Ensuring Strong Starts

Children are going without essential therapies

90% of a child’s brain develops in the first five years of their life. It is essential to provide them with early supports when developmental concerns are identified to maximise the potential benefits of this period of rapid development and prevent further challenges down the road.

Many children and families are not eligible for the NDIS, however, and children are going without these essential early intervention therapies. Reasons for this include:

• Cost barriers to obtaining a diagnosis – it is very expensive to see the specialists required; 
• Visa restrictions – the NDIS is only available for families who are permanent residents or citizens;
• Diagnosis restrictions – having a developmental delay is not always enough to qualify for the NDIS, but that doesn’t mean those children don’t need early intervention supports and therapies.