Vital childhood developmental milestones are going unchecked due to the Rockliff Government’s inability to fill a number of Child Health and Parenting Service (CHaPS) vacancies.
Information supplied though Questions without Notice in the Legislative Council last month shows that the North-West Coast currently has half of the nurses it needs to meet demand.
The data shows that 19.2 positions have been approved for the region, but 9.9 are vacant, meaning families are going without the face-to-face support they desperately need.
Instead parents are being asked to use telehealth services or simply missing these vital checks altogether with only those at risk being given priority for appointments across Tasmania.
The Kinder Development Check can assist in identifying any developmental delays in social, emotional, cognitive and language development and result in interventions and support but it is preferable for that to occur at an earlier age.
Only 61.5 per cent of children are achieving the KDC markers by the end of Kindergarten. This is down from 74.1 per cent in 2014. The government has previously described the reporting of the KDC as politically risky and exposing it to questions.
This, coupled with the horrifying stories mothers are sharing about the North-West Maternity Service, demonstrate that after a decade in office, the Liberal Government have failed to get the basics right for families.
If the Liberal Government hasn’t fixed the health crisis in 10 years, they never will. This is occurring in Premier and Health Minister Jeremy Rockliff’s own patch.
Premier Rockliff must outline how the government will fill these vacancies and ensure that the service’s existing and dedicated staff are provided with the resources needed to do their important work.
Anita Dow MP
Shadow Health Minister
Josh Willie MLC
Shadow Minister for Education and Early Years
