Australia's National Early Childhood Early Intervention (ECEI) program is a critical initiative, aiming to provide comprehensive support to children between the ages of 0-6 (under seven years old) with developmental delays, diagnosed disabilities or other additional needs.
Not only is it saving parents fortunes, it's saving children valuable time and essentially getting them much needed educational support.
The problem is, there is little to no information given to parents or educators in the early childcare sector about the initiative, meaning many children age out of the program before parents learn about it, leaving them with little to no support or avenues to gain funding for their children at a later stage.
One woman is aiming to change that.
We spoke with Ali Fleming, a consultant for 2B Inclusive, NDIS, and Allied Health Support Services in South Australia to highlight the need for more information to be injected into the childcare sector and given to families across Australia so fewer children miss out on the opportunity to reach their full potential.
What is ECEI?
The National ECEI program recognises the significance of early intervention in maximising a child's potential and improving their short-term learning and long-term developmental outcomes. The program operates under the principles of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), ensuring that children receive the necessary support to develop essential skills and participate fully in family, community, and educational activities.
The program is managed by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) and focuses on early identification and intervention for children with developmental delays or disabilities.
Ali is very passionate about helping families understand that this early intervention is not a diagnosis, nor is it a label, it’s simply noticing where children have gaps in development and assisting families in navigating this process so that their children can flourish both at home and in education settings, developing competency in those challenged areas, helping them get the support they need.
Ali says, ”ECEI is a little-known funding system where children 0-6 (under seven years old) who are not yet reaching their developmental milestones across two learning areas, speech and emotional regulation for example are eligible for funding to pay for early childhood therapy. Early connections to services are available without the need for a medical diagnosis or confirmed developmental delay.”
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Ali continues, “For me, it goes full circle. I’m going back to being a kindy teacher. You have children who come into their first term of preschool with 100 other 4-year-olds. It takes the first term to develop relationships. You might spot a few things going on early, but you’re so focused on building connections, and suddenly, you’re in term two. It takes the second term to get the screening started, then access to departmental speech or occupational therapists until term three, sometimes even term four to get funding for that child for support staff and so they’ve already slipped through the cracks. My goal is to make sure they have the help they need when they need it."
“When you’re in a 1-4 ratio environment, such as Family Day Care you can know children deeply and differentiate your learning support to suit where the child is at. Once they’re in kindy with 100 or more children in a much bigger environment and with multiple adults, dysregulation often increases dramatically,” she warns.
Funding entitlement
To be eligible, a child aged 0-6 (under seven years old) needs to be displaying a developmental delay across two learning areas. For example, if a child has a speech delay and is struggling with regulating their behaviour they may be eligible.
Children who are eligible for the ECEI program are eligible for funding under the NDIS. The funding provided is very personal and varies depending on the child's individual needs, circumstances, and the goals defined in their NDIS plan.
Funding can be spread across a range of different services, including occupational therapy, assistive technology, speech therapy positive behaviour support, and more. The NDIA considers the child's targets and the reasonable and necessary supports required to achieve those targets when determining funding entitlement.
It's important to note that the funding cannot be used for PBS. PBS has its own allocated funding.
Self-Referral
One of the remarkable aspects of the ECEI program is that parents or primary caregivers can initiate the process through self-referral. This means that parents do not require a formal diagnosis which is ground-breaking for a lot of parents who thought they had to cut through the red tape of it all before getting help.
Ali mentions, “Self-referral is excellent. You don't need your GP, teacher, or even the paediatrician, you just need to apply. The child needs to present as developmentally delayed across two learning areas and require support from two allied health therapists such as occupational therapy and speech therapy. Once you have applied, someone will come out to assess the child in either a childcare setting or at home with their families and say you either meet the criteria or you don’t.
Of all the children Ali has helped over the years, very few families knew about this program. The most outstanding case was that one child has been able to attract $70,000 in funding per year to assist the child to increase their capacity. Imagine if the family hadn't been able to access this support for their child as the program remained unknown.
Why seek assistance?
With anything like this, these discussions are difficult. Ali says, “It’s a sensitive conversation and unfortunately not all parents are open to the discussion. I always start the conversation with, ‘I am not qualified to diagnose but here are some things that I have noticed. Are you noticing things like this at home?’ And I appreciate that it can be confronting. I have always viewed this program as children requiring additional support. It’s not something that there is a deficit with the child or something ‘wrong’. It is about seeing all children thrive! We need to break the stigma.”
Parents play a pivotal role in their child's development, and seeking assistance through the ECEI program can provide numerous benefits.
- Early identification: This ensures timely intervention and support. It can significantly improve a child's developmental trajectory, leading to better long-term outcomes.
- Holistic support: The program provides access to a range of support services tailored to the child's needs. It’s not a one-size-fits-all approach. It encompasses therapy, specialised equipment, and educational & parenting support.
- Individualised planning: This person-centered approach ensures that supports and services align with the child's specific needs, fostering growth and empowerment.
- Collaborative relationships: ECEI encourages collaboration among parents, providers, and early childhood professionals. Parents can access a network of experts and resources, empowering them to make informed decisions regarding their child's development.
On-site therapy
There are varying needs and challenges that parents face. One of the biggest challenges is time. If your child’s needs extend beyond your parental capabilities and they do happen to need additional support by way of therapy, working full time and having them attend childcare full time means getting that support might cost you time from your workplace. We’re all aware that this is not unlimited.
Ali mentions that therapy can happen on-site, with services of the parent’s choice.
Often children who have been eligible for ECEI therapies don’t go on to NDIS. They have had targeted therapies early on and children and families have developed a virtual backpack of skills in areas such as emotional regulation and speech and articulation that they have caught up to their peers.
Early intervention support also supports relationship building. When children can be supported in therapies to clearly articulate their needs and emotions they can better regulate and effectively communicate with those around them.
How do you apply?
To find out more about the ECEI program, head to the NDIS website, or call 1800 800 110.
Ready to apply? Simply download the ECEI application form, fill it out and email it to the address provided. All the follow up information is provided.
Ali Fleming is a consultant at 2B Inclusive, NDIS, and Allied Health Support Services as well as the founder of Nature Play DECD Family Day Care.
