Early childhood health support integrated into South Brisbane playgroups and education

An innovative early childhood intervention initiative in South Brisbane is revolutionizing how parents identify and address developmental concerns in young children. The Thriving and On Track (TOTs) program embeds health services directly into familiar environments like playgroups and early learning centers, effectively removing the "burden" of access for parents.

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I'm very time poor, like we all are, and I guess things can be a little overwhelming when you have to look up the thing, organise it, drive there, get there.

Suzie Felmingham shared her experience with her four-year-old daughter, Olivia, who was starting kindergarten. Concerned about Olivia's focus and ability to follow instructions, Ms. Felmingham was initially unsure about seeking formal assessment. However, Olivia's teachers suggested an in-house assessment with a child health nurse, facilitated by the TOTs program. "I'm very time poor, like we all are, and I guess things can be a little overwhelming when you have to look up the thing, organise it, drive there, get there," Ms. Felmingham said. She found the integrated approach "so easy and so seamless… and it's an environment we both feel comfortable in."

The child health nurse provided Ms. Felmingham with practical strategies to help Olivia improve her focus at home. Crucially, the nurse also reassured her that Olivia was on track with her developmental milestones, alleviating significant parental worry. "I worry… and it was something that was definitely playing on my mind a lot," Ms. Felmingham admitted. "So, since speaking to the child health nurse, it's just relaxed me a little bit, which in turn relaxes her."

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This was all so easy and so seamless … and it's an environment we both feel comfortable in.

Experts emphasize that early intervention is critical to reducing the number of children who present with developmental delays, which affects about one in four children across Queensland. The TOTs program, a collaboration led by the region's Primary Health Network (PHN), aims to deliver allied health and early intervention services directly to families in places they already frequent. The response from parents has been overwhelmingly positive, with many appreciating the convenience and effectiveness of having support integrated into their daily routines. Leilani Salesa, for example, takes her four-year-old son Frederick to weekly speech therapy at a local community hub, a service she struggled to access privately and through the NDIS.

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I worry … and it was something that was definitely playing on my mind a lot. So, since speaking to the child health nurse, it's just relaxed me a little bit, which in turn relaxes her.