BUSHkids Annual Report 2018-2019

AR 18/19

Annual Report 2018–2019

Our Allied Health and EarlyStart teams joined in the presentations to the members of SIMPLY BUSHED by FoBk Bundaberg’s Cr Judy Peters and Scott Lamond (centre back) following the band’s rousing performance at the BUSHdance on Saturday 11 May 2019. CEO Carlton Meyn and Clinical Services Manager Susan Harrison (far right) are smiling because we elected to not show them here in action during the dance itself. Thanks to all involved in organising a great day!

Bundaberg

Contents

Annual Report 2018–2019

OUR PATRON The Governor of Queensland His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey ac

NOTICE OF MEETING The 83rd Annual General Meeting of the Royal Queensland Bush Children’s Health Scheme – BUSHkids – will be held on Friday 6 December 2019 at 5.30pm at 16 Morley Street, Toowong Q 4066. Business • Confirmation of Minutes of the 82nd Annual General Meeting held on 6 December 2018 • Receive and adopt the Annual Report for the 12-month period 1 July 2018 to 30 June 2019, for the 12-month period 1 July 2018 to 30 June 2019 • Nomination and election of four Council Members including Chair and Honorary Treasurer • N Bartels • A McLean • C Searle • D Theodoros • Appoint auditors for the ensuing year; • Transact any special business for which due notice has been given. By order of the Council Dr N J Bartels oam Chair including the Chair’s and CEO’s Reports • Presentation of Annual Financial Report

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Council

1 7 Feb

2 21 Mar

3 2 May

4 13 Jun

5 25 Jul

6 5 Sep

7 17 Oct

8* 28 Nov

AGM* 6 Dec

Member

Meeting attendance

Dr Neil Bartels oam (Chair) A medical practitioner with a keen interest in children’s health issues, Neil holds a Master’s degree in Law with a great interest in the equity of access to health services for more remote or disadvantaged children, particularly those with behavioural, learning or social disadvantage. He provides valuable medical and legal experience and intense support in the direction of the organisation, and was recognised in the Australia Day 2018 honours for his lengthy service. Gloria Ryan (Deputy Chair) Gloria is legally trained and is a very enthusiastic contributor to all aspects of our contracting matters and supporting BUSHkids with legal advice as well as comprehensively advising on our Policies and Procedures. Through the changes to the organisation’s branding she assisted greatly with the registration of the BUSHkids trademark. Since being elected as Deputy Chair in December 2014, Gloria has brought her skills to support a number of key strategic areas.

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Allison McLean (Honorary Treasurer) Allison brings her vast accounting knowledge with many years in the areas of business advice, accounting and taxation to support the BUSHkids finance team. Growing up on a farm which was worked by generations of her family she feels an affinity with families in rural and remote areas. Allison was originally involved with the Redcliffe Centre through community groups, organising games nights, activities, and outings for children brought in for treatment. Apol Yes Apol Yes Apol

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Julian Martin After growing up in the Bush, Julian has a high regard for what BUSHkids is contributing to the children of rural and regional Queensland. He has had more than 25 years of experience in the information systems industry and a background of providing business-enabling solutions to organisations. Julian supports us greatly in all areas of our ICT needs and has been a valued adviser for the transformation of our ICT systems across the organisation. David Ham oam David worked for Education Queensland all his adult life, first as a teacher, then principal and inspector, and finally as the Director of Human Resources. As a young teacher and principal in Outback Queensland he was very impressed by the care given to children by our organisation. David has given us enormous voluntary assistance in the creation of our Policies & Procedures in many areas and continues to volunteer his time on further projects. Gail Huggins Gail was a Speech Pathologist with extensive clinical and administrative experience gained in government and non-government organisations throughout Australia. Her commitment to service provision, based on evidence that early intervention for children at developmental risk is a vital insurance against long-term disadvantage, has always been to provide equity of access to well-resourced, evidence-based intervention and support as provided by BUSHkids. Carolyn Searle Growing up in Mackay, Carolyn understands how the needs of children and families in regional areas are often overlooked and how BUSHkids provides the only health services of its type in many areas. She worked in accounting and legal fields before founding a recruitment agency, and has since provided valuable advice for our organisation. She has helped increase the profile of BUSHkids, ensuring our valuable services offered reach the children most in need. Judy Peters Judy’s background in local government, business and community sectors adds to her regional and rural knowledge. As a Friend of BUSHkids she embraces the ethos of understanding, quality support and service to all families and knows first-hand the impact that BUSHkids services have. Providing community connectiveness is an important part of the BUSHkids story and Judy is an advocate for access to quality services so that circumstance or distance should not be a disadvantage.

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*Note: November and December meetings scheduled after the production deadline for this report; attendance notes are declared intentions based on prior advice received from Council members.

A N N UA L R E P O R T

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Chair

Working tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure our good health and longevity at 85 BUSHkids Council members have stepped-up their volunteer efforts this year, the behind-the-scenes work focused across the range of their portfolio specialities to support the leadership of CEO Carlton Meyn and the vital frontline work of all our staff and volunteers; on behalf of your Council members, thank-you all very much.

On the eve of our organisation’s 85th anniversary of service to Queensland kids and families and their communities, it is gratifying to see our BUSHkids teams continuing to expand the reach, breadth and depth of our high-quality services across the State. Following the official launches of our Early Childhood Early Intervention (ECEI) operations at Gympie, Hervey Bay and Maroochydore during the past 12 months, our network of EarlyStart teams has, overall, seen almost 1,600 children, conducted more than 8,000 sessions and had close to 1,200 NDIS plans approved. BUSHkids’ innovative eKindy ‘pods’ have almost doubled in number, from 14 to 26, over the past year, and now span Queensland fromTalwood and Yelarbon on the NSW border to Mount Garnett up in the highlands behind Cairns, and west to Jericho and Morven. The utilisation of digital technologies has also seen our teleHealth service mature from a multi-year research program and pilot study to a fully- fledged operational resource which, from eight of our Centres’ locations, is already reaching children and families as far afield as Texas,Tambo, Cloncurry and Birdsville. To support this rollout, we have a Development Application underway to repurpose one of our Brisbane precinct buildings as a central teleHealth base, this project driven – as with so many others – by indomitable CEO Carlton Meyn and my fellow Council members, with the energised engagement of our clinical leadership and frontline staff supported by Carolyn Searle.

Completion of the BUSHkids- funded telehealth PhD has fostered a fruitful, research- based relationship withThe University of Queensland and we have been extending similar associations with other tertiary institutions.These initiatives have placed us in a leading national role in the application of remote technology to remote health service provision. In tandem with this has been a re-energised focus on our organisational sustainability: looking ahead to an ongoing impact-orientated future, underpinned by our staff and their skills base. Looking back over our 2015-18 Strategic Plan we have, throughout 2019, consulted extensively with our staff, volunteers and leadership teams, held many workshops with much valuable input and expect to finalise and release our new vision for BUSHkids 2020-25 in the NewYear. The ‘hidden backbone’ behind all this work is our new Constitution , progress on which I referred to in my last report, and which was formally adopted at the 2018 AGM. The document is available on the BUSHkids website’s Resources page and I once again thank my Deputy Chair Gloria Ryan, in particular, for the enormous amount of work which went into revising and updating the 1982 iteration. Other Council members have been equally busy with their respective portfolios: Honorary Treasurer Allison McLean maintains financial oversight of our organisation’s steady expansion as vitally as Gail Huggins has supported our Clinical Services Manager Susan Harrison and her teams in stepping-up our already substantial outputs.

Julian Martin has drawn on his considerable ICT experience to guide the strengthening of our database, systems and security protocols to protect, support and enhance our expansion. Thank-you to all my Council colleagues for yet another year of sterling volunteer service and for your support of our shared efforts. On this heartfelt note, it is timely to offer both a thankful farewell and a warm welcome. David Ham oam has been volunteering his extensive skills and enormous experience to your Council since 2012 and, while he will be formally retiring at the 2019 AGM, he has – unsurprisingly, to those privileged to personally know the gentleman – expressed a real interest in continuing to support the work of BUSHkids in other ways as happenstance permits.You have served us through personal tragedy and national accolade, David, and our organisation has been blessed for your presence, contributions and time with us. Time is a commodity perhaps in short supply for our newest Council member, but we continue to be amazed by the stamina and passion so consistently demonstrated by Bundaberg’s Cr Judy Peters, not only in local government representation but also in her championing of the local Friends of BUSHkids group and, now, her willingness to volunteer on ‘another council’ – ours! Judy, your shoe size will undoubtedly be different to David’s but we are in no doubt that you will add further positive footsteps to BUSHkids’ rich journey; if I haven’t already said it many times: welcome aboard, and thank-you.

This enhanced regional representation on your Council has been a goal long in the making, and I am confident I will have more to report in this respect next year.While on this topic, on behalf of our entire organisation I also extend our thanks to Jane Prentice for her tireless efforts to promote not only the work of BUSHkids but also the welfare concerns of our client kids, families and communities during her term as the Federal Member for Ryan and the discharge of her ministerial responsibilities. Thank-you, Jane. As ever, we are also grateful for the Patronage of the Governor of Queensland and very much appreciate the interest and oversight of the Honourable Paul de Jersey ac and Mrs Kaye de Jersey.Your Excellency’s predecessor did us proud in helping celebrate our 80th anniversary throughout 2015 and we look forward to your acknowledgements as we approach BUSHkids’ 85th birthday next year. In closing, I reiterate the sentiments in my 2018 report, in paying tribute to the support of my wife Annette and my family – “foremost among all the families in our vast, always- regenerating statewide BUSHkids community” – and those words continue to ring true. Behind every frontline BUSHkids person is a not-so-small army of staff, volunteers, family, friends, acquaintances and local community supporters who, altogether, are the enablers helping realise the work we do for kids and families all over Queensland. Thank-you, everyone. Dr Neil J Bartels oam MBBS LL.M Grad.Cert.Leg.Med. FACRRM

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A N N UA L R E P O R T

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Connections

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Rotary Club of Warwick Sunrise

A N N UA L R E P O R T

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Connections

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MASTHEAD DE S IGN CREATIVE

A N N UA L R E P O R T

2 0 1 8 – 2 0 1 9

CEO Carlton Meyn observing activities at the EarlyStart Hervey Bay official opening day.

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A N N UA L R E P O R T

2 0 1 8 – 2 0 1 9

CEO

Much of which we can be proud as we look to the future at the end of a challenging year As 2019 comes to a close I am immensely proud to lead an organisation that is making such a difference to the lives of children, families and communities across this great State. Queenslanders are tough but the past 12 months have been truly testing times for our families and communities in regional, rural and remote areas.

With more than two-thirds of the State drought-declared, raging bushfires and the devastating inland floods in North West Queensland earlier this year, our resilience as Queenslanders has been put to the test. Natural disasters will not only affect entire communities and families but also their children who are vulnerable to distress at what is happening in the world around them. Stresses on the family can make them feel unsafe and, without help, there may be long-term impacts on their physical and social development and emotional wellbeing. BUSHkids teams are based across Queensland and we work to help parents and communities support children’s development and emotional wellbeing. In times of such difficulty we have stepped up our efforts to support children and families’ resilience and mental health and you will read in these pages about some great work being done by our teams in Stanthorpe. When I began my work at BUSHkids, the importance of early intervention for children was known by academics and health professionals, but did not attract much attention in the media and in society generally. There has been a significant change in the intervening years and communities and families are increasingly aware of how important the early years are for children: this is driving the increase in our services to ensure all children reach their potential. In the past year, we provided 16,780 individual and group sessions and supported 4,351 children across the State: substantial five-year growth.

Our aim back in the 1930s is still what we strive for today: that all Queensland children have every opportunity for a great future, regardless of the postcode in which their family lives. Our efforts in this respect have been multi-faceted, with sound expansion across all our operational streams. In conjunction with the Department of Education and the Brisbane School of Distance Educatio , BUSHkids now facilitate more than two dozen eKindy pods from Far North Queensland to the NSW border and west beyond the Central Highlands. As a contracted National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) Partner in the Community for the delivery of Early Childhood Early Intervention (ECEI) Services , we have opened two new centres — on the Sunshine Coast servicing Maroochydore and Gympie, and in the Fraser Coast, North and South Burnett regions, to service Hervey Bay, Maryborough, Kingaroy and Cherbourg. Our NDIS contract for Bundaberg has also been renewed for a further two-year period.

In May this year, BUSHkids Clinical Services Manager Susan Harrison and I were invited to attend a meeting with the NDIA board. This was a welcome gathering to discuss the challenges we have overcome and successes we have achieved in implementing the model. Later that month we had the privilege of hosting Luke Napolitano, General Manager, Partner Division of NDIA, on a visit to our centres in Gladstone and Bundaberg. An excellent opportunity for a senior executive from the agency to obtain first-hand insights into the complexity of the work being done by our ECEI EarlyStart teams. Our Children and Parenting Support programs funded by the Department of Social Services are entering their fifth year in Agnes Water, Kingaroy and Stanthorpe. These programs are supporting local communities by empowering parents to support their children’s development with best opportunities for education and a sense of belonging in their communities. Our Children’s Allied Health Services — based in Bundaberg, Dalby, Emerald, Mount Isa and Warwick — are our five longest-standing operations and their teams continue to provide high quality and highly-valued services to help children reach their full potential. We partner with universities across Queensland, hosting Allied Health student placements, are represented on the Central Queensland University Speech Pathology Course Reference Committee, undertake research with The University of Queensland and participate in Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder service improvement initiatives with Griffith University .

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16,780 2018–19

+134%

7,175 2014–15

SESSIONS

4,351 2018–19

+282%

1,140 2014–15

CHILDREN

A N N UA L R E P O R T

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CEO

Our three-year telehealth research collaboration with The University of Queensland was completed this year and has resulted in a comprehensive framework for the delivery of BUSHkids teleHealth services, including in-house, evidence-based training modules for clinicians. The first research article has now been published, with several others accepted by peer reviewed journals to be published shortly. Congratulations to Jess Campbell who undertook this research as a BUSHkids-sponsored PhD candidate. Our volunteers continue to be the lifeblood of our organisation, through supporting our teams locally, helping to raise much-needed funds, creating resources and acting as our eyes, ears and our voices in their local communities. Our Friends of BUSHkids (FoBk) groups and the experience and talents of our volunteer workforce bring strength and vitality to the organisation. Another initiative that has come to fruition in 2019 was the recruitment of regional Allied Health students into casual Early Intervention Facilitator positions whilst they undertake their degree studies. The students come from a mix of disciplines including physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech pathology, and are studying at Central Queensland University and the University of the Sunshine Coast . This bank of staff supports the work of our ECEI teams and conducts a range of functions, depending on the local service needs. BUSHkids works collaboratively to get the best results for Queensland children and we were delighted to be selected as the 2019 beneficiary of the RNA Fundraising Committee’s ‘High Tea’ at this year’s EKKA. This annual event has dominant themes of fun and friendship, while fundraising for flood- and drought-affected rural children. These amazing women raised just over $40,000, which will be utilised to purchase in-home teleHealth kits for geographically isolated families.

BUSHkids presented at several conferences this year, including the Early Childhood Intervention Australia National Conference in June as well as the Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association (Queensland) State Conference in Charters Towers. We also accepted an invitation to join the Queensland Children’s Health Collaborative . To support this widespread growth in our services, we have implemented new finance and HR systems to both streamline our business processes and increase overall efficiency. Our ICT systems security has also been strengthened to meet evolving requirements. To further support our growth we have been investing in our leadership team, beginning with a workshop held in June. BUSHkids is currently in the process of becoming accredited under the State Government’s Human Services Quality Framework , with stage one assessment passed with conformity in all areas assessed. As we look to the future, BUSHkids is in a unique and strong position to continue to support more children and families across regional, rural and remote Queensland, by scaling-up our services to build the resilience of children experiencing adversity due to drought and natural disaster. 32 49 52 87 154 WORKFORCE 2014 –2019

With our new ‘Bounce’ service model we envisage being embedded within and building the capacity of local communities by recruiting and training local staff, working as part of a larger flexible organisation in utilising digital technology and contemporary service delivery models, and partnering with other community organisations. This is an effective and efficient approach to supporting emotional wellbeing and child development. This multilevel approach incorporates building community capacity through:  universal programs  targeted programs to increase resilience  clinical intervention to remediate disorders  building a rural workforce. Our FoBk group in Emerald has committed funds raised to trialling this approach in the Central Highlands as we continue to seek support from local communities, corporate donors, government, philanthropists and other sources to ensure statewide coverage. I would like to take this opportunity to thank our funders, donors, supporters, community partners, volunteers, our Friends of BUSHkids teams, all the BUSHkids Council members, our BUSHkids staff who work tirelessly in their service to Queensland children, families and communities. I would like to express particular gratitude to two long-serving BUSHkids team members — Karlee Wiles and Sue Clarke — who are moving on from BUSHkids: thank-you for your service and dedication over many years. I invite you to take the time to read through the stories in this report and learn about the difference BUSHkids is making in the lives of Queensland children, families and their local communities. operational management team, contractors and our dedicated

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LOCATIONS 2018–19

Carlton Meyn Chief Executive Officer

LOCATIONS 2014–15

A N N UA L R E P O R T

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Media

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Events

And then there was one …

Inglewood Family Health Support Worker Sue Clarke and Maintenance and Safety Coordinator Brett Wall both joined our organisation within months of each other almost 30 years ago, as ‘Bushies’ was beginning its colossal transformation from coastal short-stay residential care Homes to delivering services direct to kids and families across Queensland. Sue called in to Brisbane Office to reminisce with Brett through the pages of our history book BUSHIES, and excerpts from her letter to CEO Carlton Meyn are reproduced below. Thank-you, Sue; god bless.

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“Thanks for an amazing experience and learning over the years. My life has been blessed and enriched with the families I have met ... I still get people who see me to fill me in on their progress 25 years after working with them ... If I had one regret it would be that I would have loved to teach and mentor others in how to appreciate the special qualities of our families we work with: I believe if we can change the way our mums and dads look at things, how to grow their self-respect and self- confidence, we have a much better chance at changing their children’s outlook. “Thanks also for my ‘firsts’ of which I will not be able to write all: • first setting up this pilot position in the Inglewood area; • first to set up Warwick, Stanthorpe, Texas and surrounds; • first to restart Stanthorpe (three times) and Warwick (twice); • first time eKindy facilitator setting up the Yelarbon and Karara pods — you knew me better than I knew myself when you chose me for this wonderful role ... “I’m so sad not to achieve my goal of at least 30 years with BUSHkids, but my priorities had to change. One little ad in The Stanthorpe Border Post all those years ago …”

Sue was one of the first four ‘Family Aides’ to be employed by the RQBCHS across regional Queensland when our organisation began the process of ‘the big change’ to reorientate towards direct services to local communities. Seen here with colleagues outside our former Redcliffe Home in December 1990, Sue commenced on 28 May that year and has served in Inglewood and across the Southern Downs since then.

A N N UA L R E P O R T

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Events

Looking back with love and gratitude, looking forward with vigour and confidence In March 2019, we launched our NDIS ECEI services across the Fraser Coast and Sunshine Coast regions with the official openings of BUSHkids EarlyStart offices in Hervey Bay, Gympie and Maroochydore amid delicious, ceremonial cake-cutting … and at year’s end, Inglewood stalwart Sue Clarke announced her intention to retire.

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BUSHkids would like to say a special thank-you to the following dignitaries for their support and attending the launch of our newest ECEI services – • the Hon. Keith Pitt MP (Federal Member for Hinkler) and Andrew Wallace MP (Federal Member for Fisher); • Cr Judy Peters (Bundaberg Regional Council and local FoBk Chair), • Cr Darren Everard (Fraser Coast Regional Council Deputy Mayor); • Gympie Regional Council’s Mayor Mick Curran and Cr Mal Gear ; • from the NDIA, Des Lee (Regional Director, Disability & Community Services), Scott Hunter (Director, LAC & ECS Contract Management), David Robinson (Director, Service Delivery Central Queensland), as well as Steve Moore , Ross Hurford and Fay Kyle ; • BUSHkids Council Chair Dr Neil Bartels oam and Mrs Annette Bartels , Deputy Chair Gloria Ryan and Honorary Treasurer Allison McLean .

A N N UA L R E P O R T

2 0 1 8 – 2 0 1 9

Age

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Abecedarian Approach Australia – 3a © One of the few evidence-based, proven programs to integrate basic principles of learning and development into a fun, effective approach for parents and early childhood educators, its focus is providing specific techniques that advance the personal, social and academic achievements of very young children who, through local circumstances, may need extra attention and support as they grow and learn. Hanen Approach ® The Hanen Centre began its work more than 35 years ago with a focus on early language intervention for children with language delays, and has since developed three other areas of expertise, each concerned with promoting the communication development of a particular group of children with specific needs.

Sleepwise © Provides parents with information to help understand children’s sleep needs, identify possible sleep difficulties and ways to support healthy sleeping habits, as well as providing specific support for children presenting with developmental delays.

Toilet Time © Provides education for parents experiencing toilet training difficulties associated with children’s developmental delays, offering practical ways and resources to help achieve success. Read and Grow Promotes development of early literacy and language skills by shared reading, evidence-based strategies and activities.

1-2-3 Magic ® Gives parents and carers practical ways to manage difficult behaviour with easy-to-follow steps to help raise well-b Cool Kids ® Anxiety Programs © Facilitated at school or in Centre, these group sessions teach children the skills to recognise emotions and manage fears and shyness, encouraging positive engagement in activities. Cool Kids® Anxiety Programs©

PALS (Playing and Learning to Socialise) Social Skills Program Teaches younger children skills needed to build friendships and get along with others, particularly social skills needed to do well in school. Fantastic Fingers ®

A research-based program to improve fine motor skills, pencil grip and posture, also integrating early literacy and numeracy skills. Fingergym ™ A fun method for younger children’s essential motor skills – such as how to hold a pencil or cut with scissors – needed to do well when they enter school.

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Talkabout for Children 2 – Developing self-awareness and self Designed specifically for young children or children with special needs, this practical resource for teachers and carers provides activities and

Alert Program ® – How does your engine run? Teaches children to recognise and regulate their level of alertness to different situations, supporting their ability to engage appropriately in what they need to do during their day. Fun FRIENDS © – Anxiety and Resilience A great way for children to learn the social and emotional skills that will help them make and keep friends, build self-esteem and confidence, and help maintain mental wellbeing throughout life.

games for developing social skills.

Stop Think Do Aims to develop skills to help get along with others, make friends, probl

Zones of Regulation ® Helps children learn to identify their feelings and emotional strategies to encourage better self-regulation in different situations.

Peaceful Kids Mindfulness and Positive Psycholog

Seasons for Growth A group program that builds

Face your Fears – Do as I do sessions to support children in fac

FRIENDS for Li A fun way for confidence, hel wellbeing throu

Age

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A N N UA L R E P O R T

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Programs glossary and chronology BUSHkids teams utilise a diverse range of evidence-based, proven programs — including many developed in Australia or in-house — to assist children in the crucial first six years of their lives and support not only their development up to ages 12-13 and beyond but also their parents and carers.

haved, loving, competent children.

PROGRAMS for parents/carers

Offered for ages 3–6 and for 7–12 years of age.

For parents of kids diagnosed with ADHD, this provides information about the diagnosis; family survival tips, strategies for home and school management, and ideas for reducing parent stress.

ADHD Parent Group

A practical parent/carer workshop to help prepare their child for school, developed in-house by BUSHkids specifically for families in rural and remote areas.

Gives parents the skills they need to provide emotional support to young children, enabling them to build their child’s resilience and help prepare them for school.

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With access to knowledge about development, connection with others and an opportunity to reflect on communication with their children, when opportunities for mindful reflection are created these can lead to positive change, including respectful interactions and increased positive self-identity in children. Gives parents the knowledge and practical skills they need to manage the behaviour of difficult children and teenagers, helps parents build the relationship with their children and provides simple techniques for resolving family issues and preventing problems from developing.

m-solve and manage emotions and behaviour.

reactions and use sensory and perspective-taking

-based program to lessen anxiety and stress and increase resilience in children.

esilience and supports the wellbeing of children who have recently experienced loss due to death, family separation or migration.

roup program designed for anxious children and their parents, with ng fears and developing helpful thoughts and brave behaviours. e © – Anxiety and Resilience

Strong Not Tough © – Adult Resilience

Completing the trio of FRIENDS Resilience programs, this is taught to parents to increase their coping skills and ensure that the FRIENDS language is being spoken in the home.

hildren to develop resilience and ing maintain happiness and mental hout life.

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Age

A N N UA L R E P O R T

2 0 1 8 – 2 0 1 9

CAHS

Arranging a ‘pop-up playgroup’ in a public park is just one of the many innovative community engagement techniques of our CAHS teams.

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A N N UA L R E P O R T

A N UA L R E P O R T

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2 0 1 8 – 2 0 1 9

CAHS

Ongoing renewal in core clinical services mixes technology and old-fashioned outreach The interwoven strands of BUSHkids Children’s Allied Health Services (CAHS) have been fundamental to our multidisciplinary clinical approach for many decades and, while all the elements of this proven service delivery model continue to evolve according to identified needs, community capacity-building remains at the core.

Our Allied Health teams are typically comprised of members of three core clinical disciplines — Occupational Therapy, Speech Pathology and Psychology — reinforced by the skills of experienced Family Health Support Workers. Numbers vary between locations, as do the mix of programs and services offered, which are customised to the specific needs of the local communities and surrounding regions. Shared expertise is freely transferred between our Centres, with our staff able to remotely cover vacancies or help with complex case needs in other locations. Over the past year, we have introduced administrative assistance roles to support our Allied Health teams, enabling the therapists to spend more frontline time providing care, support and education, improving outcomes for children and their parents, carers and families. Even as the fast-growing capabilities of BUSHkids’ teleHealth program have enabled greater reach of our CAHS services across Queensland, the triple strands of our traditional approach — at-Centre, in-home or via regional outreach — continue to underpin and inform our organisation’s work. Allied Health services are also delivered across a range of education settings, from schools to kindy and long-daycare centres. As always, we remain focused on reaching families who may be particularly vulnerable due to geographical isolation. Many thousands of kilometres continue to be driven in outreach to families across the regions from our Bundaberg, Dalby, Warwick, Emerald and Mount Isa Centres. For those beyond practical driving distance, our ability to deliver teleHealth sessions direct into family homes and education settings has hugely increased the opportunity for capacity-building in parents and educators. Our CAHS teams continue to play an active part in the year- round calendars of fetes, festivals, education and family days and other events, collaborating with other agencies, service providers, local councils and business supporters in their local communities. Regardless of location, method or technology, however, the fundamental principles of our CAHS services inform all we do.

Supporting the developmental, social-emotional-behavioural and educational needs of children is best done holistically in the context of the family setting and their local environment. Building the capacity of parents, educators and their local communities is key to cementing progress for the future. CAHS competencies cover the gamut from balance, sensory processing and mindfulness to anxiety, sleep patterns and concentration, as well as communication (stuttering), self- care (toileting) and behaviour (parenting and peer play). Rarely does a single issue present itself in a child or family; more often, it is a complex combination of interacting symptoms and underlying causes. Here, our Family Health Support Workers are adept at effecting introductions and building confidence with a child and their family to devise and prioritise a care plan with one or more of the AH disciplines. From the wide range of programs in which our staff have been trained and accredited a selection appropriate to the clinical assessment is provided, either one-to-one, in a group or education setting or, increasingly, via teleHealth . The challenges of recruit and retention of Allied Health staff in regional areas of the State remain a constant. Some of this is due to distance or to changing personal circumstances but we understand that, in the main, time spent with BUSHkids is an essential experience-building step in career progression and that has its own greater rewards. In this, we continue to commit to the ongoing professional development of staff, and our organisation-wide ‘Lunchbox Learning’ sessions delivered via teleconference have proven particularly effective. An example of topics includes:  Allied Health telepractice  Working with parents: family-centred practice  Working with educators: what do teachers really want  Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). BUSHkids Allied Health services are made possible through continued state funding from the Department of Education and Queensland Health . We also direct funds within our organisation to further supplement government funding, always aiming to increase the number of children and families able to access BUSHkids’ services.

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‘Play and Learn’ was a two-way street for Bundaberg EIF Alex Allbon in NAIDOC Week.

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A N N UA L R E P O R T A N UA L R E P O R T

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Section

Adapting successful programs to further support even more Queensland families Starting school is an exciting time but can also be quite daunting for children and families of all backgrounds. BUSHkids is working to adapt some of our proven programs to make them more culturally appropriate and meaningful for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in particular.

BUSHkids successfully secured grant funding through Perpetual’s IMPACT Philanthropy Application Program to adapt our internally-developed A Steady Start to School © (ASS2S) preparatory materials to become more culturally appropriate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families. This will extend the reach and relevance of ASS2S and ultimately increase the number of families feeling confident to support their children as they start school. The process began with our DSS Service Manager Marianne Taylor presenting the current ASS2S program to members of the Gladstone-based Nhulundu Health Service to seek their feedback and input. Nhulundu’s Marsha Corowa worked with us to effect the desired modifications. The program was then presented to a number of Gladstone agencies working with families, including UnitingCare Community , Central Queensland Indigenous Development and playgroup providers and therapists, as well as a local artist who provided further information to help the evolution of ASS2S materials. Tamera Craigie, a 19-year-old Indigenous artist, designed some preliminary concepts for posters and postcards, as bright artwork which storytells key learnings was identified as a most effective approach. Key learnings from the consultations were to make topics simply visual — ‘dot point rather than PowerPoint’ — in lieu of more comprehensive presentations and workbooks. The project will see two new formats developed:  A playgroup module with a key learnings model and conversation learning for parents over six sessions, the fundamental principles for modelling being: “I do”, “We do” and “You do”.  A community capacity-building model where BUSHkids trains those who work with the families in the evidence-based strategies so they can share in a culturally appropriate manner.

Trials of both formats began in the final term of 2019 with a SCORE outcome measure used to evaluate both of the new program formats. BUSHkids is also working with Parentshop founder Dr Michael Hawton to adjust the 1-2-3 Magic ® and Emotion Coaching program to make it more culturally appropriate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families. We have a dedicated project worker closely liaising with Elders to create a culturally-sensitive approach to providing these parenting programs and, following this development, BUSHkids will support the delivery of training packages to ATSI health and wellbeing staff in a number of locations across Queensland during 2020.

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A N N UA L R E P O R T

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e kindy

Overcoming isolation and preparing for school is a core early intervention.

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A N N UA L R E P O R T

A N UA L R E P O R T

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Section e kindy

eKindy experiences overcome barriers of distance and isolation to maximise growth BUSHkids eKindy gives children the building blocks for success in future education — such as a love of books and reading — as well as providng them with the confidence and independence they need to progress to school … and it’s the social skills the program provides which are especially important.

Many children joining our eKindy program have developmental delays linked to their isolation and lack of exposure to shared early years activities. Social norms in an eKindy ‘pod’ are very different to home settings with siblings (or lack of, in some cases), and we help kids adapt to a new environment of rules and social skills — such as routines and interpersonal co-operation — needed as they move into formal education. We have been working with the Department of Education and eKindy Queensland on a program to provide a kindy experience for children living in rural and remote areas who are unable to attend kindy on a regular basis, due to their isolation or to health issues making travel impractical. eKindy is available to children who live further than 16km from their nearest kindy or childcare centre, and children often come from families with travelling parents — such as Show families, drovers or seasonal workers — who do not stay in one location. All children who attend the BUSHkids eKindy pods are registered with the Brisbane School of Distance Education and can attend an eKindy class at their local state school for 15 hours of kindy across 40 weeks of the school year. BUSHkids works with their local communities to find the best facilitator and that person is supported by a qualified early childhood distance education teacher. A comprehensive ‘at home’ kindergarten program in the year before children enter Prep provides invaluable kindy experiences to maximise their learning as they play, create, imagine and discover, and prepare them to begin school. Parents often remark in feedback discussions about how much their child has developed through eKindy, particularly in social skills, noting that their child is better at taking turns, sharing with others, using their manners and saying hello and goodbye. Despite losing one or two eKindy sites from the 2018 program, the number of BUSHkids eKindy pods in 2019 has expanded to 26, a net increase of 12, spanning the eastern half of the State from the NSW border to the highlands west of Cairns. High demand for the program means that many sites require multiple eKindy classes, some with up to three pods per site with four children per pod. As 2019 draws to a close, we have almost 100 ‘future students’ attending ekindy every week.

CASE STUDY: SOUTHERN DOWNS Together building strength and confidence Down towards the NSW border, Jordan* has been achieving significant growth in the areas of social and emotional development, independence and persistence, as well as in his gross motor strength and control. Regular attendance at his local eKindy pod, and with opportunities to play alongside other children in a traditional kindergarten program, Jordan has learned to be more resilient when handling social interactions and dealing with any conflict. Jordan has moved on from independent play (being in control of his own space) to encountering play rules and resources to co-operatively share and negotiate, and he is now able to self-regulate without the support of an adult and rejoin play of his own accord and within a shorter time frame. He has developed more independence in taking care of his own belongings and in managing personal routines, such as unpacking and packing his bag and putting on his shoes and socks. When faced with a challenge — such as putting on his shoes — Jordan has learnt to be more persistent and keep trying even when it is becoming frustrating. He is able to recognise his achievements and this has enabled him to further challenge himself, such as by sliding down the fireman’s pole in the playground and mastering the balance beam. The regular and consistent exposure to the daily obstacle course and specifically planned gross motor program, has allowed Jordan to build not only his strength and gross motor development but also his confidence in trying new or more difficult physical activities. He has also learnt how to work within the discourse of kindy, joining in routines that might be different to home: such as packing away, getting ready for learning, sitting on the mat and listening to others whilst waiting his turn to talk.

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492 2018–2019

191 2017–2018

SESSIONS

*Not his real name

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“The University of Queensland’s Centre of Research Excellence in Telehealth was delighted to collaborate with BUSHkids to undertake a three-year telehealth research project. It was pleasing to see the difference BUSHkids is making in the lives of children living in regional, rural and remote locations and to contribute to this important work.” Professor Deborah Theodoros BSpThyHons, PhD Director RECOVER Injury Research Centre The University of Queensland

Sessions 526% 2017/18—2018/19

Simplified network map of the reach and coverage of BUSHkids teleHealth services at the end of 2019, based on extracted BUSHbase data. Not all teleHealth destinations are labelled.

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2016–17

2017–18

2018–19

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Normanton

Clients 592% 2017/18—2018/19

Cloncurry

ISA

Dysart

Clermont

EML

ROK

Alpha

Yeppoon

Clients • Allied Health Clients • EarlyStart

GLT

Tambo

BDB

Birdsville

BNE

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A N N UA L R E P O R T

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Section

Pioneering research proves benefits of high-tech reach to remote kids and families Providing improved opportunities for isolated clients to receive online clinical and therapeutic support has been the goal of the three-year study to test and validate the ground-breaking BUSHkids teleHealth program and the impressive results confirm the new service to be practical, valuable and cost-effective.

The results are in: BUSHkids is uniquely skilled to deliver best-practice telehealth services across the farthest reaches of the State to benefit both clients and staff after completion of research with The University of Queensland’s Centre for Research Excellence in TeleHealth . Since 2016 BUSHkids has been trialling teleHealth services as part of a research partnership with our sponsored UQ PhD candidate Jessica Campbell. The trials were completed at the end of 2018 and the final evaluations completed in 2019. The research aimed to address two key areas:  Understand the changes involved to introduce telehealth services in an existing health organisation  Understand the impact that telehealth has on The research investigated how clinicians instinctively adapt their practice to ensure the same service is provided to both teleHealth and in-person clients. From this we developed a staff training program including topics such as:  maintaining therapeutic presence (building rapport with clients through a screen)  compensating for physical touch and objects (playing online games — rather than with toys — and their reward systems)  extending roles (guiding parents to a more prominent therapy role)  and how to best use our teleHealth platform in an interactive way. Results demonstrated that the way BUSHkids teleHealth is delivered is effective in providing Allied Health and support services to families lacking practical, regular access to one of our physical Centres, produces similar outcomes to face- to-face contact with a high level of satisfaction, and delivers cost benefits for both families and our organisation. Findings also revealed the efficacy of the telehealth concept across other clinical disciplines and its transferrable potential across BUSHkids to our EarlyStart and other services. On these evidence-based foundations, we are investing in expanding both the technological prospects and our statewide operational capabilities. improving access to services, and the cost, learning outcomes and overall satisfaction.

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CASE STUDY: MASON’S ANXIETY Success means no longer being needed!

Seven-year-old Mason* and his mother Sarah* have been working with our Brisbane-based telePsychologist Kaitlin Hinchliffe, connecting via the dedicated teleHealth room at the Emerald Centre. Mason was referred to BUSHkids for help with separation anxiety which was impacting daily life for the family. “It was really good, great actually,” Sarah said. “I was concerned that talking to a computer would make it difficult to build a relationship with a person. However, I think it may have been better for Mason as it’s not as intimidating as having that person in front of you. He dealt with it really well. “Kaitlin was great, very thoughtful and non-judgemental … she acknowledged [our family’s values] and worked around it. Mason didn’t really say [how he felt about the sessions], but it worked! It was a great experience and we are very happy, we would do it again. All concerns were met, and Kaitlin was great.” In his final session, Mason expressed to the telePsychologist in writing, “I do feel a lot better and good!” On the way to his final session, he said to Sarah, “I don’t need to see Kaitlin anymore, because I know in my heart I’m okay.”

Kaitlin (L) and colleague Megan MacDonald were all smiles at Mason’s good news.

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