How NDIS Early Intervention Works for Young Children

What is NDIS early intervention?

Early intervention means getting support in place while your child is young and their development is moving fast. The Raising Children Network describes it as the best way to support development and wellbeing for children who have additional needs, and notes that some children who get early intervention need less support, or none, as they grow up.

In Australia this runs through the NDIS early childhood approach. It's for children younger than 9, and it's built around the family, not just the child. An early childhood partner works with you to understand what your child needs and connects you to the right services, whether that's therapy, community supports, or practical information you can use at home.

Support usually spans the areas early intervention tends to focus on: physical development, thinking and learning, behaviour, and social and emotional skills. You don't have to have it all worked out first. Noticing that something feels off is enough of a reason to ask.

Sources: Raising Children Network, What is early intervention? and NDIS, Getting help through the early childhood approach.

Does my child need a diagnosis?

This is the question that stops a lot of families from starting, and the answer is often no. Under the early childhood approach, children younger than 6 do not need a diagnosis to get support where there are concerns about their development. For children aged 6 to 9, support is usually linked to a disability or a confirmed diagnosis.

Source: NDIS, Developmental delay and the early childhood approach.

• Under 6 with developmental concerns: no diagnosis needed to start
• Aged 6 to 9: support is usually connected to a disability or diagnosis
• First step: talk to someone who knows your child, like your GP, child health nurse, or early childhood educator

How do you start?

You start by connecting with an early childhood partner. These are local organisations funded by the NDIS to deliver the early childhood approach in your area. They'll get to know your child through conversation, observation, and assessment, then work out which supports fit and help you reach them.

You don't need to be sure your child is eligible for the NDIS to make that first call. Early connections, as the NDIS describes them, give you and your child quick access to support, and a partner can help even if your child isn't eligible. That might be a link to a community service, a mainstream support, or practical information for your child's development. If your child later becomes an NDIS participant, what your partner has already gathered helps shape their plan.

Source: NDIS, Getting help through the early childhood approach.

What's changing in 2026: Thriving Kids

The way young children get support is being reformed. From 1 October 2026, children aged 8 and under with developmental delay or autism and low to moderate support needs start to access support through a new program called Thriving Kids, rather than through the NDIS. Children with higher support needs continue to be supported through the NDIS.

Source: NDIS, Thriving Kids.

If your family sits near that line, it's worth understanding both paths. Thriving Kids vs NDIS: what's changing for families is a plain-English read on the reform, who it touches, and what you can do now to prepare.

What to capture with indi

Whether you're waiting for a first appointment or getting ready to meet a partner, the everyday details you notice are worth holding onto. You don't need to analyse them, just record what you see, so the picture is ready when someone asks.

When it's time to gather formal paperwork, what evidence you need for an NDIS plan covers the reports and observations that carry weight.

Frequently Asked Questions