GAPS IN NDIS SERVICES IDENTIFIED FOR CHILDREN AGED 0-6 WITH A DEVELOPMENTAL DELAY OR DISABILITY
Announcement posted by Early Childhood Intervention Australia (ECIA) NSW/ACT 19 Jun 2018
Early Childhood Intervention Australia (ECIA) NSW/ACT has identified at risk groups under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), the largest health reform since Medicare is the new way of providing support for Australians with disability, their families and carers. Launched in July 2013 following years of discussion about the need for a major reform of disability services in Australia, the scheme [NDIS] has been trailed in various regions and by 1st July 2018, the NDIS will be in full scheme roll-out.
Margie O’Tarpey, the CEO of Early Childhood Intervention Australia (ECIA) NSW/ACT, the peak body for early childhood intervention in NSW and the ACT states that “ECIA NSW/ACT has identified ‘cohorts of children’ under the NDIS who are not likely to be eligible and children and their families who are at risk, who may or may not access or be supported by Early Childhood (EC) Partners and mainstream services”.
“ECIA NSW/ACT has been consulting with the Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) sector over the last twelve months in order to ascertain the viability and eligibility of the NDIS for children age 0-6 with a developmental delay or disability. We have identified various ‘gaps’ in service delivery under this scheme that will have a large impact on children, families and the carers of children and this is of major concern” notes Margie O’Tarpey (CEO ECIA NSW/ACT).
ECIA NSW/ACT has recently developed a Position Paper in response to this issues in order to assess the ‘gaps’ in early childhood intervention services for children age 0-6 with a developmental delay or disability under the NDIS. This paper makes various recommendations in order to address these concerns.
Factors highlighted in this paper identifies at risk groups’ under the scheme, including children who have been identified as ‘ineligible’, children and families from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families, pre-term infants, rural and remote children and families, families experiencing vulnerability, mainstream and community interface, Community Services, Non-Government Organisations, Early Childhood Intervention Services and the Early Childhood Education Sector.
The Position Paper developed by ECIA NSW/ACT reflects on implications for children and families in NSW and makes a number of recommendations for consideration.
These recommendations include:
FURTHER INFORMATION
For further information contact Margie O’Tarpey, CEO ECIA NSW/ACT on (02) 9873 2593 or motarpey@ecia-nsw.org.au
To read the Position Paper, go to https://www.ecia.org.au/News/ArticleId/90/gaps-position-paper
ABOUT ECIA NSW/ACT
Early Childhood Intervention Australia (ECIA) NSW/ACT a not-for-profit organisation and is the peak body for early childhood intervention in NSW and the ACT. Formed in 1982, our organisation is the professional body representing and enabling professionals and organisations that work with children with developmental delay or disability and their families.
Our mission is to promote the awareness of the importance of early childhood intervention and inclusion for children with developmental delay or disability, their families and communities. To represent, support and develop organisations, professionals and practitioners working with young children with developmental delay or disability and their families and communities.
Margie O’Tarpey, the CEO of Early Childhood Intervention Australia (ECIA) NSW/ACT, the peak body for early childhood intervention in NSW and the ACT states that “ECIA NSW/ACT has identified ‘cohorts of children’ under the NDIS who are not likely to be eligible and children and their families who are at risk, who may or may not access or be supported by Early Childhood (EC) Partners and mainstream services”.
“ECIA NSW/ACT has been consulting with the Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) sector over the last twelve months in order to ascertain the viability and eligibility of the NDIS for children age 0-6 with a developmental delay or disability. We have identified various ‘gaps’ in service delivery under this scheme that will have a large impact on children, families and the carers of children and this is of major concern” notes Margie O’Tarpey (CEO ECIA NSW/ACT).
ECIA NSW/ACT has recently developed a Position Paper in response to this issues in order to assess the ‘gaps’ in early childhood intervention services for children age 0-6 with a developmental delay or disability under the NDIS. This paper makes various recommendations in order to address these concerns.
Factors highlighted in this paper identifies at risk groups’ under the scheme, including children who have been identified as ‘ineligible’, children and families from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families, pre-term infants, rural and remote children and families, families experiencing vulnerability, mainstream and community interface, Community Services, Non-Government Organisations, Early Childhood Intervention Services and the Early Childhood Education Sector.
The Position Paper developed by ECIA NSW/ACT reflects on implications for children and families in NSW and makes a number of recommendations for consideration.
These recommendations include:
- An integrated whole of government working group be established to undertake or investigate.
- A documented mapping profile of services that are currently provided for children with disability and developmental delay, by NSW Government, across all regions in NSW.
- More granulated research and data analysis of participation rates of children age 0-6 and their families in relevant NSW Government services.
- Establishing common data collection and data sharing systems, to enable further study of different cohorts of children accessing NSW Government’s early childhood development and learning services, including a common data capture tool for all children age 0-6, such as the Scottish Government’s My World Triangle.
- All of NSW Government population based service planning for children age 0-6 and families not eligible for the NDIS that will require supports from NSW government services.
- Develop a tailored pathway for different cohorts of children with developmental delay.
- General training and up-skilling of the following agency staff with regards to developmental delay and disability as it occurs in children age 0-6.
FURTHER INFORMATION
For further information contact Margie O’Tarpey, CEO ECIA NSW/ACT on (02) 9873 2593 or motarpey@ecia-nsw.org.au
To read the Position Paper, go to https://www.ecia.org.au/News/ArticleId/90/gaps-position-paper
ABOUT ECIA NSW/ACT
Early Childhood Intervention Australia (ECIA) NSW/ACT a not-for-profit organisation and is the peak body for early childhood intervention in NSW and the ACT. Formed in 1982, our organisation is the professional body representing and enabling professionals and organisations that work with children with developmental delay or disability and their families.
Our mission is to promote the awareness of the importance of early childhood intervention and inclusion for children with developmental delay or disability, their families and communities. To represent, support and develop organisations, professionals and practitioners working with young children with developmental delay or disability and their families and communities.