The Royal Queensland Bush Children’s’ Health Scheme has operated in excess of seventy years serving the rural health of Queensland. The Organisation currently has permanent assessment centres based in Mt Isa, Bundaberg, Dalby, Warwick and Emerald. Each of these centres is fully operational with a speech Pathologist, Psychologist, Occupational Therapist, Family Support Worker and Administrative support staff.
The Organisation assesses children up to 13 years of age, both in the immediate area and surrounding catchment areas through an Outreach Programme. The scope of assessments includes speech pathology, learning disorders, behavioural disorders and other psychological disorders.
The Organisation prides itself in its ethnically inclusive approach to rural children’s health care. RQBCHS operates along side the Education and Health Department and targets identified areas of need where either the Education Department or the Health Department currently have service deficits.
Head Office is based at Milton in Brisbane where the Chief Executive Officer along with various administrative staff and support staff, manage the operational aspects of the Organisation.
The role of Chairman involves onsite reviews on a regular basis throughout all Queensland Centres. It involves maintaining focus and direction of the Organisation, both now and into the future as well as ensuring adequate corporate covenants along with the support of the Board.
Monthly Board Meetings are attended and chaired by the chairman and almost daily contact is made through the Chief Executive Officer and other liaison opportunities with administrative staff to ensure both operational and strategic direction for the Organisation.
The Chairman is required to attend vice regal and State Government functions as a representative of the Organisation. A further role involves regular contact with public and private funding groups, including private donors, State Health and Education Departments.
Regular attendance by the Chairman at financial planning meetings is designed to ensure viability of the Bush Children’s’ Organisation into the future.
The Organisation plans to expand its operations into other areas of need throughout rural Queensland to benefit rural health.
