Learning centre for children with additional needs to open at SOMA Wellness health hub

Learning Links, a not-for-profit charitable organisation dedicated to preventing learning difficulties from causing disadvantage, has announced that they will open a new learning centre at SOMA Wellness health hub, located in Gledswood Hills, a suburb in the Macarthur region of Sydney, New South Wales.

From the Gledswood Hills location, Learning Links said, professionals from the organisation will provide services in schools and early childhood education and care (ECEC) settings to help children who are “falling behind” due to learning difficulties such as ADHD, dyslexia, high functioning autism, speech and language disorders as well as mental health issues including anxiety.

Parents will also be able to access services, on a fee for service basis, at the centre.

The Gledswood Hills centre will be Learning Links first centre in the Macarthur Region, with another six locations established across east, south and north western Sydney in support of the organisation’s goals.

A spokesperson for Learning Links said the group takes “a supportive and holistic approach to helping children with learning difficulties” providing a range of services from educational and psychological assessments to targeted literacy, numeracy, behavioural and therapy interventions including counselling, speech and occupational therapies, addressing problems with reading, writing, spelling, comprehension and maths.

Learning Links also delivers a range of professional learning for teachers and early childhood professionals building their capacity and providing the most current industry knowledge and standards to work with children with learning difficulties and disabilities.  

As part of the launch, Learning Links will be supporting 50 teaching professionals from the Camden local government area with a funded professional learning workshop on the 30 May 2019 at SOMA Wellness.

“Learning Links is passionate about working with the community to bring vital children’s services to where it is needed most. The Camden LGA is one of the fastest growing areas for young families in Sydney and in all of Australia,” said Birgitte Maibom, CEO Learning Links.

“With up to 15 per cent of all children in Australia having learning difficulties, there is a real need for additional support to ensure these children have the best possible future. We know from recent international and Australian reports that way too many Australian children are struggling to keep up and meet the educational standard needed to secure their future and wellbeing” she added.

Learning Links is now taking registrations of interest for children to start educational support, speech and occupational therapy as well as learning assessments, with more information available on their website, or by contacting Learning Links on (02) 8525 8222.