NDIS Early Childhood Approach:

Why Childhood Support is Key to Positive Outcomes

12 July 2023 – Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

If your child isn’t reaching the expected milestones for their age, it may be time to think about NDIS early intervention. Early support for young children living with developmental delays or disability is important to ensure they reach their full potential. With NDIS and the early childhood approach, you can connect your child to the right support and make a positive difference.

If your child has a developmental delay or an impairment impacting their ability and milestones, they may be eligible for NDIS early intervention support and funding.  Read on to understand more about the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) early childhood approach.

 

What is Early Childhood Approach

 

The NDIS is a national scheme that helps people with disability.  This includes helping children with developmental delay, developmental concerns or disability through their early childhood approach.  

Early childhood is a critical stage that sets the foundation for how children develop. Early childhood intervention is all about giving children with developmental delay or disability, and their families, support to enable the child to have the best possible start in life.  

Early intervention may involve therapy, ongoing consultation and support from allied health professionals, interventions, and development programs that can help a child with development delay or disability including autism spectrum disorder to develop skills, independence and reach specific milestones. 

 

What age is supported under the Early Childhood Approach 

 

The NDIS early childhood approach helps children younger than 6 with developmental delay or children younger than 9 with disability, and their families, to access the right support when they need it. 

If your child is 6 or older, please see our NDIS application process tips here.

 

Does my Child need a Diagnosis to get NDIS support?

 

Children younger than 6 do not need a diagnosis to get support through the early childhood approach where there are concerns about their development.  

When considering if your child has a development delay, think about the following areas they may be struggling with or slower to reach than their peers: 

• Speech and language (how they understand and communicate) 
• Gross motors skills (how they move) 
• Fine motor skills (how they use their hands and fingers) 
• Cognitive (how they think and learn) 
• Personal and social (how they relate with others and develop independence) 

 

What funded support is available? 

 

If your child is eligible for the NDIS early intervention program, you may receive funding to help reduce the impacts of disability or developmental delay, and to build a child’s skills and independence.   

These supports may include: 

• Funding for suitable early intervention services such as occupational therapist, speech pathologist, physiotherapist, psychologist, social worker, early childhood teacher and developmental educator. 
• Family-based education, workshops and training to support your child’s development.  
• Parenting and emotional support. 
• Access to an early childhood specialist ‘called a keywoker’ offering family centered inclusive early intervention support to help your child work towards their goals. 

How to Apply for NDIS Early Intervention 

 

To be eligible, your child must be younger than 6 with a developmental delay or under 9 with a disability. 

 There are three ways to apply for NDIS early intervention. 

1. Contact your local Early Childhood Partner: If you are not sure where to begin, getting in touch with your local early Childhood Partner is a good starting point.  The Early Childhood Partner will assess your child’s needs and guide you through the application process.
2. You can also contact your nearest NDIS office.  If you prefer to connect directly with the NDIS, you can visit their nearest office.  Their staff will help you understand the application process and provide you with the necessary information on the supports your child can receive.
3. Or you can email the NDIS at enquiries@ndis.gov.au: You can also reach out to the NDIS by sending an email to their official email address providing details about your child’s needs, and the NDIS will respond with appropriate advice.

To locate an office near you, you can use the search tool on the NDIS website with this link. 

 

Navigating the Next Steps 

 

As a parent or guardian, it’s important that you connect with the right supports who can nurture your NDIS journey and help your child reach their goals.  At My Plan Assist, our approachable team understands this. As a registered NDIS plan manager, we can help navigate your NDIS journey from connecting you with key contacts at the start of your journey through to managing the financial responsibilities of your child’s NDIS Plan. We guide you through each step.  

Contact us today and we can navigate the next steps together.  

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