, has supported over 900 children through group work and individual therapy. Helping those around the child has been just as important with the program supporting over 400 educators and 1,100 parents/carers.
The expanded program aims to upskill teachers and parents to better respond to future disasters.
It will continue to provide direct support to children under the 12, and the adults supporting these children, to improve their resilience and wellbeing and decrease the likelihood of long-term adverse impacts.
The program has been designed as a menu of options, with the local community to choose the parts of the program that will best meet their needs. Some of the options include:
- Therapeutic group work with children
- Support for adults working with children. e.g. Workshops for Educators on Supporting the School Community following Community Trauma
- Parent and Carer support
RFW will attend local schools and services to help them identify areas of need.
RFW Bushfire Recovery Program coordinator Chris Anderson said the funding has helped the program continue for at least another two years.
Read more: Bushfire Recovery Grants Program is now open
"We have been deeply touched by the strength and resilience of the people in the communities we have partnered with, and are impressed at the way everyone has supported each other," he said.
"It is important to highlight that the next phase of the program will be rolled out over the next two years, balancing the needs of several schools, preschools and communities - the appropriate time will be taken to ensure that the program will respond to the specific needs of the involved schools and preschools," said Mr Anderson.
"This program is not a crisis service, thus if there are urgent needs, Royal Far West encourages those to follow up through appropriate services."
Community visits are currently on hold due to COVID-19 restrictions, however RFW said it would continue to provide support by offering some of the program through using their Telecare video-link services.
