NSW government announces $20m funding boost to children’s health services

Thousands more children are expected to be able to access public allied health services.

The NSW government will put $20m towards boosting public allied health services for children as part of its larger $40m “family start” package in next week’s budget.

The funding is expected to provide 3600 more children with access to public allied health services, and will increase the public pediatric allied health workforce with an additional 32 staff.

The NSW government said the funding would boost child health assessments and early intervention services in a bid to reduce waitlists and improve access to diagnosis and therapy for children across NSW, including those in rural and remote communities.

The funding is expected to provide 3600 more children with access to public allied health services.

Services expected to be provided through the investment include audiology, occupational therapy, psychology, physiotherapy and speech therapy services.

The government has also announced that it will invest $2.3m over four years to support Royal Far West (RFS), which is a charity that provides health and disability services and accommodation facilities to children and families living in rural and remote Australia.

“This will enable RFS to continue to work in partnership with NSW Health to provide a specialist, multidisciplinary health and wellbeing service for children with complex developmental concerns who live outside the greater metropolitan areas of NSW and cannot access these services locally,” a media release stated.

NSW’s Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park said the funding was a step towards improving developmental outcomes, school participation and academic performance of NSW children. Picture: NewsWire / Damian Shaw.

Ryan Park, NSW’s Minister for Regional Health, said the provision of timely access to pediatric allied health services for children with developmental vulnerabilities had been shown to improve their educational, social, employment and economic outcomes later in life.

“This investment is a step towards improving developmental outcomes, school participation and academic performance of children across NSW,” Mr Park said.

“We’re ensuring children and their families can access health services closer to home and when they need them, improving their health, development, and overall wellbeing.”

Originally published as NSW government announces $20m funding boost to children’s health services