To investigate ways to combat the ever-increasing problem of local children’s learning vulnerability, this Wednesday Royal Far West is holding a town hall community meeting at Macksville.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
It will be held at the Macksville Ex-Services Club from 5pm.
According to the 2015 Australian Early Development Census, developmental conditions can affect up to one in five children in the Nambucca Valley. Compounding the problem, children in rural areas have poorer access to early childhood intervention services, paediatricians, allied health and mental health services than their city cousins, making it more difficult for them to be ready to learn when they start school.
The town hall initiative will see participants from children’s charity Royal Far West with partners Charles Sturt University and Fairfax Media join Nambucca’s local government, health and education leaders and families to discuss the state of children’s developmental health in rural and remote NSW, and the particular challenges and opportunities that exist to access services for young children in the community.
Panel members:
Cr Rhonda Hoban – Mayor of Nambucca Shire Council
Ms Janine Reed – Local Business woman and Councillor on the Nambucca Shire Council
Mr Rod Edwards – Secretary and Past President, Rotary Club of Macksville
Ms Tanya Bajda – Principal (Relieving); Macksville Public School
Cr Martin Ballangarry OAM - Deputy Mayor Nambucca Shire
Ms Lindsay Cane – CEO, Royal Far West
Royal Far West’s CEO Lindsay Cane said she hoped the community would talk to the panel about what they were seeing and experiencing in their local community, the challenges they faced in accessing supports for children and families, and what was working locally.
“After the town hall meeting, we will work with Nambucca Shire 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,” Ms Cane said.
