The Profield Foundation’s support will enable Royal Far West to provide psychiatric services for children struggling with their mental health in the region. The Profield Foundation is the private foundation for an agricultural family with deep ties to rural Australia and is one of Royal Far West’s most enduring supporters. For two generations, their support has enabled us to be there for country kids who need us.
The Murrumbidgee has a large cohort of children in need of specialist mental health support, who can’t access it where they live. Thanks to The Profield Foundation, Royal Far West psychiatrists will collaborate to support Murrumbidgee paediatricians in providing specialist mental health services to their patients, who would otherwise be left waiting for the necessary psychiatric support they require.
This program was previously piloted for two years with great success, with approximately 20 children directly benefiting – the children in this cohort had complex needs and received an average of 13 sessions each. The Profield Foundation’s recent investment in this program will enable us to replicate the pilot, reaching at-risk children in their home communities, providing them with answers and treatment when they need it.
“This is a game changer for rural kids. Child psychiatrists are so few it is extremely difficult to gain access to them when you are a parent advocating for your child constantly, dealing with waiting lists it can be extremely heart wrenching knowing every day you can’t access help is a day lost for early intervention. If this trial becomes mainstream it would ease the minds of parents everywhere especially for rural families.”
Parent, Murrumbidgee