NDIS Early Childhood Support | Children Under 9

NDIS Early Childhood Approach Support for Children Under 9

Supporting Your Child’s Development with the NDIS Early Childhood Approach: Early intervention, early connections, and NDIS supports for children under 9.

Early Childhood Approach

The NDIS framework designed to guide and support children under nine and their families.

Early Connections

A support pathway for all families, regardless of whether their child will access NDIS services.

Early Intervention Supports

Targeted assistance for children under six with delays, offering short-term, goal-based support.

The NDIS Early Childhood Approach is designed to support children under 6 with developmental delay and children under 9 with disability, along with their families, to access timely and appropriate supports.

It’s about giving children the best possible start in life, building their capacity and independence while guiding families to access services that suit their child’s needs.

Key point: Children under 6 do not require a formal medical diagnosis to receive support through this approach. Early identification and early intervention are central to maximising developmental potential.

Early Childhood Partners

Early childhood partners are local organisations funded by the NDIS to deliver the Early Childhood Approach. Their teams may include:

Occupational therapists
Speech pathologists
Early childhood educators

Roles of Early Childhood Partners:

Understand your child’s unique needs
Recommend early connections and supports
Guide families through NDIS applications if required
Provide professional expertise and clinical guidance

Your Child Doesn’t Need a Diagnosis to Get Help

If you have concerns about your child’s development, it’s best to start with a professional who knows your child well:

Your child’s doctor
Early childhood educator
Child health nurse

Common Concerns About Development

These might include how your child:

Plays and moves around
Takes care of themselves (dressing, feeding, hygiene)
Socialises with other children
Communicates what they want

Early childhood partners use this information to connect you with the right supports, even if your child is not yet NDIS-eligible.

Early Connections: Support Regardless of NDIS Eligibility

Early connections ensure that children get the supports and services they need, whether or not they are NDIS participants.

Your early childhood partner will help you access:

Mainstream and community services
Practical information
Peer and family connections
Early supports
Assistance to apply for the NDIS

Mainstream and Community Services:

Early childhood partners help children participate in local services:

Childcare, kindergarten, preschool, occasional care, playgroups
Schools
Health services: GP, paediatrician, child health nurse, vision and hearing services
Community health services: Dietetics, child mental health services
Family support services: Parenting groups, counselling

These connections help integrate children into supportive environments and provide families with ongoing guidance.

Practical Information:

Early childhood partners provide tailored advice on:

Typical child development
Everyday learning strategies
Promoting independence in home and community routines
Behavioural guidance and social skill development

This guidance is practical and actionable, allowing families to incorporate learning into daily life.

Connecting with Other Families:

Peer support and parent networks offer:

Shared experiences with families in similar situations
Opportunities to celebrate your child’s uniqueness
Advice on navigating services, funding, and early intervention programs

Early childhood partners help facilitate these connections to build community and reduce isolation for families.

Early Supports:

Early supports are provided for children under 6 with developmental concerns.

Definition: A developmental concern is a delay in a child’s development that may not fully meet the NDIS definition of developmental delay.

Early supports include:

Goal-focused programs tailored to your child’s needs
Building everyday learning and independence skills
Supporting parents and caregivers to provide consistent guidance at home

Assessment for early supports considers:

Parent reports and professional observations
Developmental screening and assessment tools
Evidence of impact on function
Whether mainstream or community services can meet the child’s needs

Developmental Delay and the Early Childhood Approach

What is developmental delay?

Developmental delay occurs when a child finds it harder to perform everyday tasks compared to peers, such as walking, talking, dressing, or feeding themselves.

How Early Childhood Partners assess developmental delay:

Talking with parents about day-to-day life
Reviewing reports from doctors, therapists, and teachers
Observations in natural environments (home, childcare, playground)
Assessment tools to compare development against age-appropriate milestones

Next steps:

If criteria are met, the early childhood partner may recommend applying for NDIS support
If criteria are not fully met, the partner may recommend other early connections or supports

No Early Childhood Partner in your area:

NDIA staff will provide direct support
Parents can submit NDIS Access Request Forms with supporting documentation
Contact NDIS: 1800 800 110

Support for Children with Hearing Loss

Children under 7 with permanent hearing loss:

May be referred to Hearing Australia with parental permission
Evidence will be forwarded to the NDIA for NDIS access
Early connection ensures timely intervention and access to supports

Next Steps:

Early childhood partner discusses support needs
Supports application to the NDIS
NDIS planner develops a plan including capacity-building funding

No Early Childhood Partner locally:

NDIS planner will assist directly
Guides available for families of deaf or hard-of-hearing children

Steps to Access the NDIS

1. Talking to Your Partner
The first step is to share your concerns with your early childhood partner. They are trained professionals who will listen to your observations about your child’s development, discuss your family’s circumstances, and help you decide whether the NDIS is the right pathway. These conversations are informal, supportive, and centred on what matters most to your child and family.

2. Collecting Reports and Evidence
If your child may need NDIS supports, you will be asked to provide information about their development. This can include medical reports, assessments from health professionals, or school/day-care observations. Your early childhood partner will guide you on what evidence is required and can help you gather it, so you do not feel overwhelmed.

3. The Access Request Process
To apply, an Access Request Form must be completed and submitted to the NDIA (National Disability Insurance Agency). This form includes details about your child’s functional abilities, challenges, and the impact on daily life. Your early childhood partner can assist in filling out the form and ensuring all relevant documentation is included.

4. NDIA Involvement
Once submitted, the NDIA reviews the application and evidence. They may contact you for further clarification or request additional information. This step ensures that all decisions are made fairly and in line with NDIS legislation.

What to Expect Next?

If your child is eligible: You will meet with your early childhood partner or an NDIS planner to create an individualised NDIS plan. This may include early intervention funding, therapies, and other supports tailored to your child’s goals and needs.
If your child is not eligible: You will still receive help through Early Connections, which provides practical advice, strategies, and links to community and mainstream services. This ensures families receive guidance and support even without an NDIS plan.

By following these steps, families can feel confident that they will be supported at every stage, whether or not their child enters the NDIS.

NDIS Evidence Requirements By Disability

Acquired brain injury

Autism

Cerebral palsy

Hearing impairment

Intellectual disability & Down syndrome

Multiple Sclerosis

Psychosocial disability

Spinal cord injury

Stroke

Vision impairment

Developmental delay & Global developmental delay

Other

Eligible for NDIS Funding? Ready to Take the Next Step?

Congratulations on meeting the eligibility requirements! Let us guide you through the application process and help you access the support and services you need with confidence.

How Do i Apply?

What age is covered by the NDIS Early Childhood Approach?

Do I need a diagnosis for my child to access early supports?

How do I know if my child has developmental delay?

What supports are available through early connections?

My child has hearing loss. How can I access early intervention?

What if there are no early childhood partners in my area?

What is included in an NDIS Early Childhood Plan?

How do I connect with a local early childhood partner?

Can I access mainstream services while on early connections?

How long does early support last?

Choose Your Preferred Way to Connect

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