National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
Early Intervention Best Practice – Key Workers
The NDIS approach to Early Intervention is guided by the Best Practice Guidelines that were created by Reimagine Australia.
Research shows that providing children and families with timely, comprehensive and well-integrated early intervention support, under a family-centred, best practice framework, will lead to better long-term outcomes for children and families, fostering inclusion, a sense of belonging and greater participation in their communities.
A “Key Worker” approach to early intervention involves having a single early childhood specialist as the single point of contact for a child living with disability. Their approach will be person and family-centred, and they will have relevant qualifications in allied health or education. Evidence has shown that this method is excellent at ensuring best quality of service for the child.
How do I know if my child needs Early Intervention?
If your child is under seven (7), they don’t need a formal diagnosis to get support from the NDIS. Your child is eligible for early intervention approach if they have a significant and permanent disability or development delay.
If your child is experiencing these, it is worth at least investigating if the NDIS can provide any funding assistance that might help to improve their capacity or functioning.
For more information, click here to see the NDIS guidelines on Early Intervention.
Domains of Developmental Milestones
The domains of developmental milestones typically include the following areas:
Physical Development: This domain involves the growth and development of a child's motor skills and coordination. It encompasses gross motor skills (such as crawling, walking, and running) and fine motor skills (such as grasping objects, using utensils, and writing).
Cognitive Development: Cognitive development focuses on a child's thinking, problem-solving, and understanding of the world around them. It includes abilities such as memory, attention, reasoning, and understanding cause-and-effect relationships.
Language and Communication Development: This domain pertains to a child's ability to understand and use language to communicate effectively. It involves receptive language skills (understanding words and instructions) and expressive language skills (using words, gestures, or signs to express thoughts and ideas).
Social and Emotional Development: Social and emotional development encompasses a child's ability to form relationships, express and regulate emotions, and develop social skills. It includes skills such as empathy, self-awareness, self-regulation, and forming friendships.
Adaptive or Daily Living Skills: This domain focuses on a child's ability to perform activities of daily living and develop independence in tasks such as eating, dressing, personal hygiene, and basic self-care skills.
These domains of developmental milestones provide a comprehensive framework for assessing and monitoring a child's overall growth and progress across multiple areas of development.
Support in accessing early intervention
We can provide assistance with accessing Early Intervention. If you’d like to talk about it, contact us.
There are also a number of resources on the internet that provide guidance including: