Our Services

The current Mt Isa BUSHkids centre was opened on the 31^st of August 1996 and currently houses the following staff:

• Melissa Bell (speech pathologist)
• Olivia Playford (occupational therapist)
• James Evans-McLeod (intern psychologist)
• The family health support worker position is currently vacant.

The OT assists children by helping them to participate in play, school and home activities. Olivia helps children develop their gross motor skills (activities to do with big movements of the body), fine motor skills (strength, endurance and dexterity of the hand), visual perceptual skills (what our eyes do with the information we see), handwriting and self care skills (e.g. dressing, shoelaces, toileting).

The SLP diagnoses and treats children who are unable to communicate effectively, which means they have trouble understanding or being understood. Communication difficulties encompass a range of abilities such as speech-sound production, using and understanding language, voice, fluency (stuttering), hearing or reading and writing.  Melissa offers individual and group therapy, as well as support to parents and education staff.

The intern psychologist provides individual and group therapy for children to enhance emotional, behavioural, and social growth.  James offers family-centred therapy that requires active support from parents; consultation with educational and relevant medical professionals yields best results.  Asessment precedes therapy and can be used to assist potential diagnoses.

The FHSW/AO completes all administration duties of the centre and liaises between therapist, parents, schools and the wider community to ensure families access appropriate services. They also offers group Triple P parenting sessions as well as running various group programs for children.

Group Programs

We deliver a wide range of programs for different concerns and age groups.

The family health support worker runs the following groups in schools

• Triple P (positive parenting program).
• Magic Tools (self esteem).
• Bodythink (self esteem around body image)
• Fun Friends & Friends for life (emotional wellbeing & resilience programs).
• Pals (social skills).

Olivia, the occupational therapist runs the following groups in school

• Fine motor
• Handwriting
• Prep readiness

Melissa, the speech pathologist runs the following groups in school

• Language
• Literacy
• Prep readiness

James is available for daycare/kindergarten professional development reasons regarding behaviour management and anxiety management of young children. These programs are educational based programs for carers and parents, giving them the necessary tools to assist with their children’s welfare.

Community interaction

We work alongside a variety of schools in the Mount Isa region these include:

• Barkly Highway State School
• Central State School
• Happy Valley State School
• Happy Valley Prep
• Happy Valley Community Kindergarten
• ABC Learning Centre
• Captain Kid Child Care Centre
• Estelle Cardiff Community Kindy
• Eileen Fisher Memorial Kindy
• Mt Isa Day Nursery And Kindy
• Healy State School
• School of the Air
• Sunset State School
• Townview State School
• St Joseph’s Primary School
• St Kieran’s Primary School

Fundraising for the Mount Isa Centre

Each year the Mount Isa Centre holds the Mount Isa Charity Ball to raise much needed funds for the Centre.

For more information on this event and others in your area see our Events page or Click here to contact the Mount Isa Centre

Where we are – Mount Isa

Mount Isa, or as known by the locals, ‘Isa’, is a city in the Gulf Country region of Queensland, Australia. With a population of 23,000 in the city and 31,000 in the surrounding district. The city is founded upon the local mining industry which is one of the most productive single mines in world history, based on combined production of lead, silver, copper and zinc. The Leichhardt River divides the city into areas known as "mineside" and "townside". Mineside hosts the Xstrata mine, power station and airport whilst townside hosts the CBD.

Mount Isa is the “Rodeo capital of Australia”. It annually hosts “The Mount Isa Rodeo and Mardi Gras” during which the city's population will triple.

A World War II-era underground Hospital still exists in the town. An historical building placed on the Register of the National Estate and the Queensland Heritage Register.