The Australian College of Nursing says family and child health and school nurses across Australia must be enabled to play a key role in the Federal Government’s $2 billion Thriving Kids program, following the Federal Health Minister Mark Butler’s speech outlining major reforms to support children with developmental needs.
Minister Butler announced the Commonwealth’s commitment to establishing a comprehensive alternative to the NDIS for children with mild to moderate developmental delay and autism, with family and child health services identified as a crucial early intervention point.
The Thriving Kids program will leverage existing infant and child health systems provided by states, recognising these services as “usually the first opportunity” to identify developmental concerns and connect families with appropriate support.
“In the early childhood years, family and child health nurses are one of the most utilised health care professionals by parents and carers. They are a trusted first point of contact with the health system for Australian families,” said ACN Chief Executive Officer, Adjunct Professor Kathryn Zeitz FACN. “With a holistic, family-centred approach, they have the expertise and relationships to identify developmental differences early and guide families toward evidence-based interventions.”
“But the funding models to support nursing intervention are fragmented, with many family and child health nurses being state-funded; some delivering care within GP clinics; and others undertaking health assessments at schools,” said Adjunct Professor Zeitz. “We must ensure that nurses are funded and supported to deliver coordinated developmental checks under the Thriving Kids program.”
The program will examine creating new Medicare items for bulk-billed three-year-old health checks – a crucial age for identifying developmental concerns and making appropriate referrals.
“Family and child health nurses are perfectly positioned to support families with queries about their child’s development with assessments, referrals and education,” said Adjunct Professor Zeitz. “Families see child health nurses for regular checks and childhood immunisations. They can play a critical role in early identification, the provision of evidence-based information, and the delivery of early appropriate interventions.”
“As the largest group of health professionals, and the most geographically dispersed, nurses should be harnessed to support the delivery of the Thriving Kids program. ACN looks forward to working with the government and renowned paediatrician and childhood development expert, Thriving Kids co-chair Frank Oberklaid AM, in the design of the scheme.”
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