“I like coming here because I can speak to people about everything at once. It’s good that the kids can both get their points of view across. Things are really starting to fall into place for our family.”

Ron Morey is a single father raising two children on his own. As a child, he suffered from learning problems that went unchecked so he understands first-hand, the long-term effects this can have on a young child. Naturally, he is passionate his own children don’t follow the same path and wants to ensure they have every opportunity possible to succeed in life.

Ron’s two children—Rhonda and David—have both presented with learning difficulties of varying degrees in the past. David also suffers from epilepsy but a lack of communication, particularly with regard to medication management, helped contribute to ongoing dysfunctional behaviour. At school he was repeatedly being suspended and had been placed in a class for children with behavioural disturbances. This also impacted at home with Rhonda pressured to help with David and Ron seeking much-needed support.

When the family made their first visit to Royal Far West they had access to a whole team of clinicians, including paediatricians, psychologists, physios and speech pathologists—and for the first time, David was able to have a complete, holistic assessment, including a review of his epilepsy and medication requirements. Most importantly, the communication between the staff and family meant they were working together on solutions. ‘It’s so much better here,’ says David. ‘I can talk to people and they listen. No-one listens to me back home’.

Now that David has been accurately assessed, he’s been placed in a support unit at school for learning difficulties. He can express himself more clearly and understand his problems and this has resulted in an increased awareness by everyone involved. David is much happier, his behaviour has improved and there is less pressure at home.

Rhonda has also benefited from their visits and says ‘the thing that has helped me most out of all this is that David is now helping himself more’.

Ron is relieved his family now has the care they need and knows he did the right thing in pushing hard to address David’s learning issues. ‘I like coming here because I can speak to people about everything at once. It’s good that the kids can both get their points of view across. Things are really starting to fall into place for our family’.