Free Zoom Helps Families Know What to Look For
With Australian families facing growing difficulties accessing speech pathology services, including long waiting lists, affordability pressures and significant shortages in rural and remote communities Bushed Australia and TalkHQ Speech Pathology are joining forces to make professional information, guidance and support more accessible to parents across the country. The partnership will deliver a series of three free national Zoom sessions, beginning with “Is My Child on Track? A Talking Milestones Session with TalkHQ Speech Pathology” on Wednesday, 16 September at 7.00pm AEST.
The series has been developed with the needs of rural and remote families firmly in mind, where distance, limited local services and the difficulty of accessing regular appointments can create major barriers to support. However, the challenge is not confined to the bush, with families in metropolitan areas also experiencing difficulty accessing affordable and timely speech pathology services. The three free Zooms are open to families anywhere in Australia who have questions or concerns about their child’s speech, communication, learning or development.
The first Zoom will explore key talking milestones, what is typically expected at different ages and some of the early signs that may indicate a child could benefit from additional support. With capacity for approximately 300 participants, families from across the country will be able to join from home, hear directly from experienced professionals, ask questions and better understand when to watch, when to act and where to seek further assistance.
TalkHQ’s Jenna Mottin said: “One in four Australian children are not on track with their communication skills when starting school. We believe that when we know better, we do better. Rural and remote families are often at a disadvantage when it comes to accessing timely information, and we want to help break down that barrier. There are so many practical strategies families can implement around the home, and we want to give parents the knowledge and tools to support their children.”
Bushed Australia’s Lynne French said the three-part series was about making quality information easier to access, particularly for families who may live hundreds of kilometres from specialist services. “Families in rural and remote Australia can face enormous challenges simply accessing the right professionals and information. These free Zooms allow families to sit at home, connect directly with experienced specialists and gain a clearer understanding of what may be happening with their child and what their next steps could be. Importantly, though, these sessions are open to every Australian family who may be looking for answers.”
The three-session series will also explore funding and support options available to families, as well as the different therapy pathways available and why no single approach is right for every child. “Is My Child on Track?” will be held at 7.00pm AEST on Wednesday, 16 September. Registration is free at www.bushed.org.au/zoom.
Media Contacts
TalkHQ – Jenna Mottin
0415981789
About TalkHQ – TalkHQ Speech Pathology is a highly regarded regional speech pathology practice with a strong history of innovation, collaboration and commitment to the communities it serves.
In 2018, TalkHQ received the North Queensland Chambers Business Champion Award for its outstanding contribution to the regional community. That same year, the practice was also named a finalist in the Employees Choice and Business Community award categories and was recognised as one of Queensland’s 100 Faces of Small Business.
Bushed Australia – Charles Alder
0410714379
About Bushed Australia – Established in 2021, Bushed Australia supports families and Indigenous communities living in rural, remote and isolated areas of Australia by improving access to education, health and family support, and disaster assistance. Each year, Bushed supports thousands of children engaged in distance education and families who may otherwise struggle to access essential services because of where they live. Through educational programs, peer-to-peer peri- and post-natal support delivered by trained volunteers, and practical assistance during floods, fires, droughts and other natural disasters, Bushed works to ensure geography does not determine a family’s access to opportunity, care or support. Our mission is simple: to help rural and remote Australians build stronger families, stronger communities and a brighter future.
