Little Violet’s speech therapy blow
A “DISAPPOINTED” Norlane mum says she was shocked when Barwon Health advised that her young daughter with a stutter would no longer be able to continue her speech therapy program.
Four-year-old Violet’s stutter was deemed a nine on a scale of zero to 10, with 10 being the worst, mum Natalie Thompson said.
Mrs Thompson said Violet began speech therapy at Barwon Health North about a year ago.
She said the one-on-one weekly sessions had “absolutely” helped her daughter, with her previously severe stutter now rated a three or four, but the kindergartener still required ongoing therapy.
But Mrs Thompson said she was recently advised Barwon Health was moving to a short-term service and was not treating long-term patients for speech therapy.
Barwon Health spokeswoman Kate Bibby said Barwon Health North Child and Family Services had been set up as an entry point for assessment of children in the northern suburbs as a way to address a very large need in the community where there was a lack of access to services for kids.
“The group we work with is children prior to school,” she said.
“We focus on assessment to ensure that children who need access to support services for long-term therapy can be helped and reduce therapy delays before they begin school.”
Ms Bibby said goal-focused and time-limited therapy was provided when a child was identified as likely to benefit from it, sometimes as a one-to-one or as group.
Ms Bibby said there had been no change to the service model since it launched in 2020.
But Mrs Thompson said she had not been told therapy was time-limited.
She said she now faced paying $100 plus per weekly session in the private system.
“A lot of people can’t afford it,” she said.
a hell of a lot of money.”
She said she rang around private services and found there were months-long waits, but the family had found somewhere for Violet to have speech therapy from next month.
She described being told Violet was no longer able to access Barwon Health’s service as “really disappointing” and had alerted the state government to her concerns.
Mrs Thompson said currently, while Violet’s stutter was noticeable to people who knew her, those meeting her for the first time might just think she’s really excited.
Ms Bibby said Barwon Health also offered some group therapy until children could get to other services.
“Support is also given to link families with other services and if the clients do not have the resources available (some are private) we advocate for additional Medicare subsidised funding to access these services,” she said.
But Mrs Thompson said she was advised to access private services and Barwon Health did not offer other alternatives.
A LOT OF PEOPLE CAN’T AFFORD IT. IT’S A HELL OF A LOT OF MONEY.
NATALIE THOMPSON