Support plea

By Nicole Williams
The disability support agency is asking for an additional $5000 in funding for each child with additional needs.
“We’re asking the State Government and major political parties to commit funding to children with disability in the lead-up to the State Election,” Yooralla group manager for children’s services Sue Bray said.
Statistics showed that about 7 per cent of Victorian children had a disability or developmental delay and these children could face a lifetime of disadvantage as a result of the current lack of support available, Ms Bray said.
About 92 per cent of Victorians believe that the Victorian Government should provide funding for children with disability to attend the same kindergarten as other children, according to research conducted by Early Childhood Intervention Australia.
Ms Bray said additional funding per child would allow Yooralla to provide more comprehensive services across multiple therapies.
“Children in these programs need support in different areas but at the moment, parents have to choose between the different services we offer,” she said.
Yooralla’s Tarlina Kindergarten in Endeavour Hills is in an area with high family-support needs, according to Ms Bray, but it relies on one psychologist one day a week to cover about 86 families.
“Additional funding would enable the centre to employ the psychologist five days a week and maybe also a social worker,” she said.
Yooralla operates early childhood centres in Endeavour Hills and Narre Warren.