Early Access, Better Outcomes: Avoid Delays to NDIS Services for Children

From birth to eight years, the foundations for all future social, cognitive, physical and emotional development are set _^[1]. For this reason, it is critical for children with a disability or developmental delay to access therapy services as soon as possible.

However, with growing demand for therapy services, waitlists for speech pathologists, occupational therapists and other specialists are blowing out to 18 months in many areas. During which time, children miss many key developmental stages, and the child and family don’t have the support to live to their full potential.

The key worker model is a family-centered approach to early childhood intervention services, which helps solve this challenge. Children and families can start therapy sooner and achieve greater long-term outcomes.

Waitlists For Services Can Be Long

Government agencies recognise the need for significant reforms to deliver early childhood intervention services ^[1]. 

Delays in accessing therapy services and lack of adequate support structures for children during crucial developmental stages continue to delay positive outcomes for NDIS participants.

With children with greater needs often being supported earlier, many children with less support needs are often placed on waitlists with long wait times.

The Implications of Wait Times

• Developmental windows may be missed
• Progress towards goals is slowed
• A feeling of being unsupported; dissatisfaction from client and family, leading to chronic stress 
• Child may need support services for a longer period of time

Healthcare Professionals May Not be Aware of Alternatives

Recommendations for the National NDIS reform highlighted the importance of children accessing timely supports and timely interventions _^[2]. But the NDIS system can be difficult to navigate, even for healthcare professionals. Reforms and intricacies may not be properly communicated to GPs.

With high caseloads and limited time for each of their patients, GPs are often challenged to stay informed about best practice and service availability. As a result, GPs may default to referring families to more traditional and familiar pathways, potentially overlooking the benefits of key workers.

CYDA conducted a survey of families and caregivers of children living with a disability and found 67% had trouble accessing the right services and supports ^[3].

^{The Key Worker Model: How it Works}

A key worker is a skilled practitioner responsible for overseeing and coordinating a child’s early childhood intervention services. At Everyday Independence, our key workers are degree qualified teachers with expertise in early childhood development.

Our key workers work with the child and family to identify their goals, what’s important to them, and to identify therapies to support the child to develop the skills they need for everyday life. The key worker also works with the family to overcome challenges or barriers that prevent the child from achieving their goals.

The key worker is the point of contact for all allied health professionals and practitioners on the family’s therapy team, including:

• Occupational Therapists
• Speech Pathologists
• Physiotherapists
• Behavioural Support Practitioners
• Habit Coaches

The key worker model is based on forming close, trusting relationships with the child and family. The key worker knows what is important to the child and family, their priorities, and their daily routines.

Benefits of the Key Worker Model

1. Streamlined Access to Support Services relieving pressure on overwhelmed services and enabling participants to receive crucial therapy services as soon as possible
2. A Familiar Face; easing transitions and easing anxiety in children. The key worker develops a trusting relationship with the participant and their families
3. One Key Point of Contact overseeing and coordinating all therapy services, alleviating stress of the family.
4. Tailored Therapy based on a deeper understanding of the child and their family
5. Family Advocate helping the family navigate the NDIS and empowering them to make informed choices
6. Better Outcomes: Consistency of practitioners and therapy delivery results in better long-term outcomes for the child and family

How Does the Key Worker Model Support High Demand Services?

Supporting young children with a key worker, utilises the key worker’s understanding of childhood development, while freeing up therapy services such as speech pathology and occupational therapy, which are often in high demand. This approach enables children to start therapy faster and achieve their goals faster.

Who Should be Referred to The Key Worker Model?

Everyone! The key worker model is considered the best practice approach to providing early childhood intervention services for children under the age of nine.

The key worker model brings together various specialist services to help a child develop a wide range of skills. This is especially important as children develop many skills at the same time.

Access Early Childhood Intervention Sooner with Everyday Independence

The key worker model promotes better communication between services, increased satisfaction with services and improved child and family functioning, leading to better outcomes for the child and family. 

Our vision is for every Australian to engage in everyday life as valued community members.

Getting Started

Speak to the Everyday Independence team on 1300 179 131 or complete an online form and we’ll be in touch to discuss how we can assist with your NDIS journey. 

References

[1] Early Childhood Intervention Australia, 2011. Right From the Start. https://www.eciavic.org.au/documents/item/18

[2] Australian Government NDIS Review, 2024. Recommendations and Actions. https://www.ndisreview.gov.au/resources/reports/working-together-deliver-ndis/preface/recommendations-and-actions

[3] CYDA, 2024. Getting the NDIS right for Children and Young People with a Disability. https://cyda.org.au/getting-the-ndis-right-for-children-and-young-people-with-disability/