The plan was announced by the minister for disability reform, Jenny Macklin and the parliamentary secretary for disabilities and carers, Jan McLucas, in Townsville. They said a tender would be issued shortly to select a provider of the services.

The announcement was scant on detail. It said only that the money would be provided over three years to deliver services to about 125 additional children in regional and remote Australia and would on the 100 children already supported by the Government.

Macklin said: "If there is no specialist close to where they live, a child with disability can access 'real time' support and advice through these new online services. For example, a child will be able to meet with a speech pathologist in Brisbane and have a therapy session online through this new video conferencing service."

McLucas said the funding would deliver early intervention for children with disabilities. "We know it's critical that we support children with hearing or vision impairment as early as possible, because without it, they are more likely to fall behind at school and miss key development milestones," Senator McLucas said.

This funding is in addition to about $580,000 the Government currently provides to the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children for the Teleschool initiative each year.

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