What is the NDIS early childhood approach?

The NDIS early childhood approach helps children and families get early support for children’s development.

Through the early childhood approach, families work with early childhood partners to find and use information, supports and services to help children build skills for daily activities and take part in home and community life.

Who is the NDIS early childhood approach for?

The NDIS early childhood approach is for your child if they are:

• under 9 years and have a disability
• under 6 years and have developmental concerns
• under 6 years and have developmental delay.

If your child is aged 8 years and under and needs extra help with their development, they might also be able to get support through Thriving Kids.

What are NDIS early connections?

Early connections are a key part of the NDIS early childhood approach.

Early connections give you quick access to supports that help with your child’s development. Your child can get early connections regardless of whether they’re eligible for the NDIS. Your child doesn’t need a diagnosis to get early connections.

Examples of early connections

• Community activities like playgroups and parent support groups
• Mainstream health services like a child and family health nurse or a community health centre
• Mainstream education services like early childhood education centres or preschools
• Practical information to help you understand your child’s development
• Peer support from other families
• Early supports
• Help to apply to the NDIS for your child, if appropriate

What are NDIS early supports?

Early supports are a type of early connection.

Your child might get early supports if they’re younger than 6 years and have developmental concerns. Your child doesn’t need a diagnosis to get early supports, but they do need to be assessed for early supports.

Early supports help you and your child do things in your child’s everyday settings like home and school. They build your child’s skills and knowledge as well as yours. They can also help other people who work with your child build skills and knowledge to help your child. These people might include educators in early childhood education and care services.

You and your child might get early supports individually or in group settings.

If your child gets early supports, your early childhood partner will work with you on an early supports plan. This will include your child’s goals and support needs, plus possible resources or strategies.

You might get early supports for only a short time or for as long as 12 months.

Examples of early supports

• Parent workshops on aspects of your child’s development, like feeding or going to the toilet
• Strategies to help your child build their skills to do everyday things – for example, visual supports to help your child communicate
• Help for you to understand and feel confident about using strategies and skills to help your child
• Help for you and mainstream services to prepare for changes in your child’s life, like starting preschool or school

If your child is younger than 6 and there are delays in their development, you and your NDIS contact will talk about whether your child is likely to meet the NDIS criteria for developmental delay. If they do, your child might be eligible for the NDIS. Your NDIS contact can help you apply.