BUSHkids Annual Report | 2023-24

Annual Report • 2023–24

A highly skilled workforce is more than just a key plank in BUSHkids’ service offering. Read on as two of our wonderful staff members take us through their experiences supporting children and their families — especially regarding early intervention — at different stages of their rewarding career paths. SKILLED WORKFORCE MOLLY’S AND MONICA’S LEARNINGS

See Molly’s evident passion …

Molly’s starting-out in Speech Pathology

“So when a speech pathology position opened during this project, it was a no-brainer for me to apply! “In January 2024, I began my role as a graduate speech pathologist at the teleBUSHkids Centre, joining the BUSHkids Early Childhood Approach (ECA) team. With the guidance of experienced speech pathologists, I honed my skills in delivering effective services via telepractice. I have enjoyed the creative problem-solving it requires and how it involves parents. “From the first appointment, they’re present, engaged and supportive of their child. By the end of our intervention, parents can confidently lead activities at home with my support. It is very rewarding to witness the child’s resulting development. “Recently, I worked with a four and-a-half-year-old girl whose parents were concerned about her speech, and her frustration when not understood by others. I scheduled an outreach visit to their town, but completed the prior assessment and goal-setting using telepractice. “When I visited two weeks later, therapy focused on her speech sounds, and upskilling her parents to support her at home. Her family was really motivated to improve her intelligibility to prepare for prep next year.

“Despite growing up in Brisbane, I’d heard great stories from other students about working in regional and remote communities, so I was keen to give it a go. “In my final study year in 2023, I had an 8-week placement at BUSHkids Warwick, which introduced me to the joys of working with children and families; quite a shift from my previous focus on adults. “Witnessing a child’s progress and growing confidence within just six weeks was incredibly rewarding. It highlighted the impact of short-term interventions in the early years. Being immersed in the Warwick community deepened my understanding of the issues families face in accessing health services, while also witnessing their strength, resilience and support of one another. “After my placement, I collaborated with the BUSHkids speech pathologists for a project which created a workbook aimed at helping families support their children’s early language clinicians deliver telepractice. “I also learned about BUSHkids’ role as an NDIS Partner in the Community , and how the Early Start team supports children who need early intervention, but aren’t accessing the NDIS, who might otherwise fall between the cracks. development. As part of the project, we also visited the teleBUSHkids Centre in Toowong, where I saw the innovative ways

“I also visited the childcare centre she attends to observe her communication in this setting, so I could provide information and strategies to staff to support her development. Her parents really appreciated the outreach visit and it was fun to see the child recognise me as the person she normally sees on screen! “Then followed weekly sessions via telepractice, which she really enjoyed. After 7 sessions, she could produce the target sounds and use them in conversation. Her family’s efforts played a big part and it was rewarding see their confidence and skills grow. They were so pleased she that could now say her grandfather’s name. “With more families becoming increasingly open to and aware of telepractice, it is wonderful to be able to support more children and improve access for regional and remote families.” View at ► https://t.ly/2pA9t … thrive in her journey from student to skilled practitioner. Digital readers may click to watch the video; print edition readers can type the short link into a browser or scan the QR code.

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