The award-winning developmental screening program Healthy Kids Bus Stop is coming to Lake Cargelligo in April with the aim to improve the health and wellbeing of children aged 3-5.
Royal Far West, in partnership with the Murrumbidgee Local Health District and Ronald McDonald House Charities and with invaluable support from The Schwartz Foundation and Sofitel Hotel Sydney Darling Harbour, will be delivering free child health checks at the Lake Cargelligo Central School from Tuesday 2 April to Thursday 4 April.
Identifying children’s developmental issues before they start school is critical to their life trajectory, and this program will help identify children who will benefit from extra support and early intervention to maximise their opportunities at school.
The program is designed to be fun and interactive, with children progressing through bus stops or ‘health stations’, hopping on and off at each station in order to complete their health assessment. Between health stations, children are engaged in play while parents and carers are given the opportunity to consult further with the multidisciplinary team of health professionals and may also collect health promotion materials.
A general Child Health Check is also included, which assesses a child’s immunisation status and developmental milestones.
Royal Far West’s Community Programs Manager John Reid says, “The comprehensive health stations include screening and assessment for oral health, vision, hearing, food and nutrition, language and speech development, and fine and gross motor skill development.”
Children requiring further assessment will be referred to appropriate local services, and those with complex needs may also be referred to Royal Far West’s Paediatric Developmental Program.
Children must to be registered to attend the Bus Stop. This can be done at http://www.royalfarwest.org.au/programs/healthy-kids-bus-stop, or by calling the team on 02 8966 8557 for more information.
A week after the Bus Stop, Lake Cargelligo will be welcoming 65 dedicated cyclists as they complete this year’s Ride For Country Kids three-day event. Funds raised will go directly to Royal Far West’s health, education and disability services for country children and their families.
