Collaboration delivers early speech and language support

In response to the increasing demand for speech therapy services, the Y WA has partnered with the Majarlin Kimberley Centre for Remote Health at the University of Notre Dame Australia to host final-year Master’s speech pathology students from the University of Technology Sydney. 

This initiative is designed to deliver targeted support during the most critical early years of a child’s learning and development. Through the program, students are immersed and supported in a real-world early learning environment at the Y WA Broome Early Learning Centre (ELC), where they provide essential early speech and language interventions.

Working together for better outcomes, Speech Pathology students are undertaking their placements at the Y WA Broome ELC throughout October and into the beginning of November. This initiative offers valuable support to families, while giving students practical experience in their field. The program benefits both staff and families by enhancing the services provided at the Y WA’s ELC.

A similar successful collaboration with Occupational Therapy students from the Majarlin Kimberley Centre for Remote Health at the University of Notre Dame Australia took place at the Broome ELC in July. Speech Pathology students are supervised by Majarlin’s qualified speech pathologist and clinical educator, Sarah Mtandwa, working with children in the centre and developing resources that can be shared and used by staff and families across all Y WA ELCs. 

It will also assist to build educator capacity to provide additional support and intervention to the children who need it most, once the students have completed their placement. Y WA Broome ELC Director Tracy Mathers said the program helps address a growing need for accessible early intervention services in regional areas.

“In regional areas like Broome, families often face lengthy wait times to access essential developmental services. Programs like this deliver much-needed support directly into the centre at no cost to families, while also empowering educators with the skills and strategies to support children at the most critical stages of their development. This is laying a strong foundation for success at school and beyond. Similar programs we’ve run in the past have been well received by both families and staff, highlighting just how valuable and impactful these initiatives can be.”

The Y WA Broome ELC also offers the successful School ReadY Literacy and Language Program. Developed by the Y WA, the program is centred around providing educators the resources and coaching they need to make a difference every day by supporting children to develop skills in oral language & pre-literacy. 

The Y WA CEO Dr Tim McDonald added, “The placement partnership strengthens early childhood services in the region by providing additional support to ELC staff, enhancing outcomes for children, and building local workforce capacity in the health and education sectors.”