“That ICPA Qld lobbies the Department of Education (DoE) to provide funded, school-based Occupational Therapy (OT) services to identified students in rural and remote schools, including term-based onsite assessments and ongoing tailored weekly support through face-to-face and online delivery.”
Students in rural and remote Queensland face significant barriers in accessing essential allied health services, particularly Occupational Therapy, due to limited availability and accessibility. These services are critical in supporting children with developmental delays, sensory processing, fine motor skills, emotional regulation and learning readiness.
Families in geographically isolated areas often experience long wait times, extensive travel, high out-of-pocket costs, and inconsistent service availability. This frequently results in delayed assessment and early intervention, negatively impacting educational outcomes and placing rural students at a clear disadvantage compared to their metropolitan peers.
Providing funded, school-based Occupational Therapy services, including onsite visits at the beginning of each school term for assessment, followed by ongoing, tailored support for identified students, would:
- Enable timely identification and intervention
- Support teachers with practical classroom strategies
- Improve student engagement, independence, and academic outcomes
- Reduce the burden on families required to travel long distances
- Promote equity in access to essential support services
Equitable education includes access to the supports that enable students to fully participate and succeed. Rural and remote students deserve consistent, reliable access to Occupational Therapy within their school environment.
