An award-winning, community-led program delivered by Marathon Health in partnership with Variety NSW/ACT, transforming paediatric services for children and families in regional and remote NSW.
Why Flying Start Matters
Every child, regardless of where they live, deserves access to the quality healthcare they need to thrive.
Families in Western NSW are facing a paediatric health crisis. Parents are waiting up to two years for a paediatric assessment. Children are going without the early intervention that can have a profound impact on their future health and wellbeing, while the stress and financial burden of seeking paediatric care far from home is impacting struggling families.
The Variety Flying Start Paediatric Service enables children and young people in Western NSW to access free paediatric health assessments in their own community.
In partnership with Marathon Health, Variety is bridging the gap in vital paediatric services and investing in the health and future of children, families and communities in remote and regional NSW.
The mission is to improve access to paediatric healthcare to impact the long-term wellbeing of children and young people in western NSW.
How Flying Start Works
Variety is connecting children in Western NSW with an experienced paediatrician through regular charter flights, providing families with access to a paediatric clinic in their safe and trusted local community.
A fully integrated healthcare model means the paediatrician arrives with comprehensive information to fast-track care and diagnosis. Their visit is supported by a multidisciplinary team of allied health professionals, community GPs and therapists to ensure ongoing support is provided and families are able to unlock much needed assistance from the NDIS.
Why Flying Start Matters
For years, Lightning Ridge mum Hayley struggled to access support for her daughter Maisie, navigating long wait times, fragmented pathways and limited services in regional NSW.
Hayley was so worried about Maisie's future that she began converting an old shed on the family farm into a classroom, convinced she would need to homeschool her daughter.
“We battled for so long, I felt like we were never getting anywhere.”
“We got in touch with Flying Start and it changed everything.”
“When we got the diagnosis it felt like this huge weight was lifted, we could actually help her.”
"I couldn't believe we could access that expert level of care for her here in our own community."
"I honestly don't know where we'd be without Flying Start."
Today, Hayley hopes more rural families will have the same opportunity.
"There are so many children out here who need this kind of support. We feel incredibly fortunate that we were part of Flying Start, but every child deserves this chance."
