National Paediatric Telecare Service will help rural, regional children

The federal government announced the funding in the recent budget for a National Paediatric Telecare Service. It will deliver technology-assisted health, education and social care services to children living in rural and remote areas of Australia.

Project Catalyst, a partnership with Charles Sturt University and Royal Far West, started as a pilot in December 2017 to investigate if the telecare service was needed. It found rural children were missing out on developmental health services, which lead to issues such as speech difficulties, conduct disorders and mental health conditions.

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The telehealth services provided screening and early intervention for children aged three to 12-years-old.

RFW chief executive officer Lindsay Cane said the service would ease frustrations experienced by country families, while also providing social benefits well into the future.

"We know that country children can be profoundly disadvantaged by the lack of access to health services from an early age," Ms Cane said.

"Country children are more likely to experience developmental problems and one in three country children are unable to access the health services they need.

"The reality of not having access to healthcare services from a young age is that children can end up later in life being homeless, unemployed, incarcerated or suffering from personal difficulties. The best investment the government can make is in early intervention."

CSU vice-chancellor Andrew Vann said children in rural and regional Australia would lead healthier lives thanks to the funding.

"The National Paediatric Telecare Service will provide the essential support that is currently missing from health care services for rural and regional children," he said.

Professor Vann said the National Paediatric Telecare Service would contribute to closing the gap between urban and regional children.

"A health service like this provides specialist, quality treatment for children who live in remote locations and often in difficult circumstances."

Last year, the telecare service supported more than 100 primary schools and delivered 629,000 clinical service hours.

The goal is to make the service national.