Children missing important developmental checks because of workforce pressures

Developmental checks for Tasmanian children at two and four years of age are being delayed and missed because of a number of unfilled Child Health and Parenting Service (CHAPS) vacancies across Tasmania, the state’s Shadow Minister for Health Anita Dow and Shadow Minister for Education and Early Years Josh Willie have said. 

“Instead parents are being asked to use telehealth services or simply missing these vital checks altogether with only those at risk being given priority for appointments across Tasmania,” the Ministers wrote.

“These vital checks on a child’s development are critical for diagnosing any developmental delays and ensuring parents, children and families get the support they need prior to starting kindergarten.” 

With children under five years of age missing out on the appointments, parents are missing early intervention windows, during which important aspects of vision, motor skill, behavioral and hearing may be able to be addressed.

“There is a strong link between the health and development of our children to education and learning outcomes,” the Ministers said. 

Currently only 61.5 per cent of children are achieving the Kinder Development Check markers by the end of Kindergarten, down from 74.1 per cent in 2014. 

While the Kinder Development Check can assist in identifying any developmental delays in social, emotional, cognitive and language development and result in interventions and support being offered, it is preferable for that to occur at an earlier age, they added.