Rural towns like Parkes often miss out on services readily available in the city, however a new initiative aims to bring parents, education professionals and community representatives together to help target our vulnerable kids.
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On Thursday, June 28, Royal Far West, Fairfax Media, and Charles Sturt University are hosting a ‘town hall’ style community meeting to discuss ways to combat developmental vulnerability, challenges facing country children and how we can work collaboratively to better support children and their families in Parkes.
One in five children in the Parkes Shire is developmentally vulnerable and not ready to start school at the age of five, according to 2015 Australian Early Development Census Data.
This means that, among other symptoms, they can struggle to learn, make friends and regulate their emotions.
A local panel for the meeting – held from 5pm-6.30pm in the Coventry Room at Parkes Shire Council – will feature Deputy Mayor Cr Barbara Newton, Neighbourhood Central’s Aboriginal Liaison Officer Amanda Corcoran, Parkes Early Childhood Centre (PECC) director Lindy Farrant and Parkes parent Sharon Scott.
Business Director for Royal Far West, Jacqui Emery, will make up the fifth panelist.
Royal Far West CEO Lindsay Cane said Royal Far West encourages everyone in the community to speak with the panel about what they are seeing and experiencing in their children, the challenges they face in accessing support for children and families, and what is working in Parkes.
“Following the Town Hall meetings, we will the work with Parkes’ organisations to create a plan for change, lobby for more targeted funding and work with the community to build its capacity to support vulnerable families,” she said.
Royal Far West is a non-government organisation that has been providing health services to children living in rural and remote NSW since 1924.
Everyone is invited to attend the Parkes community meeting at The Coventry Room on June 28, with registrations at 5pm and discussions commencing at 5.30pm until 6.30pm.
To register, visit www.royalfarwest.org.au/town-hall , email community@royalfarwest.org.au or call 1800 961 001.