Parenting brings unique joys and challenges, particularly when your child faces developmental delays or disabilities. The NDIS Early Childhood Approach (ECA) provides crucial early intervention support to help children reach their full potential.
This guide is designed to explain everything you need to know about accessing ECA services and how Like Family can support your family's journey.
What is the Early Childhood Approach (ECA)?
The Early Childhood Approach is the NDIS framework supporting children under 9 years old who have developmental delays, disabilities, or developmental concerns.
On July 1, 2023, the NDIS changed the early childhood approach to include children younger than 9, expanding from the previous age limit of 7 years.
This ensures children and their families are supported by an early childhood partner during and after they transition to primary school.
Unlike traditional NDIS pathways, the ECA takes a different approach. It emphasises family-centred support that recognises parents as experts on their children.
The approach builds on existing strengths and capabilities rather than focusing solely on disabilities or delays, with support integrated into everyday community settings like childcare centres and playgroups.
Most importantly, targeted early intervention strategies are designed to maximise developmental outcomes during these critical formative years.
What is the difference between ECA and NDIS?
ECA and the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) are both integral elements of Australia's disability support framework, although they cater to different needs.
The Early Childhood Approach specifically serves children under the age of 9, focusing on learning difficulties or children with disability, with an emphasis on early intervention. On the other hand, NDIS offers broader and ongoing support to individuals aged 7 and above, supporting them throughout their lifetime.
Early connections, part of Australia's early childhood approach, assists children under 9 with developmental delays or disabilities and their families. Children don't need a diagnosis to access these services, which provide information, support, and connections to mainstream and community services. Even without NDIS eligibility, children can benefit from early connections, and they can access these supports through healthcare or education professionals or directly through an Early Childhood Partner, without needing a referral or diagnosis.
| Early Childhood Approach | Standard NDIS |
|---|---|
| Children under 9 years | Individuals 7+ years |
| No diagnosis required (under 6) | Diagnosis typically required |
| Family-centred approach | Individual-focused |
| Community-based delivery | Mix of settings |
| Early childhood partner support | Local Area Coordinator support |
Who is eligible for the Early Childhood Approach?
Age requirements
- Under 6 years: No diagnosis is required – concerns about development are sufficient
- 6-9 years: May require disability diagnosis or significant developmental delay evidence
Developmental areas covered
Your child may benefit from NDIS early intervention if they experience challenges with:
- Communication and speech development
- Physical development and motor skills
- Social and emotional development
- Cognitive development and learning
- Daily living skills and independence
- Behaviour and self-regulation
No diagnosis? No problem
If your child is younger than 6, you do not need a diagnosis from your doctor to access support through the early childhood approach. The focus is on your child's individual needs and how support can help them participate in family and community life.
What types of Early Intervention supports are available
Early intervention comes in many forms, addressing various areas of a child's development. Some of the most common types of supports include:
Therapeutic interventions
- Speech and language therapy: For children experiencing difficulties with communication, speech and language therapy can be immensely beneficial. Therapists work on improving a child's speech clarity, understanding and use of language, and social communication skills.
- Occupational Therapy (OT): OT aims to enhance a child's ability to perform daily activities independently. This could include fine motor skills like holding a pencil, gross motor skills like running and jumping, or life skills like dressing and feeding.
- Physiotherapy: For children with mobility issues, physiotherapy can be instrumental. Physiotherapists help children develop strength and improve their movement capabilities, often through play-based exercises.
- Psychology services: Child psychologists provide techniques and strategies to help children cope with emotional and behavioural issues. They can also support children with autism or ADHD.
Capacity building supports
- Family training and education: Parents and carers receive comprehensive training to support their child's development at home and in the community. This includes learning specific intervention techniques, understanding their child's disability or developmental needs, and developing skills to advocate effectively for their child's needs.
- Sibling support: Brothers and sisters often need support to understand their sibling's disability and learn how they can help. Sibling support programs provide age-appropriate information, emotional support, and practical strategies to foster positive family relationships.
- Professional development: Educators, childcare workers, and other professionals receive specialised training to better support children with disabilities in their settings. This ensures inclusive practices and appropriate accommodations across all environments where the child spends time.
Community participation supports
- Inclusion support: Additional assistance helps children participate fully in mainstream early childhood education settings like kindergarten, preschool, or daycare. This might include one-on-one support workers or environmental modifications to ensure successful inclusion.
- Social skills development: Structured programs and activities help children build peer relationships and develop appropriate social behaviours. These programs often use play-based learning to teach communication, sharing, and friendship skills in natural settings.
- Assistive technology: Specialised equipment and devices can dramatically improve a child's independence and participation. This ranges from simple communication boards to sophisticated speech-generating devices, mobility aids, or adaptive seating and positioning equipment.
- Transport assistance: Funding may be available to help families access community activities, therapy appointments, or inclusive education settings. This support ensures that location and transport barriers don't prevent children from participating in important developmental opportunities.
Remember, early intervention is most effective when it's tailored to the child's needs. It is always a collaborative process involving families, carers, and professionals to ensure the best outcomes for the child.
How to access the Early Childhood Approach
Step 1: Initial contact
Contact options include:
- Your GP, child health nurse, or paediatrician
- Early childhood educator or daycare provider
- Directly contact an early childhood partner in your area
- Call the NDIS on 1800 800 110
Step 2: Connect with an Early Childhood Partner
Your early childhood partner will:
- Assess your child's developmental needs
- Discuss your family's goals and priorities
- Explain available support options
- Connect you with appropriate services
- Help with NDIS early intervention application if needed
Step 3: Accessing Early Connections
While waiting for formal assessment, you can access immediate supports through Early Connections:
- Information sessions about child development
- Referrals to mainstream community services
- Short-term therapeutic interventions
- Playgroups and social opportunities
Step 4: Developing your child's support plan
If formal ECA services are appropriate, your early childhood coordinator NDIS will work with you to:
- Create an individualised support plan
- Coordinate service delivery across providers
- Monitor progress and adjust supports
- Plan transitions as your child grows
NDIS Early Intervention application process
For children requiring ongoing support, the NDIS early intervention application involves:
Documentation required
- Developmental assessments from qualified professionals
- Reports from current service providers
- Medical information (where available)
- Evidence of functional impact on daily activities
Assessment process
- Comprehensive developmental assessment
- Family interview about needs and goals
- Review of current supports and services
- Decision about ECA plan or NDIS plan pathway
Timeline expectations
Families can expect the process to move relatively quickly once started. From your initial contact to the first meeting with an early childhood partner, the timeline is typically 1-2 weeks.
Following this, the comprehensive assessment and development of your support plan usually takes 4-8 weeks to complete and once your plan is approved, support services can commence within 2-4 weeks, meaning most families are receiving active support within 2-3 months of their first contact.
What happens when your child turns 9?
When your child reaches 9 years, a carefully planned transition process ensures continuity of support.
The transition process begins well in advance, with your early childhood coordinator starting transition planning approximately six months before your child's 9th birthday.
This includes a comprehensive assessment for ongoing NDIS eligibility to determine what level of support your child will need as they move into school-age services.
During this period, connections are established with appropriate school-age support services, and if your child continues with NDIS support, there will be a structured handover to Local Area Coordinators who specialise in supporting older children and adults.
Access quality social support with Like Family
While we don't currently provide support to children under 7 at Like Family, we are well-equipped to assist NDIS and non-NDIS Members alike to build social skills and independence.
Our NDIS-verified support workers are here to help you or a loved one with a variety of activities, including exercise, household tasks, skills training, transportation and a buddy for social events.
Sign up today to connect with a reliable, compassionate support worker in your local area.