Working Together for Kids – paediatric outreach in primary schools

North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network (NWMPHN) has commissioned Werribee Mercy Hospital to deliver collaborative, triaged and culturally safe paediatric services to children aged 5 to 12 in Wyndham. 

The Working Together for Kids program aims to improve the physical and mental health of children experiencing social, economic or health disadvantage and who do not typically have access to paediatric services. It does this through: 

• identification and management of developmental delays; and 
• provision of early intervention through integrated care with the family’s local GP and allied health practitioners. 

The project is delivered in 3 community hubs located at Truganina South Primary School, Wyndham Park Primary School and Doherty’s Creek College.  

The sites were selected based on the level of need of attending children and families, and the capability to accommodate outreach paediatric services.

The expected outcomes of this project include: 

• Improved physical, social and emotional health of children through early identification practices and access improvement strategies. 
• Building the capability of school staff and families to recognise, report and refer children requiring services and support for common health issues. These include: 
  • respiratory and oral health issues 
  • behavioural and mental health difficulties 
  • developmental delay. 
• Improved access to paediatric care and allied health for children and families in Wyndham. 
• Increased local service integration through collaborative care coordination and shared case conferencing to improve the health and wellbeing of children.  
• Building the evidence for a school-based model of care for children experiencing health vulnerabilities.