Friday, 14 November 2025

 Melina BATH (Eastern Victoria) (12:43): My question is to the Minister for Health. I have been contacted by an early childhood teacher who works directly with young children and families in my electorate, who raises serious concerns about the lack of access to essential speech therapy and occupational therapy in the Latrobe region. Families are facing wait times of more than 12 months for publicly funded support through the Latrobe Community Health Service, and that organisation had to close its waitlist halfway through the year due to capacity constraints, leaving many without a timely pathway for intervention and support. Private providers are unaffordable for many families. Noting that community health services are jointly funded through both state and federal government – also noting that early intervention is absolutely crucial for children’s development, social development readiness and learning and wellbeing – Minister, my question is: what are the immediate and long-term measures that this state government will implement to expand access to these services, including increasing public allied health capacity, improving recruitment and retention of therapists and providing interim support pathways while children remain on waitlists?