Occupational therapy students join forces with Broome Childcare Centre to boost early development

Young children at a Broome early learning centre have received extra support this month thanks to a new partnership with university students training in allied health.

The Y Broome Early Learning Centre teamed up with the Marjarlin Kimberley Centre for Remote Health and the University of Notre Dame Australia to bring Occupational Therapy students into the classroom throughout July.

The initiative aims to help kids build developmental skills while giving students practical, hands-on experience in a real-world setting.

Y WA chief executive Dr Tim McDonald said the joint team was nurturing the next generation of allied health professionals while delivering real impact for children, families, and educators.

“Collaborations like this strengthen learning opportunities for both the students and the young children in our care,” he said.

The university students integrated into the centre’s day-to-day schedule, joining kids during play, rest, and learning time, using those moments to deliver targeted, play-based support.

Y Broome ELC Director Tracy Mathers said the support that the students brought to the day-to-day running of the centre was invaluable.

“Many families in regions like Broome face long waiting periods to access critical developmental services,” she said.

“Whilst the students are not there to provide formal assessments, initiatives like this bring timely support into the centre at no extra cost to our families, while also assisting educators to learn skills and strategies for supporting children, right when it matters most, setting them up for success at school and beyond.”

The Y hopes this is just the beginning.

While Occupational Therapy students are leading the charge, there’s potential for Speech Pathology and Physiotherapy students to join future placements at the Broome site.

The centre already runs the Y’s School ReadY Program, a curriculum designed to boost early literacy, numeracy and social-emotional wellbeing among children heading to school.

The partnership adds another layer to that effort, bringing timely, targeted support to a region where families often wait months to access essential services.