Clinic on Country – Gunawirra

Helping Aboriginal children to communicate and thrive before starting school!

Aboriginal children in regional NSW are starting Kindergarten without the language skills to speak clearly. This affects their learning and their ability to make friendships.

Why?

Aboriginal children have high rates of middle ear disease and hearing loss, as well as early childhood and intergenerational trauma. Early intervention during preschool is critical for each child’s health and development. But there is a desperate shortage of health professionals in regional areas such as Kempsey.

Your support will connect preschool children to speech pathologists, art therapists and occupational therapists who have expertise in intergenerational trauma and Aboriginal culture.

Help the next generation of young Aboriginal children find their voice and have the best chance at school and healing. Please donate now!

“I have grandchildren at the Dalaigur Preschool and when they first entered school, they were unable to speak or understand. In just a few weeks my grandchildren were speaking to me, and they were much happier”

– Uncle John Kelly

The first five years of life are critical in shaping a child’s cognitive, social and physical growth.

40%

of Aboriginal children are beginning school with communication impairments

18 months

before an Aboriginal child in rural NSW can access speech and occupational therapy assessments

more likely to be developmentally vulnerable in language and cognitive skills than non-Aboriginal children

Who is Gunawirra?

Gunawirra has empowered Aboriginal children, mothers, families and communities since 2008. Today we support over 1500 Aboriginal families across 26 preschools in regional NSW.

We are Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people working side-by-side and culture is at the heart of our organisation and all of our programs. Our cultural advisors and professionals work together to ensure we provide authentic, community-led services that celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and healing.

Support these evidence-based therapies to close the gap!

The integrated early intervention of the Clinic on Country will redress diagnoses and support preschool children with speech impairments, coordination and school readiness. Occupational and speech therapy delivers proven benefits to motor, cognitive, sensory processing, communication and play skills. The holistic approach will involve the parents and educators to embed new routines.

Research and Evaluation

Gunawirra is in partnership with Dalaigur and Scribbly Gum Dalai Preschools, University of Newcastle and the Vonwiller Foundation for the Guyati, Garraka wa Witing Speech Pathology Project as part of Clinic on Country. This program provides students in their fourth year the opportunity for placements at two of our Clinic on Country preschools. The students are under the supervision of Gunawirra therapists.

The benefit of the program is two-fold: children gain essential intervention, and the university students implement their training while learning about Aboriginal culture. All involved hope that this model will encourage students to consider working in Aboriginal health and in time address the desperate shortage of allied health professionals in regional areas such as Kempsey.

Read the Project Report