Gold Coast families are set to benefit from a major health boost as the State Government rolls out its free Healthy Kindy Kids program across the region.
Building on a successful trial in Townsville, the initiative brings on-site vision, hearing, speech, and language checks directly to local early learning facilities.
Eleven kindergartens, including Little Scholars School of Early Learning in Burleigh, are already participating, with more centres slated to join in the coming weeks.
The rollout addresses a critical early intervention gap, highlighted by data from the Townsville pilot where more than 70 percent of children screened required follow-up support in at least one area.
Health Minister Tim Nicholls said the simple checks catch underlying concerns that might otherwise go unnoticed before schooling begins.
“More than 70 per cent of children screened required some form of follow-up support, so we know these simple checks can identify issues that may otherwise go unnoticed and therefore connect children with the right help sooner,” Minister Nicholls said.
“Results from the Townsville pilot demonstrate why identifying potential concerns before children started school was so important.”
Member for Burleigh Hermann Vorster said the Gold Coast rollout was a welcome boost for local children and their families.
“For busy Gold Coast families, having these free checks available at kindy means one less appointment to organise and a simple, practical service that will make a meaningful difference”.
