To be hosted at Temora Public School in DeBoos Street Temora from 20 to 22 June, the Bus Stop program will see more than 60 children aged between 3-5 years from across the region.

The Healthy Kids Bus Stop is an integrated ‘whole of child’ health and developmental assessment and pathway to care program which aims to improve the health and wellbeing of children living in rural and remote communities through early detection of lifestyle risk factors, delayed development and/or illness.

The assessments are undertaken by a team of nursing and allied health staff and include a child health check, hearing screening, dental check, fine and gross motor skill development screening, language and speech development check and a food nutrition check.

As part of the program, the children receive a bus pass which is stamped at each ‘bus stop’ station they are assessed as requiring along the way, and when all required stations have been completed, the children are given a Healthy Kids Bus Stop bag containing items to promote healthy habits as well as fun items.

Importantly, the program’s pathway to care ensures that children are given a referral pathway to receive the ongoing support they need, through collaborative partnerships with local service providers and Royal Far West.

The Healthy Kids Bus Stop is being brought to Temora by Royal Far West through a partnership with the Murrumbidgee Local Health District and Ronald McDonald House Charities, with funding support from Auscott Limited.

Auscott Limited’s CEO Harvey Gaynor said, Auscott is incredibly pleased to be entering its fourth year of supporting the HKBS program.

“We know full well the importance of health and education in our rural communities and applaud Royal Far West for bringing the sorts of early screening and intervention opportunities to bush kids that their city counterparts have so readily available,” he said.