CleftPALS Victoria

We are a volunteer-run, not-for-profit organisation which advocates for and provides support to the cleft community in Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia.

[CleftPALS Victoria @CleftpalsV]

Cleft-affected people face a lifetime of surgical interventions. They need speech therapy to re-learn how to eat, breathe and speak properly after surgery.

We deserve better access speech services under NDIS and Medicare Cleft Scheme. Please help us.

https://t.co/hk0YVYOGYK

[CleftPALS Victoria @CleftpalsV]

CleftPALS Victoria is very grateful to the financial assistance offered by Craniofacial Australia whilst we work with the policymakers to address the barriers in Medicare and NDIS that prevent our families from getting the help they need.

THANK YOU💗

https://t.co/3XLOIWB2Od

[CleftPALS Victoria @CleftpalsV]

Recognising the amazing work that Smile Train does to change the lives of people born with a cleft lip and/or palate - thank you! 🌎

Congratulations, @Smiletrain on a wonderful ambassador.

[Smile Train @Smiletrain]

We are excited to announce our newest global ambassador, @ElizabethHurley!

Stay tuned to see how we change the world one smile at a time together. 😊🌎

Read more: https://t.co/K8wyS5q2mm

[CleftPALS Victoria @CleftpalsV]

@KangarooZahra Thank you for listening to us, @KangarooZahra at a time when many did not. Thank you for hearing us and taking action to build awareness of the cleft condition. We wish you every success in your journey forward ❤️

[CleftPALS Victoria @CleftpalsV]

CleftPALS AGM today. We have a new incoming President, @ChengYeo1, supported by a dedicated volunteer committee.

We are honoured to host the founders of CleftPALS Victoria, Ruth and Joel Solomon at our 49th AGM today.

A big thank you to @bridiekroberts for your service!

[CleftPALS Victoria @CleftpalsV]

@zdaniel @TimWilsonMP Congratulations @zdaniel. What an amazing grassroots campaign. Thank you for hearing the words of the cleft community at a time when many others did not. We look forward to working with you - good luck on your journey to Canberra! 🇦🇺

[CleftPALS Victoria @CleftpalsV]

@steele4hughes Thank you for listening to the cleft community. @steele4hughes at a time when many others did not. We wish you well on your journey ahead - onwards and upwards!

[CleftPALS Victoria @CleftpalsV]

@rajah_mich @AlboMP @JanaStewartVIC Congratulations, @rajah_mich! Thank you for listening to the cleft community, at a time when many others did not. We wish you well on your journey to Canberra! 🇦🇺

[CleftPALS Victoria @CleftpalsV]

@Mon4Kooyong @theage_photo Congratulations @Mon4Kooyong! What an amazing grassroots campaign. Thank you for listening to the cleft community at a time when many others did not. We wish you well on your journey to Canberra! 🇦🇺

[CleftPALS Victoria @CleftpalsV]

@Claire4Casey Thank you for listening, @Claire4Casey. We appreciated that you took the time to listen to the cleft community, when many others simply didn't. We wish you well on your journey forward! ❤️

[CleftPALS Victoria @CleftpalsV]

We thank @JoshFrydenberg for listening to us re the policy change needed to support cleft-affected families.

Mr Frydenberg, we found the lady you were talking about, whom you knew growing up w a cleft. Serendipity is the word. Her father was the founder of CleftPALS Victoria.

[CleftPALS Victoria @CleftpalsV]

We thank @AgedMatters for taking the time to ask us for the policy change to better support cleft-affected people under NDIS and Medicare. You were the only one to reach out to ask.

So thank you from our travelling committee and Oscar Bear! 🐻❤️

@VoicesofMornPen

[CleftPALS Victoria @CleftpalsV]

We thank David Chong, President of the Australian Cleft Lip and Palate Association, for his support of our #cleftwordsmatter campaign.

We wish you well on your travels. Saving lives, one at a time.

https://t.co/XPyrTTaXPE

[CleftPALS Victoria @CleftpalsV]

@SenatorJordon Senate Inquiry please.

@LibDemAus @LiberalAus @UnitedAusParty @Aus_FedParty @OneNationAus what will you support?

[CleftPALS Victoria @CleftpalsV]

This is Suzanne's story from Corio. Cleft families need better support to allow our children to thrive.

@RichardMarlesMP will you support @Petajan w changes to the Medicare Cleft Scheme, and a Senate inquiry into cleft care in AU vs OECD countries?

#Cleftwordsmatter

[CleftPALS Victoria @CleftpalsV]

@LMChesters please support @petajan in changes to the Medicare Cleft Scheme and a Senate Inquiry into cleft care in AU vs OECD countries.

@Greens @LiberalAus @LibDemAus what will you support?

[CleftPALS Victoria @CleftpalsV]

Kristy's story from Bendigo. Speech therapy is critical for a cleft baby to learn to swallow and drink milk. Yet many cleft families are denied NDIS on the basis of the cleft 'not being substantial enough' or 'not a lifelong and permanent impairment'.

#cleftwordsmatter

[CleftPALS Victoria @CleftpalsV]

@voicesforindi we would appreciate a re-tweet.

Changes to the Medicare Cleft Scheme to include speech therapy, OT & psychology

Senate Inquiry into cleft care in AU vs OECD countries.

[CleftPALS Victoria @CleftpalsV]

This is Larissa's story from Indi. Our regional cleft families tell us speech therapy is expensive and inaccessible. We are all just trying to do our best for our kids. Hear us. Help us.

@helenhainesindi @AustralianLabor @Greens @LibDemAus @The_Nationals @justicepartyau

[CleftPALS Victoria @CleftpalsV]

@AgedMatters We completely agree, @AgedMatters. Our volunteers will be helping our families submit to the Disability Royal Commission. We are tired of being treated like second class citizens, we are tired of being ignored.

[CleftPALS Victoria @CleftpalsV]

@Mark_Butler_MP @Mark_Butler_MP please talk to @petajan @MRowlandMP @ThwaitesKate Our children's future is at stake here. Hear us. Help us.

25 stories and counting, all around the nation. Our volunteers cannot even keep up with the cleft community who want their stories out.

@billshortenmp