Supporting Regional Children: Royal Far West’s Impact in the Gladstone Region

Royal Far West (RFW) continues to make a meaningful impact across the Gladstone region, with a recent visit to early learning centres in Gladstone, Tannum Sands and Miriam Vale highlighting the importance of accessible, early intervention services for children in regional communities.

For more than seven years, RFW has partnered with early learning centres in the region, supported by funding from Country to Coast Primary Health Network. This latest visit – saw a speech pathologist and occupational therapist travel to seven kindergartens, providing vital in-person support to children, families and educators.

Bringing essential services closer to families

Access to allied health services can be challenging in regional and remote areas. These visits help bridge that gap by delivering tailored, face-to-face support where it’s needed most, supported by regular telehealth care between visits.

During the visit, RFW clinicians:

Conducted therapy sessions with existing clients
Screened children who may benefit from support
Worked directly with educators on practical strategies
Met with parents to provide guidance and reassurance
Hosted two highly attended parent workshops

The strong relationships built with local centres were evident, with educators noting how well-prepared they felt and how effective referrals have become over time.

The power of early intervention

Early intervention plays a critical role in supporting children’s development, helping them build communication, motor and social skills during their formative years.

Feedback from families and educators highlights the value of these services:

100% of educators and parents/carers reported being satisfied with RFW services
100% of educators found the services valuable for their centres
100% of parents/carers said their child’s outcomes improved after support

Educators shared how impactful the sessions are:

“The quality of the engaging therapy sessions – children get so much out of it.”
“The ability to access allied health professionals from our remote location.”

Parents also noted the difference the support has made:

“We were given the tools to better understand our child and support them at home.”
“The program works really well – even via telehealth.”

Strengthening communities through partnership

The success of the program is built on strong collaboration between RFW, local early learning centres and CCQ PHN. These partnerships ensure children and families receive consistent, high-quality support, regardless of location.

Educators described feeling “privileged” to have access to these services, underscoring the importance of continued investment in early childhood intervention in regional areas.

Royal Far West thanks CCQ PHN for their ongoing support in making this vital work possible.