Stronger Seeds, Taller Trees Archives | South Western Sydney PHN

09 June 2026

Concerns from childcare centres or preschools can add valuable context to developmental surveillance in general practice.

Feedback should clarify what has been observed across settings, including communication, play, peer interaction, emotional regulation, toileting, feeding or motor skills.

Educator notes or learning reports can help identify patterns and guide referral. Where helpful, seek consent to clarify concerns directly with the service.

Hearing and vision checks remain useful early steps, particularly where speech, attention or behaviour concerns are present.

If concerns persist, early referral to a paediatrician, speech pathology, occupational therapy or even Thriving Kids/NDIS early childhood support can help families access timely support.

Resources include:

Parents evaluation of developmental status

SWSLHD Child and Family Health Services

Thriving kids

NDIS early childhood pathway

Health and development checks

Early intervention: where and how to refer

This article appeared in Practice Pulse on Wednesday, 10 June 2026. If you are a GP, practice nurse or practice manager in South Western Sydney and do not get the weekly Practice Pulse email, speak to your Practice Support Officer.

26 May 2026

Rainbow parents and carers manage early childhood health and development like other families, but may face stigma, exclusion or assumptions in healthcare.

Some report not being recognised as parents, intrusive questions, or needing to educate practitioners about sexuality and gender identity.

GP teams can make care welcoming through inclusive forms, competency with LGBTQIA+ terminology and visual inclusion cues. Build trust by letting families lead and asking open questions.

Don’t presume: ask, “Who is in your child’s family?”, and recognise non-birthing, non-biological, separated, kinship and foster carers. Avoid questions about family formation unless clinically relevant. Ask and listen to how parents describe gender identity and pronouns, roles/responsibilities and family composition.

Listen, affirm and validate parental concerns. Connect families with affirming supports or early-intervention pathways.

Resources to support inclusive care for rainbow families

Collation of LGBTQIA+ parents and carers: inclusive resources for clinicians

Wellbeing support for LGBTIQA+ parents

Inclusive communication

Practical guide for GP supervisors, registrars and practice teams

Rainbow Health Australia

TransHub clinician resources

What parents say about good GP care for transgender children

Medical Curriculum Guide

This article appeared in Practice Pulse on Wednesday, 27 May 2026. If you are a GP, practice nurse or practice manager in South Western Sydney and do not get the weekly Practice Pulse email, speak to your Practice Support Officer.

12 May 2026

Refugee Week is an annual national celebration promoting greater awareness of refugees, the issues they face and the contributions they make to the Australian community. This year it takes place from 14 to 20 June.

Refugee Week events and activities aim to foster connection, understanding and celebration. It also highlights various important aspects of healthcare for patients from refugee backgrounds in South Western Sydney, which receives the highest number of refugees in NSW.

Issues include:

trauma-informed culturally safe care and the complex physical and mental health needs of this population, which often stem from trauma, interrupted care or resettlement challenges
common barriers to healthcare, including language difficulties, lack of cultural awareness, financial constraints and complex navigation of health systems
social determinants of health including housing, employment, education, visa status and concerns about family and friends in their home countries
holistic and social support using community services to provide ‘wraparound’ care to support patients’ broader wellbeing

Find out more:

Refugee Week key activities and events

Refugee Health Guide NSW

NSW Refugee Health Service

Organisations in South Western Sydney supporting refugees:

NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors

Settlement Services International

Fair Foundations

Core Community Services

Early Intervention: where and how to refer

21 April 2026

Impacts of domestic and family violence (DFV) on children can be profound and long lasting impacts, affecting psychological, emotional, social, physical, educational and developmental wellbeing.

It is also the leading cause of homelessness for children.

Children experiencing DFV often have intense feelings of fear, anxiety, shame and low self-esteem and can disrupt their relationships, education and overall holistic health outcomes.

Research shows children have an articulate and coherent understanding of the violence they, their siblings and mothers experience, and can provide valuable insight into their needs and how best to support them.

A significant portion of children who have experienced DFV feel a sense of guilt as though they are to blame or there was something they should have done.

Supportive conversations with a professional which create safety and reinforce the fact they are not to blame can assist them to access recovery and intervention services as early as possible to begin building resilience and recovering from the impacts of DFV.

Useful contacts and resources:

White Ribbon Australia aims to address and prevent DFV through education, awareness-raising, creative campaigns, and preventative programs

White Ribbon Australia helplines

1800 respect.org.au is a national helpline service providing support for people experiencing DFV as well as people and professionals supporting someone experiencing DFV through online chats, video calls, and phone calls

Safe + Equal professional support resources

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This article appeared in Practice Pulse on Wednesday, 22 April 2026. If you are a GP, practice nurse or practice manager in South Western Sydney and do not get the weekly Practice Pulse email, speak to your Practice Support Officer.

07 April 2026

Finding the right support for neurodivergent children can feel overwhelming for many families. This page helps guide parents and carers through common challenges, the role of GPs, and where to access support and resources.

Barriers that hinder a parent in accessing support can include:

differing opinions within the immediate or extended family
stigma around mental health and behavioural issues
difficulty accessing specialist support due to cost, travel, or long waiting lists
Limited access to an interpreter or culturally appropriate support

GPs are often the first point of contact for families seeking support for neurodivergent children. They play a key role in listening to concerns, assessing early signs, and guiding families to appropriate services.

The child’s neurodiverse behaviours can sometimes be subtle, so it is vital that GPs be attentive to parent’s concerns about their child and explore details of all facets of the child and family life.

Where to refer

Accessing the right services early can improve outcomes for children and families. GPs and families can explore a range of referral pathways and supports.

Early Intervention – Where and How to Refer 2026

Navigating autism

Supporting children with neurodiversity

Early childhood approach

Guide for families

About PANDA

Take the next step

If you are concerned about your child’s development, speak with your GP. Early support can make a meaningful difference for your child and your family.

23 March 2026

Multilingualism has been linked with numerous benefits for children and families.

The amount of exposure to each language directly impacts language acquisition, and the trajectory of language development for multilingual children can differ from monolingual children.

When a child has strong skills in their first language, they are better able to learn additional languages.

Children may learn multiple languages simultaneously and show a preference for one language. Receptive language skills are key in determining if speech pathology intervention is required for multilingual children.

Early referral to speech pathology is critical if a child is having difficulty with understanding and following verbal information in their primary language.

Referral and early intervention

If you are considering referral or want to better understand early intervention pathways:

Early Intervention – Where and How to Refer 2026
EACH Early Childhood Approach

Building your knowledge

Learn more about multilingual development and how to support children and families:

Webinar – The benefits of multilingualism
Teaching multiple languages to under fives
Expert in multilingualism – Paola Escudero

Clinical guidance and development milestones

Use these resources to support assessment and conversations with families:

Speech Pathology Australia
Speech development milestones
Raising Children Network
Thriving Kids factsheet

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This article appeared in Practice Pulse on Wednesday, 25 March 2026. If you are a GP, practice nurse or practice manager in South Western Sydney and do not get the weekly Practice Pulse email, speak to your Practice Support Officer.

10 March 2026

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

Here’s an example:

Mrs Nawabi, 34, comes to her GP feeling anxious because she lost her job last 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 manage Mrs Nawabi’s anxiety by reducing her stressors.

Where to get support:

Providers of low-cost meals

Emergency relief providers – after selecting the state and local government area, choose Financial crisis and material aid – Emergency relief in the Program field

Centrelink social workers

Income support advance payment

NSW government rebates

NSW Government cost of living hub

Ask Izzy

No Interest Loans (NILS)

Low cost and free meals directory

Support for temporary visa holders

Settlement Services International Emergency Relief

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24 February 2026

Medical clinicians may or may not realise when they encounter individuals with autism who walk into their clinics.

Autism Advisory and Support Service CEO Grace Fava says some will have obvious autistic traits, while others have learned how to mask these traits until they become visible during times of great stress and anxiety.

Here are some links to support you in identifying and serving these patients:

What is autism?

Masking

Stimming

Executive functioning

Sensory processing disorders

Sensory experience video

Anxiety and autism can go hand in hand

Special interests

Easy to understand resources

Medical causes of aggression in autism

PGx screening can be a useful test as medication is never one size fits all.

Some additional information: Early intervention: when and how to refer

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.

10 February 2026

Stronger Seeds, Taller Trees is an initiative which provides doctors and parents with information about early childhood developmental milestones and the importance of early intervention.

Initially developed by The Facilitation Project, Stronger Seeds, Taller Trees brings together workers from a range of government and non-government organisations who collaborate with paediatric specialists to write articles for Practice Pulse.

In recent times, other topics which have been the subject of their articles include supporting children to make a good start to school and services which can support families and individuals with the cost of living.

For more information contact Debbie Winardi at winardid@missionaustralia.com.au or phone 0436 111 179.

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25 November 2025

Gambling rates in South Western Sydney are very high, particularly in Fairfield and Canterbury-Bankstown.

Problem gambling can cause financial hardship and can negatively impact relationships, work, physical and mental health. Gambling can also be a problem for young people through online gaming.

Problem gambling negatively impacts the individual and their family, and support is available for both.

GPs can support people experiencing gambling harm through screening and referring to appropriate support services.

SWSPHN has an online Gambling Harm Screening Tool: SWSPHN’s Gambling Harm Screening Tool

GambleAware has a plethora of online resources which can help GPs identify signs of gambling harm and support people who might be experiencing gambling harm.

This article appeared in Practice Pulse on Wednesday, 26 November 2025. If you are a GP, practice nurse or practice manager in South Western Sydney and do not get the weekly Practice Pulse email, speak to your Practice Support Officer.