Lightning Ridge kids get a ‘flying start’

From l-r: Variety NSW CEO, Tony Warner with Marathon Health Strategic Advisor – Alyssa Fitzgerald, Marathon Health CEO, Megan Callinan, Marathon Health General Manager, Danielle Scoullar, and Air Bush Charters pilot, Rob Leonard. Photo contributed

Local access to a paediatrician has become easier, thanks to the children’s charity – Variety’s new service, Flying Start.

CEO of Variety NSW Tony Warner said it was the community that made Variety aware of the need.

“We asked the Lightning Ridge community how we could help, and they said one challenge they have is accessing a paediatrician,” Mr Warner said.

“There are long waiting lists and without a paediatrician, there’s no formal diagnosis for autism or a range of other disabilities.”

Mr Warner said a General Practitioner cannot legally make a diagnosis for autism and related disorders.

“We’ve been flying a paediatrician out to a few different regional communities in western NSW, with the goal of getting some of these kids a diagnosis so they can move on with their journey and maybe apply for the National Disability Insurance Scheme,” he said.

“Sometimes the schools apply for learning support funding, or the family can apply for carers allowance from Centrelink, but it all hinges on that initial diagnosis.”

The Flying Start paediatric program has been trialled in Lightning Ridge and Walgett with plans to expand to Bourke, Brewarrina and further afield.

The program partners with local school and community groups to identify children requiring assessment.

One Lightning Ridge family has already seen the benefits of being given a diagnosis. Sarah, mother of Theodore said that Theodore had been waiting two years to see a paediatrician. […]

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