- The Crisafulli Government's Healthy Kindy Kids program has expanded to the Gold Coast, following a successful trial in Townsville.
- Government-approved kindergartens on the Gold Coast will provide free vision, hearing, speech and language screening as part of the $37.5 million investment over five years to help up to 60,000 kids statewide, each year.
- The cost of living relief initiative also helps prevent kids falling behind when they start school.
- The Crisafulli Government is delivering health services when Queenslanders need them, and supporting kids to catch up, keep up and stay in school.
More Queensland children will have access to free vision, hearing, speech and language checks, as the Crisafulli Government expands its free Healthy Kindy Kids program to the Gold Coast.
The Crisafulli Government is delivering health services when Queenslanders need them, and giving Queensland kids the best possible start to their education, while backing parents with the support they need.
Following a successful pilot last year, Healthy Kindy Kids is now being delivered across five kindergartens in Townsville, with the program rolling out to 11 kindergartens across the Gold Coast, including Little Scholars School of Early Learning in Burleigh, with more to come.
These free health checks are delivered at kindergartens by Queensland Health allied health assistants under the supervision of senior health professionals.
More than 70 per cent of children screened during the pilot required follow-up support in at least one area, with some of these across two or more - highlighting the importance of identifying potential vision, hearing, speech and language concerns before children start school.
The Crisafulli Government has invested almost $9 million in the 2026-27 State Budget to expand the program, as part of a $37.5 million commitment over five years, to bring these free Healthy Kindy Kids checks into kindergartens, making it easier for families to identify potential concerns early and connect their children with the right support.
The program will continue to expand across South East Queensland before being rolled out across the State, with up to 60,000 children expected to benefit each year - once fully implemented.
Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Tim Nicholls said results from the Townsville pilot demonstrated why identifying potential concerns before children started school was so important.
"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 in helping our youngest Queenslanders get off to the great start they deserve," Mr Vorster said.
The Scholars Group Quality Practice Manager Jennifer Haydock said every family wanted their child to start school feeling confident and ready, and screening was a simple way to make sure small issues with seeing, hearing or speaking aren't missed in a busy day.
"When concerns are not picked up early, we often see children becoming frustrated, finding it hard to follow instructions or losing confidence, and that can affect how they learn for years to come, Ms Haydock said.
"Healthy Kindy Kids brings free, simple checks right into the kindy, with parents' consent, so families get a clear next step early – Little Scholars is proud to be one of the first kindergartens on the Gold Coast who signed up to be part of the program.
Gold Coast mum Tjana Burrett said early screening was so important because it gives us the opportunity to identify any potential concerns with our children's development before they become bigger challenges.
"Knowing we can identify areas that our children may need a little bit of extra support in early on is really reassuring and allows us to give them the best possible start, especially as they prepare for school," Ms Burrett said.
"As a busy working mum, trying to juggle work, appointments and everyday family life can be challenging, so having these screenings available at kindy is absolutely fantastic.
"And by having the screenings done in an environment where our children already feel comfortable, safe and familiar makes such a difference takes away the stress of travelling to appointments and makes these important services so much more accessible for families."
