How can you access early childhood support?

Posted 2 weeks ago by Georgie Waters
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Early intervention can help children with disability or developmental delays to develop speech and motor skills. [Source: iStock]
Early intervention can help children with disability or developmental delays to develop speech and motor skills. [Source: iStock]

The Australian Government is helping more children with recent funding allocated for early intervention supports

Key points:

  • Young children with disability or developmental delays can continue to access the National Early Childhood Program with recent government funding
  • Eligible children, aged younger than 9 years, can access early intervention supports without being NDIS participants
  • Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth expressed the importance of giving young children ‘tailored support to ensure they can have their best start in life’

 

More young children and their families could benefit from the National Early Childhood Program due to recent government funding. 

Autism Queensland and the Australian Catholic University will continue to run activities under the National Early Childhood Program with access to $10 million dollars over the next two years. 

The National Early Childhood Program allows young children and their families to access support outside of the National Disability Insurance Scheme, including playgroups and music programs through Playconnect+.

Currently, children younger than 9 years of age with disability or developmental concerns may be eligible to access different programs. 

For example, Autism Queensland assists relevant organisations across Australia to help children with autism spectrum disorder engage in regular support, while the Australian Catholic University runs workshops to help caregivers of children with disability.

Providing quality early intervention for a child with developmental delay or disability is critical to achieving the best outcomes. Effective early childhood intervention should be tailored to your child and family’s needs and include evidence-based strategies and supports.

Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth praised the funding of early intervention for children with disability or developmental concerns.

“We recognise the importance of a child’s early years and ensuring they and their families have what they need to ensure a bright future,” she said.

“For children with developmental concerns or disability, it is crucial they and their families are given tailored support to ensure they can have their best start in life.

“The early childhood program activities under the National Early Childhood Program align with Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021 – 2031 and the Early Years Strategy 2024 – 2034, helping children and building capacity in their families to support their development. 

“The National Early Childhood Program was designed in consultation with parents, carers and peak bodies and the government is pleased to continue to fund these important activities.”

Your child can access the early childhood approach, also known as early connections, even if they are not an NDIS participant. This initiative is available for children younger than six years of age with a developmental delay or younger than nine years of age with disability.

However, if your child is younger than six years old and doesn’t meet all the criteria of having developmental delays, you can still access support through the early childhood approach.

To access support through the early childhood approach, your child’s developmental concerns or disability should be assessed by a pediatrician or another relevant health professional. Based on their assessment, your child may be referred to an early childhood partner in your local area. 

The early childhood partner will meet with you and your child to determine what extra supports may be required and strategies to help your child engage in the support. Over time, the early childhood partner will assess the child and family’s progress and, at some point, early childhood intervention may not be required any longer.

However, if your child’s situation changes, you may seek additional support from the early childhood partner again. Accessing this early intervention support means that your child can access a short period of support without needing to become an NDIS participant.  

People aged between nine and 64 years may also be eligible to access community connections by contacting a local area coordinator even if they aren’t NDIS participants. These local area coordinators can help connect you with relevant information, community support and peer support. 

These initiatives mean that even if you don’t have NDIS funding, getting relevant support is possible. 

Both Autism Queensland and the Australian Catholic University previously received $13.8 million dollars in government grant funding in 2022.

At the time, Minister Rishworth emphasised the impact that early childhood support can have on children with disability. 

“All people living with disability deserve the best possible supports, including children,” she said.

“The grants aim to support families early in their journey to learn from and connect with, evidence-based information, family-focused strategies and peers with similar experiences.”

However, if the early connections or community connections don’t meet your child’s needs, formal early intervention support may involve:

  • speech pathology — to improve your child’s speech or language;
  • occupational therapy — to improve motor skills, such as holding things; and
  • physiotherapy — to improve movement such as walking or balance.

Read these Disability Support Guides about eligibility for the NDIS, how to apply to the NDIS, and NDIS partners to learn more about the NDIS and how you could benefit from additional support. 

More than one in 10 children aged nine years and younger had disability as per the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

 

What are your thoughts on early connections and community connections for people who aren’t NDIS participants?

Let the team at Disability Support Guide know on social media.

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