For some families, accessing the right health services can be difficult, especially during early childhood and primary school years.
If a child needs extra care for their health, development or behaviour, difficult to access or poorly coordinated services can cause delays, stress and missed opportunities.
South Western Sydney Public Health Network (SWSPHN) is holding a series of local health forums which will look at barriers and enablers to accessing timely, appropriate and coordinated care for children aged up to 12 years.
If you have experienced difficulty accessing healthcare suited to your child’s needs join SWSPHN at a forum at either Bass Hill, Campbelltown or Bowral, and help improve how health services for children are planned and delivered across South Western Sydney.
Parents and carers, and a range of healthcare professionals, service providers and community members will come together at the forums to share experiences, identify gaps and contribute insights which can inform future planning and coordination of childhood health services across the region.
Topics will include child development, behaviour and developmental milestones, physical health and prevention, including immunization, ongoing needs such as asthma, healthy growth, nutrition and childhood obesity.
While families may raise experiences across different systems (such as the NDIS), discussion will focus on areas where local health services can make practical improvements.
SWSPHN acting chief executive officer Amy Prince said feedback from earlier consultations, including health forums delving into the region’s mental health services, highlighted the challenges parents and carers faced when accessing specialised or co-ordinated healthcare for their children.
“The early years of a child’s life help shape the rest of their life,” she said.
“Therefore, it’s vital that early intervention and support is accessible right from the beginning of their life.
“We need the help of those with lived experience of these challenges to share with us the barriers they’ve faced when accessing care, and to work with us on solutions to give our children the best possible start in life, setting them up for healthier, more positive outcomes across their whole life.”
For people who live or work in Bankstown, Fairfield or Liverpool their forum will be on Thursday, 26 March, 6.30pm for 7pm start, to 9pm at Rydges Bankstown – Register here
For people who live or work in Campbelltown or Camden, your forum will be on Thursday, 16 April, 6.30pm for 7pm start, to 9pm, Rydges Campbelltown. Register here
For those who live or work in the Southern Highlands or Wollondilly, your forum will be on Thursday, 23 April, 6.30pm for 7pm start, to 9pm, at Park Proxi Gibraltar, Bowral – Register here
All forums are free for participants, and include a two course meal.