Improving Outcomes for Regional Families in the Early Years: Increasing Access to Child and Family Health Services for Regional Australia

Appleton, J; Stockton, DA; Dickinson, M; Debono, D

Improving Outcomes for Regional Families in the Early Years: Increasing Access to Child and Family Health Services for Regional Australia

Appleton, J

Stockton, DA Dickinson, M Debono, D

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Publisher:: MDPI AG
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21, (6), pp. 728-728

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Appleton, J https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5416-4471
dc.contributor.author	Stockton, DA
dc.contributor.author	Dickinson, M
dc.contributor.author	Debono, D https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2095-156X
dc.date.accessioned	2024-06-10T04:35:56Z
dc.date.available	2024-06-10T04:35:56Z
dc.identifier.citation	International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21, (6), pp. 728-728
dc.identifier.issn	1660-4601
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/179467
dc.description.abstract	<jats:p>Providing child and family health (CFH) services that meet the needs of young children and their families is important for a child’s early experiences, development and lifelong health and well-being. In Australia, families living in regional and rural areas have historically had limited access to specialist CFH services. In 2019, five new specialist CFH services were established in regional areas of New South Wales, Australia. The purpose of this study is to understand the regional families’ perceptions and experiences of these new CFH services. A convergent mixed-methods design involving a survey and semi-structured interviews with parents who had used the service was used for this study. Data collected include demographics, reasons for engaging with the service, perception, and experience of the service, including if the service provided was family centred. Triangulation of the quantitative and qualitative analysis uncovered three main findings: (i) The regional location of the service reduced the burden on families to access support for their needs; (ii) providing a service that is family-centred is important to achieve positive outcomes; and (iii) providing a service that is family-centred advances the local reputation of the service, enabling a greater reach into the community. Providing local specialist CFH services reduces the burden on families and has positive outcomes; however, providing services that are family-centred is key.</jats:p>
dc.language	en
dc.publisher	MDPI AG
dc.relation.ispartof	International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.3390/ijerph21060728
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject.classification	Toxicology
dc.title	Improving Outcomes for Regional Families in the Early Years: Increasing Access to Child and Family Health Services for Regional Australia
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	21
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Public Health
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
dc.rights.license	This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.date.updated	2024-06-10T04:35:55Z
pubs.issue	6
pubs.publication-status	Published online
pubs.volume	21
utslib.citation.issue	6

Abstract:

Providing child and family health (CFH) services that meet the needs of young children and their families is important for a child’s early experiences, development and lifelong health and well-being. In Australia, families living in regional and rural areas have historically had limited access to specialist CFH services. In 2019, five new specialist CFH services were established in regional areas of New South Wales, Australia. The purpose of this study is to understand the regional families’ perceptions and experiences of these new CFH services. A convergent mixed-methods design involving a survey and semi-structured interviews with parents who had used the service was used for this study. Data collected include demographics, reasons for engaging with the service, perception, and experience of the service, including if the service provided was family centred. Triangulation of the quantitative and qualitative analysis uncovered three main findings: (i) The regional location of the service reduced the burden on families to access support for their needs; (ii) providing a service that is family-centred is important to achieve positive outcomes; and (iii) providing a service that is family-centred advances the local reputation of the service, enabling a greater reach into the community. Providing local specialist CFH services reduces the burden on families and has positive outcomes; however, providing services that are family-centred is key.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/179467