THE Bathurst Early Childhood Intervention Service (BECIS) has been able to extend the reach of its programs to more children as a result of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
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BECIS provides education and therapy services for children that have a disability or development delay, offering these services from the Charles Sturt University campus since 1981.
Prior to the introduction of the NDIS, BECIS received its funding through Aging, Disability and Home Care NSW, a division of the Department of Family and Community Services. which limited the service to children seven years of age and younger.
Now its funding allows BECIS to offer its programs to children up to 12.
Service manager Karen Edwards knows families often had to travel to seek help for older children due to limited services available in regional areas.
She hopes that by publicising the changes at BECIS that those families will be able to cut down on travel for their childrens’ needs.
“It is absolutely vital for families to have access to a range of specialist support services, things like occupational therapy, speech pathology, physiotherapy and special education,” Ms Edwards said.
BECIS’ project officer Bron Hatton, who originally came through the service as a parent, said having assistance in your home town makes a big difference.
“It was one big gathering of amazing knowledge, experience, and local knowledge I think – and that’s just before I came into this role, that’s purely from a parental experience – that made a big difference to me,” she said.
Ms Edwards and Ms Hatton said being able to cater to older children allows families to follow through with BECIS, where relationships are already established between team members and children.
“It’s nice to follow through with your families. Where some children would transition out of here, now we get to see and be a part of their progress, their family’s progress,” Ms Hatton said.
While people can be referred to BECIS from other service providers, parents can also contact the service directly if they have any concerns about their child.
BECIS has free programs, programs that are fee-for-service or ones that are accessible through the NDIS.
“There’s the individual supports, individual therapies and education, and then we also have some group programs where we look at social skills, learning through play, that sort of thing in the group programs that helps with social interaction,” Ms Edwards said.
BECIS also likes to work with children in their natural environment, seeing a lot of the work done at home, in child care centres and at school.
To find out more about the services offered by BECIS or to make any inquiries, call 6338 4453.
There is also information at www.csu.edu.au/services/becis or on the Bathurst Early Childhood Intervention Service Facebook page.