By Five Early Years Initiative funding not renewed in Victorian budget
An award-winning health program reducing wait times for rural children to access health specialists has lost its Victorian government funding.
The By Five Early Years Initiative was created in 2017 by a group of parents, service providers and community leaders in western Victoria with the aim of improving health outcomes for young children in the region.In last week's state budget, a four-year funding stream allocated to the program in 2021 was not renewed, leaving the future of the service in doubt beyond June.
By Five executive officer Jo Martin said she was "gutted" when she heard the news.
By Five covers five local government areas: Northern Grampians, Yarriambiack, West Wimmera and Hindmarsh Shires and Horsham Rural City Council.
In 2023, it was recognised at the Victorian Early Years Awards for Promoting Children's Health and Wellbeing.
Among the programs run by By Five is a paediatric health program connecting young children needing developmental support with specialists at the Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne via telehealth.
The program has reduced wait times from several months to see a specialist down to a couple of weeks, leading to earlier diagnoses and treatment for conditions like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and dyslexia, according to By Five.
Toddler Frank Torney was one of more than 135 children who accessed the service in 2024.
His mother, Tessa Torney, said when his maternal health nurse raised concerns about his growth and development, the family was able to go through By Five to speak to a paediatric specialist at the Royal Children's Hospital within a week.
"It all happened really quickly, and it's so hard to access paediatric services quickly [in western Victoria]," Ms Torney said.
"It's a brilliant, brilliant service."
As a local dietician, Ms Torney has also received referrals with the help of By Five and is part of a group called Friends of By Five, rallying to save the program.
"I think we're certainly disadvantaged rurally, and I think that there's still a lot of work to be done," she said.
Ms Martin said the group had requested $3.5 million from the Victorian government over four years and was now looking for corporate partnerships and other avenues to keep By Five running.
In a statement, the Department of Education, which has funded the program until now, said the By Five Early Years initiative "has had a long period of government funding and support to raise community awareness and establish enduring local partnerships".
Victorian Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas and the Department of Health were contacted for comment.
By Five's funding ends on June 30.
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