Children’s health Archives | Page 4 of 12

13 May 2025

General practice helps prevent domestic and family violence by addressing the root causes before it begins.

GPs play a crucial role by promoting healthy relationships, identifying at-risk individuals and referring them to support services.

This can include addressing root causes, promoting healthy relationships, identifying at-risk individuals and referring to specialised services.

Find out more

addressing root causes: change societal norms and behaviours which normalise/excuse violence
promoting healthy relationships: educate patients on healthy dynamics, communication and conflict resolution
identifying at-risk individuals: recognise risk factors like controlling behaviours, isolation and threats
providing safe support: offer a safe space for patients to discuss concerns and provide confidential resources
referring to specialised services: know local DFV support services for legal, housing, financial and child protection assistance
advocacy and awareness: support prevention initiatives and advocate for policies addressing violence
self-care: GPs should prioritise their well-being to prevent burnout when dealing with DFV cases

Useful links:

Primary prevention initiatives

Impact of domestic and family violence on children and young people

Services to support those experiencing violence

Supporting Recovery Brochure 2025– support to heal from domestic and family violence

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22 April 2025

The first three years of life are critical for a child’s brain development.

Early Intervention is linked with positive changes in functional gains for children and can positively impact all aspects of development and functioning including mental health, physical, social and cognitive development.

Early identification of developmental concerns and referral to appropriate services is crucial, particularly before children start Kindergarten. It is also important to refer early to account for potential waitlist times.

How to make an early intervention referral

Families may be eligible for support through the NDIS Early Childhood Approach if a child has a disability or there are concerns about their development.

Children aged under six don’t need a formal diagnosis to be referred. The service also supports children up to age eight, connecting families with local supports, guidance and advice tailored to their needs.

EACH is the NDIS Early Childhood Partner for South Western Sydney and can assist with referrals.

Call EACH on 1300 003 224.

Download the Early Intervention Referral Guide (PDF)

More information for GPs and health professionals – NDIS

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08 April 2025

Playgroups provide opportunities for children to engage in play, which helps them learn the valuable skills required to have a positive start to school.

Benefits of playgroup include:

help develop social skills at the child’s own pace
build emotional confidence
encourage physical activity
support imagination and creativity
learn through role-play
social connection for parents

Many playgroups are run by experienced early childhood trained staff and provide parents with support and guidance on child development as well as offering a soft entry point to other community support networks.

Many families might not be aware of the benefits of playgroup so GPs can play a vital role in referring families who might have a child with developmental concerns or if the family is socially isolated.

Benefits of attending playgroup

Different types of playgroup

In South Western Sydney there are lists of playgroups for the following local government areas:

Fairfield

Liverpool

Canterbury Bankstown

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24 March 2025

Emergency relief can assist families in a cost-of-living crisis and other adverse conditions such as income loss. It can include food, money, housing, healthcare and other support services.

Real life example

Mrs Nawabi, 34, visits her GP because she’s feeling anxious since she lost her job the previous week. She’s a single mother with three young children.

In cases like this, the children’s health and wellbeing may be supported through emergency relief. This support will also help to manage Mrs Nawabi’s anxiety by reducing her stressors.

Where to get help

Low cost meals providers

Find providers offering affordable food options in your area.

Emergency relief provider

DSS portal – service provider– After selecting the state and local government area, choose Financial crisis and material aid – Emergency relief in the programm field.

Ask Izzy directory – A mobile-friendly tool to find nearby support services.

Visit the Stronger Seed, Taller Tree page to learn what the initiative is about.

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12 December 2024

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, there are 50 indicators to measure “what matters”. The indicators are then organised into five wellbeing themes, which combine to create an overall “life satisfaction” rating.

One of the themes is “cohesive”, explained as: A society which supports connections with family, friends and the community, values diversity, and promotes belonging and culture.

As we head into the festive and holiday season, there’s no better time to tick off some of those important indicators such as sense of belonging, social connections and time for recreation and social interaction.

We’ve compiled a list – just touching the surface – of activities to do and places to visit over the next month or two. Pack up the kids, grab a few mates … and discover some of the things Western Sydney has to offer.

We guarantee your “life satisfaction” meter will hit the roof.

It’s hot! Of course it is, it’s summer. But there’s plenty of options to cool down, right across the region. If you’ve got younger ones who want to splash, head for a water park. There’s also plenty of local swimming centres and pools to chill in the heat. Keep an eye open for when the new Penrith Beach opens to the public.

Dawson-Damer Water Play Park, in Oran Park
Curry Reserve Water Play Space, Elderslie
Bigge Park Water Playground, Liverpool
Aquatopia Water Park, Fairfield
Raging Waters Sydney, Prospect
Nurragingy Reserve, Blacktown
Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre, Homebush
Cables Wake Park and Cables Aqua Park, Penrith
Penrith Beach, Penrith

The great outdoors. We’re blessed in Sydney to live in suburbia but have so many green spaces and bushland to explore and enjoy. If your budget is a bit on the tight side, you can pack a picnic basket, some games and discover what’s in your suburban backyard. For free! One of our recommendations is the Australian Botanic Garden, at Mount Annan. You can enjoy 416ha of bushland, lawns, lakes and gardens and discover 4,000 native and introduced plants and trees. There’s also plenty of holiday activities, including talks, walks and workshops.

If you want a bit of adventure, we’ve got some things for you to try. There’s obstacle courses, white water rafting, the biggest playground slide in Western Sydney and what’s been described as the biggest indoor inflatable playground in Australia. For the adrenaline junkies, there is an indoor skydiving centre in Penrith. There are challenges for all sizes and levels of risk-takers We dare you!

Fairfield Adventure Park, Fairfield (featuring obstacle course, slippery dips and treetop walk)
Treetop Adventure, Abbotsbury
IFly Downunder, Penrith (indoor skydiving)
Penrith Whitewater Stadium, Penrith
Inflatable World, St Marys

Visiting a museum, art gallery or historic property should always be a family consideration. It’s important to introduce children to culture, learning and history – and it’s an ideal way to initiate discussion, thinking and appreciation. There’s an awesome selection of places to visit in the region.

Casula Powerhouse, Casula
Campbelltown Arts Centre, Campbelltown
Fairfield City Museum and Gallery, Smithfield
Elizabeth Farm, Parramatta
Museum of Fire, Penrith
Wollondilly Heritage Centre and Museum, The Oaks
Bradman Museum and International Cricket Hall of Fame, Bowral
NSW Rail Museum, Thirlmere

There’s nothing which creates as much joy as interacting with animals. A visit to see animals is food for the soul. And, of course, we’re fortunate to have so many opportunities within driving distance.

When you’ve exhausted this list or ticked off a few more places to visit and things to do, we have a couple more suggestions. Breathe deeply … and take in the vastness of our ancient land. National and state parks and conservation areas are on our doorstep, with an array of amazing attractions to stimulate our senses.

Dharawal National Park – Maddens Falls, Minerva Pool, O’Hares Creek lookout
Burragorang State Conservation Area – Burragorang Lookout
Warragamba Dam – Warragamba dam wall, visitor centre
Thirlmere Lakes National Park – walking track, picnic area, heritage pump station
Nattai National Park – Wollondilly Lookout

This list is by no means exhaustive. The Georges and Nepean rivers meander through our region, our local playgrounds are endless as are our sporting facilities and public places to gather, chat or enjoy a barbecue. There are heritage sites and houses to visit, public artworks to admire and shopping centres to get our retail fix. We can take in a movie, enjoy a concert or just kick back and admire the views.

These holidays, your level of adventure – or relaxation – will only be limited by your imagination.

CAPTION: Mount Jellore Lookout at Mount Gibraltar Reserve, Bowral.

13 November 2024

As the cost of living continues to increase, it can be difficult to make the family budget stretch. This includes healthy meals for growing children.

Across South Western Sydney, some organisations provide cost of living help, such as low cost or free meals to those in need. Other organisations also offer support with paying bills and household basics such as blankets.

Families and individuals on low incomes can also access No Interest Loans (NILs) which enables low-income earners and Health Care Card holders to borrow up to $2,000 for expenses such as car repairs or registration, education expenses such as school fees and laptops, medical and dental expenses or essential purchases such as white goods and household items

NILs do not require a credit check; however, clients must demonstrate their capacity to repay the loan by having a source of income. Those experiencing domestic and family violence can borrow up to $3,000.

Cost of living support resources:

For more information about NILs, visit goodshep.org.au/nils

Find a local provider

Low cost and free meals directories

Other useful websites:

NSW Government Cost of Living Hub

Services Australia Advance Payment

Emergency relief providers

Services NSW – concessions and rebates

Read more about Stronger Seeds, Taller Trees

These articles are written by members of the ‘Stronger Seeds, Taller Trees’ project which includes professionals from a number of government and non-government organisations in South Western Sydney. The group aims to support GPs working with families to navigate and access timely services when they have a concern about a child’s development.

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23 October 2024

More imperative than ever, early mental health assessments and support for children and young people should be provided to prevent unnecessary long-term impacts. Many families visit their GP frequently, and these consultations present the ideal opportunity for early intervention.

GPs are often pressed for time, however their skills and knowledge are crucial in supporting children’s mental health, especially infants and toddlers.

Australia’s Emerging Minds provides an evidence-informed guide created specifically for GPs. This article includes links to brief videoclips, podcasts and e-learning courses on conducting child mental health assessments.

Early intervention and referral by GPs can prevent progression of mental health conditions, critically contributing to children’s future wellbeing. A Mental Health Care Plan will be required for supports to be provided to children.

Southwest Sydney Paediatric Clinics

SWSLHD Community Paediatrics

SWSLHD Infant, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services

Infant Child Adolescent Mental Health Service (ICAMHS)

Liverpool/Fairfield:
- - Phone: 9827 8011/8717 1700
  - Referral form
Bankstown:
- - Phone: 9780 2777
  - Referral form
Macarthur/Campbelltown
- - Phone: 4621 5000
  - Referral form

SWSPHN STAR4Kids Providers (3 to 12years)

Camden, Wollondilly and Wingecarribee: Community Links Wellbeing. Phone: 0455 104 104
Liverpool: Mission Australia. Phone: 97326500
Bankstown/Fairfield: ProActive Psychology. Phone: 9796 3925/9727 7752
Campbelltown: Sparrow Centre for Children. Phone: 0417 469 800
Referral: SWSPHN Mental Health Referral Form

Family Mental Health Support Services

Liverpool: Mission Australia – Happy Healthy Minds. Phone: 9732 6500
Fairfield: Woodville Alliance. Phone: 9724 3807
Bankstown: Break Thru People Solutions. Phone: 8700 140
Campbelltown: The Benevolent Society. Phone: 4633 3777
STARTTS: www.startts.org.au

Read more about Stronger Seeds, Taller Trees

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09 October 2024

Starting school is a big step for a young child and requires more than academic skills – it requires social, emotional, communication, and motor skills. Healthy young bodies and brains are fuelled by healthy eating at home and at school. All cultures have healthy food options which can be included in school lunch boxes.

GPs can support families by addressing nutritional concerns and advocating for healthy food environments; prioritising healthy eating; encouraging parents to role model healthy eating practices; and ensuring parents are aware supplements don’t substitute a balanced diet.

It’s important for families to remember not all healthy foods are welcome at schools as some children may have allergies. Some foods may need to be accompanied by ice packs as the weather gets warmer, so it doesn’t spoil.

The following resources can be provided to families and displayed at clinics:

Fuss Free Mealtimes

Fuss Free Mealtime Arabic

Fuss Free Mealtime Chinese

Fuss Free Mealtime Korean

Fuss Free Mealtime Vietnamese

Healthy Swaps

Balancing the Lunchbox

7-days-of-veggie-snacks.pdf (vegkit.com.au)

How to pack a healthy lunchbox

Lunch box fact sheet

Read more about Stronger Seeds, Taller Trees

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24 September 2024

The body processes sensory information from the external environment and from internal body signals.

The sensory systems include sight, smell, sound, taste, touch, proprioception (body position), vestibular (balance) and interoception (internal body signals).

Some children may process sensory information differently and it can impact their participation in everyday life.

Signs of sensory processing differences:

seeking sensations more than other children (touching, smelling or licking textures, closely watching moving objects, difficulty sitting still)
actively avoiding sensations in a way which does not fit the environment (distress at ordinary sensory experiences, blocking out sensations)
passively avoiding (upset in busy/noisy environments/when touched, easily distracted, selective with food)
being a ‘bystander’ with sensations (high pain threshold, appearing to ‘tune out’)

Read more:

Sensory Seeking vs Sensory Sensitive

Sensory processing difficulties

When to refer:

Refer to an occupational therapist when a child’s sensory processing differences interfere with everyday routines or engagement in learning. Early referral is key in improving functional, social and academic outcomes.

Download:

Where and how to refer

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09 September 2024

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children experience some of the highest rates of Otitis Media and associated hearing loss in the world, with inequity fundamentally implicated.

Left untreated, these conditions are directly linked to serious and long-term complications. These include poor medical health, delayed communication and social skill development, challenging behaviour and learning difficulties.

Regular ear checks, hearing assessments and onward referrals to ENTs are crucial in supporting positive outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children with Otitis Media.

Empowering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families to connect with health, cultural, and community services is another important part of supporting their children’s health and wellbeing.

Find more information for families about Otitis Media.

Aboriginal Health Services

It is essential to empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families to connect with health, cultural and community services early to support their children’s health and wellbeing.

South Western Sydney Local Health District Aboriginal Health Service Directory

Macarthur Family and Youth Services

Tharawal Aboriginal Corporation – Airds

Gandangara Aboriginal Health Services – Liverpool

KARI Aboriginal Community Programs – Liverpool

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