A mini documentary highlighting a Wimmera paediatric project’s ingenuity to address the rural divide for Wimmera children has been launched.

By Five has joined forces with Wimmera professionals and families to address the growing disparity in child health outcomes upon school entry for rural children.

The locally-born initiative is being hailed as a blueprint for rural and remote communities across Australia to emulate.

‘Years on End… The Tyranny of Distance’ documents the award-winning collaboration and the outcomes that have been achieved for more than 400 children and families who have accessed timely paediatric care.

With the support of their local health provider, families have been able to link in with health professionals from the Royal Children’s Hospital without always having to travel to Melbourne.

The initiative began after data showed up to half of children in the Wimmera were arriving at school developmentally vulnerable, well above the state and national average of one in five, making it difficult for them to engage in learning and fulfil their potential. 

The project has primarily been funded until June 2025 by the State Government, in collaboration with the Centre for Community Child Health, which is a department of the Royal Children’s Hospital and a research group of the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute. 

Parents from across the Wimmera have praised the support network and By Five in building the capability and confidence of the ‘village’ of health professionals.

Paediatric consultant Nadia Coscini said the teams comprised maternal and child health nurses, allied health practitioners, social care and education professionals along with general practitioners to support them with their child. 

“To be in a position where you’re having the co-consult with someone who actually knows the family really well, you feel like you’re really building the village around the child,” she said.

Paediatric fellow Kate Monagle is one of the By Five paediatricians who regularly visits the Wimmera, immersing themselves in the region and its people.

“Meeting some of the local professionals, it’s infectious. They care for the community and the kids that they look after,” she said.

Warracknabeal general practitioner Franklin Butuyuyu said rural Victorians faced a tyranny of distance as well as issues with accessing paediatric care.

“The problem is real, families are suffering,” he said.

Dr Butuyuyu said the initiative had also allowed him to hone his diagnostic skills, understanding and management of children with complex behavioural issues and to support their growth and development.

For more information, people can visit the By Five website at byfive.com.au.

The entire September 4, 2024 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!