Alex was one of those children. Living in a small town in North West NSW, starting primary school for the first time was a daunting and difficult task. At the time, Alex could not talk or understand others well and became extremely overwhelmed in loud and new environments. His Mum, Georgie, a school teacher, did her best to try and prepare Alex to start school, but with a lack of developmental health services in their small town there was only so much she could do.

Alex began attending weekly speech and occupational therapy sessions via virtual care, which helped him to express himself, engage confidently with his peers and communicate his needs effectively. Through his primary school years his journey with RFW continued and Alex remained actively engaged, putting great effort into learning and applying new strategies. He developed a stronger understanding of his emotions, learning to identify triggers for negative feelings and practicing techniques to manage them. A quick learner, Alex made remarkable progress at home and at school. He no longer struggles with language delays, his mood has greatly improved, and in Year 5, he was named the best student in his class academically.

When a child’s developmental challenges are left untreated, it can increase their risk of unemployment, mental health challenges, substance abuse, chronic illness or even incarceration. In the coming 2025 school year, Alex will start high school equipped with the tools and resilience to take on this new challenge with confidence. Stories like Alex’s remind us of the power of connection and access to the right supports, even across the vast distances of the bush.