NDIS: Early Childhood Early Intervention

Webinar Questions and Responses

Thank you for participating in the webinar on the National Disability Insurance Scheme approach to early childhood early intervention (ECEI). We received many questions and comments and thank you for providing your input and feedback.

With over 2300 people participating in the webinar, we were unable to answer every question. The questions and comments received during the live webinar have been grouped together into identified themes.

In most cases answers to the questions raised during the webinar can be found on our website. If you have further questions you can also contact us on 1800 800 110 or send us an email using the contact form on the website. Questions about individual circumstances

During the webinar we received a number of questions relating to individual or personal circumstances. The NDIS is based on an understanding that everyone’s needs, preferences and goals are different. Meeting the NDIS early intervention requirements will depend on a number of factors including age, residency and is not based solely on a child’s diagnosis.

Under the NDIS legislation, eligibility to access to the NDIS is based on individual circumstances, for this reason we are unable to provide a response to questions asking whether an individual would be eligible to access the NDIS.

More information on the NDIS access requirements can be found on the NDIS website. Evidence based and tested approach

The early childhood intervention evidence base and best-practice that underpins the NDIS ECEI approach is not new. Three key research pieces form the basis of the ECEI’s approach:

 KPMG (2011), Reviewing the evidence on the effectiveness of early childhood intervention, Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA).

 Family & Community Services, NSW Government (2015), Strengthening supports for children and families 0-8 years: Now and into the future.

 Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD), Victorian Government (2009), DEECD Early Childhood Intervention Reform Project: Literature review.

A report on Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) – Autism Spectrum Disorder: Evidence-based/evidence-informed good practice for supports provided to preschool children, their families and carers, which the NDIA commissioned, also informed its NDIS ECEI approach.

The NDIA convened an expert group to review the evidence on best-practice approaches to meeting children with autism’s needs in December 2014. The group stressed how important relationships and participation were when it came to every child’s development.

The NDIA also commissioned Early Childhood Intervention Australia (ECIA) to develop best-practice guidelines for early childhood intervention. ECIA consulted with 400 participants and an expert steering committee to develop the guidelines.

The ECEI approach is currently being trialled in the early transition sites in the Nepean Blue Mountains and Townsville region for children below six years of age. Feedback from families involved in the trial has been really positive. Many have indicated they feel well supported under the NDIS and their children have really benefited from the early intervention supports they now receive. Role of early childhood partners (formerly access partners)

After receiving some feedback about the term “access partner” the term has been changed to “early childhood partner”. To deliver early childhood intervention under the NDIS, the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) is teaming up with experienced early childhood intervention service providers, referred to as early childhood partners. Under the ECEI approach, the early childhood partner will be contracted to be the primary contact point for children aged 0-6 years and their families who are seeking support through the NDIS. The early childhood partner will be required to have staff who hold expertise in early childhood intervention and will draw on their specialised knowledge and will work in partnership with families to determine the appropriate supports for their child and the family.

Early childhood partners will assist families to understand their child’s development and will support families with information, guidance and early childhood early intervention strategies. Families will also be connected to mainstream services in their community, such as parent peer groups and community health services.

If a child and their family is be best supported through an individualised family support plan, the early childhood partner will support families to request NDIS access and develop their plan Once the plan is approved by the NDIA, the family can choose the specialist early intervention provider(s) they wish to work with. Early childhood partners will monitor and review the family’s progress to ensure that the child is achieving positive outcomes. Thank you again for your question and please visit the NDIS website for more information about the ECEI approach and the role of the early childhood partner (www.ndis.gov.au/ecei). Process for becoming an early childhood partner (and funding arrangements)

Jurisdictional arrangements, as well as differences in the availability of best-practice early childhood intervention service providers in each state, may also impact on the implementation of the ECEI approach and how early childhood partners are sourced. Early childhood partners sourced must demonstrate they meet specific requirements and hold expertise in early childhood intervention. Information will be made public to inform providers interested in becoming an early childhood partner of any tender processes. This will include demonstrating an ability to adhere to the National Guidelines for Best Practice in Early Childhood Intervention, which were developed by Early Childhood Intervention Australia with support from the NDIA. Through the ECEI approach children and families will meet with the early childhood partner to discuss their support needs. The early childhood partner will assist children with a developmental delay or disability and their families to quickly access the supports they require to meet their needs and goals. If the early childhood partner determines a family will be best supported through an NDIS plan, families will be supported to connect with providers and implement their plan, which may include access to individualised funded supports. If a family is already receiving an NDIS plan, as like for all Participants, the plan review is an opportunity for the family to discuss how their child is progressing towards the goals and outcomes identified in their plan, including reviewing the supports that best meet the needs of your child. Thank you again for your question and please visit the NDIS website for more information about the ECEI approach (www.ndis.gov.au/ecei). A range of community organisations are helping to deliver the NDIS. The NDIA is working closely with identified early childhood intervention partners to ensure families can access supports in their local area. The NDIA will partner with organisations that share the values of the NDIA and have the local knowledge that will benefit individuals, families and carers.

Family support

Through the NDIS, all children and families are treated as individuals to ensure they receive the right support they need to meet their goals and aspirations. In relation to ECEI, supports will vary according to the individual needs of the child and their family, regardless of diagnosis. The early childhood partner will use their professional judgement and expertise to ensure a child with a developmental delay or disability receives the appropriate supports for their individual circumstance. Not all children with a developmental delay or disability will achieve their goals through a uniform approach. They will differ, depending on their individual need, the length and type of intervention and how and where they are delivered. Who is eligible for ECEI? The NDIS ECEI approach will help all children with a developmental delay or disability and their families achieve better long-term outcomes through support services in their local community, regardless of diagnosis.

There is no specific point in the ECEI approach where a child needs to have a medical diagnosis to receive support.

The design of the ECEI approach is based on functional assessment, not a medical diagnosis. While medical diagnosis may be important, it should not be the only consideration for a young child.

Good early childhood intervention approaches recognise that a developmental delay or disability can result from numerous disorders. It is about the appropriate response obtained through the assessment of functional impact that must be the key focus.

For the NDIS, diagnosis remains an informing aspect and it may be required for other systems such as health or education.

For more information on ECEI visit: www.ndis.gov.au/ecei