New health care initiative focusing on young rural children takes flight across WA

A new regional health care initiative is taking flight across WA and touching down in Mt Magnet offering children across the state free allied health assessments.

A partnership between Fly2Health and Variety has launched a new trial which will see health care experts flying to rural towns across WA to provide in-person consultations to children focusing on those aged 0-6.

Children from the Mid West’s Mt Magnet as well as those in Kalgoorlie, Esperance, Hopetoun, Lake Grace, Merredin, Wiluna, Meekatharr.,Southern Cross and Hyden will be able to receive up to 70 free allied health assessments from the new initiative.

The health assessments are only 45 minutes long and will offer parents and guardians a full outcomes report with recommendations and feedback to best provide for their children.

Variety WA CEO Chris Chatterton said he was thrilled to be supporting more kids in regional areas.

“This new trial in partnership with Fly2Health will expand their innovative offering, which aims to break down barriers and make healthcare approachable in rural and remote communities,” he said.

“The 70 free allied health assessments on offer for regional kids, expands our support in regional WA and helps to address the real need for additional access to health care that families have in some remote areas.’’

Mr Chatterton said of the 23,500 kids the charity helped last year, more than 14,600 of them were based regionally and this new project would allow the group to help even more in the regions access support.

Fly2Health founder and managing director Kennedy Lay said they were pleased to be part of the trial with Variety WA.

“Providing additional health services to the regions is our key focus and we fly our team of more than 120 allied health professionals to 65 regional towns all across Australia,” he said.

“Some patients have waited years for treatment and some families in remote areas face unique challenges in accessing healthcare, such as having to drive hours to the closest hospital. We reduce wait times and offer improved patient outcomes.

“The 70 free assessments Fly2Health is offering with Variety’s support can mean that children with an identified developmental concern can get an action plan in place early to ensure they have the right supports in place to help their growth.

“To give people an idea of the level of need in remote towns, in the first two days we advertised the additional free assessments we have received 25 referrals.”