'Got It!' support for Central Coast children

The Central Coast will be the next community to benefit from an $11 million early intervention pilot aimed at helping children with disruptive behaviour disorders.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Minister for Mental Health Tanya Davies have met with health workers and principals from North Lakes Public School and Toukley Public School, the first two schools in the region to receive the Getting on Track in Time Program (Got It!).

“This program has significantly helped children aged five to eight who have been experiencing behaviour difficulties,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“Now it will be benefiting children on the Central Coast, as well as families, teachers and staff who’ll be given the necessary skills and support,” she said.

Mrs Davies said the NSW Government introduced the Got It! pilot five years ago to help children from Kindergarten to Grade 2 with emerging behaviour problems.

“While conduct disorder is the most common childhood mental disorder with the greatest long-term costs to the individual, families and society, it also responds well to intervention,” Mrs Davies said.

“The Got It! pilot has delivered real results, helping both children and their families in one of the most important developmental phases,” she said.

Under the NSW Mental Health Reform, specialist mental health services in the community are being enhanced, including a statewide roll-out of the Got It! program.

Got It! is delivered over two school terms with clinicians working with parents/carers and the school to identify children who could benefit from early intervention.

Children identified as at risk of developing further problems with emotions and behaviour attend a ten week ‘Exploring Together’ group, with a parent or carer while the whole school benefits from the universal ‘Fun Friends’ program delivered by teachers throughout the year.