Hannah Burrell and Yasmin Nor Azmi are fourth-year University of Sydney students who are taking part in a pilot program initiated at Bega Preschool last year in conjunction with Bega Community Health.

Pre-school director Anne-Maree Carroll said, on the back of last year’s success, two more students were invited this year.

Ms Burrell and Ms Azmi work with children at the preschool two days a week and at Bandara Children’s Services two days.

They take on small group work with children as well as one-on-one sessions, providing support with general literacy skills, articulation, phonological awareness and language comprehension.

Ms Burrell said she became interested in pursuing speech pathology through a family history of autism and learning difficulties.

Ms Azmi said she has a “passion for language” and loves working with people with disability.

She received a study scholarship from Malaysia where she said new paediatric allied health services are developing.

Both students are also in the running for a health services award with their program.

“We are trying to generate greater awareness of early intervention and its benefits out in the community, not just within health facilities,” Ms Burrell said.

Ms Carroll said Bega Preschool was an ideal location for the speech pathologists’ university placement, given it can put in intensive programs with four educators for every 20 children.

“And the link between us and Community Health is brilliant,” Ms Carroll said.

THE winners in the Bega Preschool Mother’s Day raffle were drawn on Friday.

Prizes included lovely gift hampers, vouchers and artworks donated by parents and local businesses.

The winners’ names as drawn from first prize to seventh were: Jodie, Shearer, Ross Wills, Georgi Hargraves, D Long, Janice Taylor, Nicky Bateman and Amanda Kelly.