NDIS REVIEW’S CALL FOR GREATER INVESTMENT IN ‘FOUNDATIONAL SUPPORTS’ INCLUDING EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION WELCOMED BY CHILD DEVELOPMENT ADVOCATES
Thursday 7 December – Investing in early childhood services to help fast track support for children with developmental concerns and disabilities will take pressure off the NDIS and help more Australian children thrive.
These findings of the NDIS review, which highlight the importance of integrated early childhood services, have been welcomed by Minderoo Foundation’s Thrive By Five campaign.
Minderoo Foundation’s Jay Weatherill said the review confirmed much of what Thrive By Five’s network of parents, educators and experts had long been saying, that too many children with disabilities and developmental delays are missing out on early childhood education.
“Supporting children with disability and neurodiverse profiles should not be seen as a cost, but as an investment,” Mr Weatherill said.
“And one of the best places this investment can be made is through better access to early learning and we strongly encourage all governments to heed this review and implement these recommended changes.
The review highlights the importance of early intervention and the key role early childhood education could play in fast-tracking access to crucial, tailored support for children with disability.
It recommends a shift to greater state-based provision of support services, delivered through ‘Foundational Supports’ in Government settings where appropriate, such as in schools and childcare.
Specifically, it outlines the following actions to create opportunities for children of all backgrounds to reach their full potential:
- National Cabinet should agree to jointly invest in early supports for children with emerging development concerns and disability… closely linked to and integrated with mainstream services, particularly education and early childhood services.
- All Australian governments should take steps to protect the right to inclusive education for children with disability and developmental concerns in early childhood education and care and schools.
- All Australian governments should agree as a matter of priority to expand universally available child development checks… implemented by mainstream services working with children including maternal child health, early childhood education and care and general practice.
Mr Weatherill said early identification of disability and neurodiverse profiles like autism had been shown to mean children faced fewer struggles and needed fewer supports later in life.
“The NDIS review points to the potential of early childhood education as a tool that – with appropriate planning and investment – could not only connect children with disability to the support they need earlier on, but also reduce some of the financial load of the scheme.
“The NDIS is one of the greatest pieces of social policy we have seen in Australia since Medicare. But it is not the answer to everything and any debate about who should foot the bill misses the crucially important bigger picture – that early intervention pays off socially and economically.”
Key Thrive By Five partner, Children and Young People with Disability (CYDA), also welcomed the review.
CYDA CEO Skye Kakoschke-Moore said she was heartened to see today’s report strongly focusing on the needs and experiences of children and young people with disability.
“More than half of the 630,000 people currently on the NDIS are aged 25 or under, meaning the changes outlined will significantly impact our youngest generations,” Ms Kakoschke-Moore said.
“CYDA supports the report’s call for a comprehensive and integrated system of supports that will enable all children and young people – regardless of their NDIS eligibility – to receive the supports and services they need.
“It is now vital that state and federal governments take the time to get this right and continue listening to people with disability at every step.”
Media contact: Iona Salter (Essential Media), 0413 185 634
