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Who can I ask for help?

Lending a Helping Hand

In the early years of your child’s life you will have the opportunity to work with and seek advice from a range of specialists and early years educators, for example, kindergarten teachers, Maternal Child & Health Nurses. These professionals are great support to families and have a wealth of expertise and knowledge. If your child is experiencing any difficulties or displaying any developmental concerns in their early years these professionals may suggest a follow up consultation with other allied health specialists and professionals. Please don't feel you need to panic if something is raised with you about your child. It is great to address any questions or concerns early in your child’s life and seek the most appropriate support. Please see below some details of support services that may be recommended and available to families.

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Paediatrician

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A paediatrician is a doctor who provides specialist medical care to infants, children and adolescents. To become a paediatrician, doctors must do an extra six years of training after they finish their medical degree. There are general paediatricians and specialist paediatricians, for example, paediatric cardiologists (heart specialists), paediatric gastroenterologists (doctors specialising in the digestive system) and developmental paediatricians (specialising in early childhood development and behavioural problems). Some paediatricians work in private practice and some work in hospitals.

You just need to call the paediatrician's rooms to make an appointment. If you have a Medicare card, a visit to a paediatrician at a hospital outpatient clinic or at a community health centre does not cost you anything.

Royal Childrens Hospital (https://www.rch.org.au/kidsinfo/fact_sheets/Paediatricians/)

Occupational Therapist

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Occupational Therapists (OTs) … are all about building success that your child needs to work on and experience within their functional environments. This process involves observing and addressing a combination of factors that affect the ability to experience success and complete specific tasks or a range of tasks at home, at school or kinder and particularly transitioning between activities.

We work to observe areas such as muscle tone and strength, generally through the body and effects on tasks. We look at the motor planning and executive functioning abilities needed to know how to start, transition and sequence through tasks. We also look at the ability to concentrate, stay on track and emotionally regulate throughout this process.

Goals are developed and continuously fine-tuned with input from the teacher, parents and the child. Key areas addressed are organisation, concentration, social skills, gross motor development, fine motor development, such as handwriting and sensory regulation.(K Woods, Connecting OT Website)

Speech Pathologist

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Speech pathologists study, diagnose and treat communication disorders, including difficulties with speaking, listening, understanding language, reading, writing, social skills, stuttering and using voice. They work with people who have difficulty communicating because of developmental delays, stroke, brain injuries, learning disability, intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, dementia and hearing loss, as well as other problems that can affect speech and language. People who experience difficulties swallowing food and drink safely can also be helped by a speech pathologist. 

The speech pathologist at school works closely with students, families and teachers to develop goals to address any additional needs. (J Shillinglaw, Speech Pathologist)

Koorie Engagement Support Officers (KESOs)

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Koorie Engagement Support Officers (KESOs) are an important support for Aboriginal students in the Victorian government schools. The role of KESOs is to engage and support Aboriginal students, their families, teachers and school staff. Koorie Education Coordinators assign a KESO to each school with Aboriginal students. KESOs work directly with students and their families and schools to support the inclusion of Indigenous perspectives within the curriculum and to support students and families with connecting to their culture and heritage. (S Briggs, KESO Department of Education, Victoria)

Child psychologist

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Child psychologists understand that the child’s emotional and social development is a key factor for a good transition to the school environment and leads children to do better academically and socially. The emotional and social field is in constant progress and should be one of the primary learning goals for your child during the last year of kinder, so they can start attaining the following:

 

  • Confidence in themselves and work independently.

  • Being able to communicate emotions, reduce challenging behaviours and calming down with some help if they have become upset.

  • Capacity to develop good relationships with peers and adults

  • Separate easily from parents.

  • Cope with changes.

  • Able to deal with problems that arise throughout the day without looking to an adult for constant assistance.

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A referral to a child psychologist will be warranted if a child is showing persistent difficulties in the above areas and is not showing progress when supported by the educators.

 

A session with a psychologist usually starts with an assessment, which involves gathering information to help decide what approach to take. They will probably ask questions about your child’s family history, medical conditions, communication needs and any behaviours of concern. Next, they’ll work with you to decide on treatment goals, and make a plan for achieving them. Usually, this includes working with the family, and sometimes with educators and other health professionals to ensure the best chance of success.

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It is important for families to be transparent with schools around concerns they may have with their child’s development so that we can all work together in the best interest of the child.

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Working in partnership with your child’s educators by sharing important information, raising concerns and negotiating solutions creates the best environment for your child’s development and wellbeing. When parents are involved, educators will get a better understanding of your child’s overall development and family situation which will lead to setting appropriate and timely learning goals and support. (G Hercman, Child Psychologist, Star Health)

English Language Schools

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If you are a newly arrived family to Australia and English is an additional language, you may be entitled to attend an English Language School. Children who meet the eligibility criteria can attend this school for between two and four terms. The small class sizes and high number of contact hours enable qualified EAL teachers to deliver an intensive English language program (also known as a New Arrivals Program) tailored to the differing needs of students. This helps them to adapt as quickly as possible to the Australian education system and society. Contact your local school and have your visa information ready so that the Principal may advise you on what you need to do. 

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