Right now, Australia spends $15.2 billion each year responding to issues that might have been reduced or prevented through early support. This includes family violence, mental health concerns, youth homelessness, youth crime, youth unemployment and child protection, and it equates to $607 for every Australian, every year.
Yet research shows that when we invest in early intervention at the right time, and in the right way, it dramatically reduces the demand for high-intensity and crisis services over time.
Most importantly, investing early gives Aussie children the chance to grow up strong, confident and connected – changing their futures and ours.
Take Max, who lives in rural New South Wales.
Max started school with a speech and language disorder, making his foundational school year difficult and isolating. Usually, a naturally confident and warm child, he withdrew into his shell – both in his classroom and on the playground.
As his Royal Far West speech pathologist Taylah explains: “It was so hard for Max to communicate with his friends and teachers and get his point across. No one could understand what he was saying.”
Had he been unable to access support – as is the case with many kids in remote towns – Max would have fallen further behind other children his age in terms of his reading, writing and social skills.
If this had continued into adulthood, these challenges could easily have snowballed – affecting Max’s mental health, limiting his job opportunities and social connections, and making him susceptible to ongoing disadvantage.
That’s why, with the support of generous donors like you, Royal Far West invests in the future of country children like Max – helping them access the services and support they need as early as possible, so they can thrive throughout their lives.
Thankfully Max was able to get the support he needed. Through telehealth sessions with Taylah and other Royal Far West speech pathologists, his speech slowly became clearer. And as a result, his confidence blossomed.
“He still does repeat himself because he has a lot of awareness about his difficulties, but overall, the confidence shift in him has been really amazing,” Taylah reports.
“He’s really motivated now to get up in front of people and speak. He was just part of his school musical where he had a speaking role. It has been nice to see that change over a long period of time.”
The support of Royal Far West, together with passionate supporters like you, has made a significant difference in Max’s life.
There are many children just like Max who have developmental and mental health needs that are not being addressed because of where they live. Across Australia’s rural and remote towns, countless country children live with developmental and learning difficulties. Too often these children are undiagnosed, misunderstood, or mislabeled. Parents and teachers see the urgent need for intervention, but specialist care is scarce, wait times are long, and families must travel vast distances for appointments.
Your support will help Royal Far West go beyond – delivering vital services directly to vulnerable country children, ensuring they receive life-changing assistance early in life.