For Tahnee Mann, the help and support from the staff at Royal Far West have meant her learning difficulties and intellectual disability are no barriers to achievement and the Narromine girl is intent on realising her dream of becoming a pre-school teacher.

Tahnee suffers from attentional difficulties that resulted in poor academic progress, behavioural problems and low self-esteem. But regular visits to Royal Far West over a period of time had her participating in a range of treatments that included speech and occupational therapy and psychological assessment and treatment – all of which helped to turn things around. Hard work and sheer determination combined with the support she received meant that Tahnee was able to sit the Higher School Certificate with her friends. Happy and settled with a positive outlook, her school results were strong and she is confidently moving forward in life.

No-one could be more overjoyed with Tahnee’s progress that her mother, Corrine. “I’m simply blown away with her results! I think the extra help and support she got through Royal Far West made all the difference,” she said.

Clinical Psychologist Emma Newsom-Smith believes that targeted intervention for a short time can sometimes give children the chance to reach their potential. In Tahnee’s case, she said organising support at the local school had played a major role in her improvements.

‘Specific work plans targeting areas of need and helping Tahnee access a support class at school were all vital to the success she is now enjoying,’ Emma said. ‘Soon after she went into the support class, Tahnee became part of the Student Representative Council at school and made other significant gains in terms of her social skills and self-esteem.’

Tahnee’s development is an inspiration to the whole family. Her younger siblings Beau, 14, Travis, 8, and Tegan, 5, also see speech therapists, paediatricians and psychologists at Royal Far West and their mother hopes they share the same success as their older sister.