With the availability of many health services decreasing across inland Australia, a team of Charles Sturt University (CSU) researchers are investigating how the latest telecommunications technology can be used to bring expert health services into isolated homes and communities.

 

CSU speech pathology and information technology researchers, together with staff from telecommunications giant Telstra are investigating possibilies for conducting a virtual speech pathology session using its Next G^TM network. In initial trials conducted this week, young children have integrated with a speech pathologist using web based videoconference facilities.

 

“Faced with travelling up to hundred of kilometres to and from consultations, parents are finding it more difficult to access specialist health services such as speech pathology for their children,” said the research team leader and former national president of Speech Pathology Australia, Associate Professor Lindy Mcallister.

 

“The best time to identify speech problems is before children start school, so we are looking at how modern communications - specifically the immediate videoconferencing capability of the Next G^TM network - can be used to help diagnose speech and communication problems in young children located in Australia’s rural and remote areas.”

 

The facilities and services developed by the research team are now being tested on four children aged between four and six years in Albury, NSW, with the team intending to test children located in other rural and remote areas in 2008.

 

“We are using mobile phones and laptop computers and associated videolinks to link the ‘client’ to the speech pathologist, using the the Next G network,” said information technology researcher and research team member Dr John Atkinson.

 

Telstra Country Wide Area General Manager, Andrew Cottrill, said this initiative showcases the capability of the new network, particularly the broadband and data services available to almost 99 per cent of Australia.

 

“This remote speech pathology concept is extremely cost effective as it does not require expensive videoconferencing equipment or access to high cost data links. All you need is a web cam, a computer and a Next G^TM  telephone, and you are ready to participate in this on-line consultation program,” Mr Cottrill said.