NDIS registered provider | Children aged 0–8 | Support at home, childcare, kinder and school
Early childhood supports in Melbourne
You might want your child to tell you what they need, join in play, feel more comfortable in busy places or manage getting dressed with less help.
Every child’s strengths, interests and needs are different. We take time to understand your child and what matters most to your family, then work together on practical ways to support their development.
Our early childhood intervention in Melbourne brings a key worker and therapy team around your family. Support happens during familiar activities and in the places where your child uses their skills.
Children build skills across many areas, from communicating and playing to moving, learning and doing things for themselves. A key worker with expertise in early childhood development brings these areas together, with the right team around your child.
You know your child best. Together, we’ll build on their strengths and interests and work towards the goals that matter to your family. You might want your child to:
Language, communication and social skills
Emotional regulation and behaviour
Play and learning skills
Daily routines and independence
Gross and fine motor skills
Feeding and eating
Friendships and participation
Sleep and routines
Transitions into kinder, school or other key milestones
Assistive technology and equipment support.
One team supporting your child and family
Your key worker gets to know your child and family, provides most of their regular therapy and brings the team together around their goals. You have one main contact, with therapists involved when your child needs assessment, direct support or strategies to build new skills.
Occupational therapy: everyday activities, fine motor skills, sensory needs, independence and assistive technology.
Speech pathology: communication, language, speech, social communication and feeding.
Physiotherapy: movement, strength, balance, coordination and mobility equipment to help your child move and participate.
We use a family-centred approach, recognising that you are the most important people in your child’s life. Your key worker partners with your family to understand your routines, goals, and priorities, and works with you to build your skills as parents, giving you the knowledge and tools to support your child’s development every day – not just during therapy sessions.
Find Melbourne early childhood intervention near you
We provide early childhood supports across Melbourne’s northern, western, eastern and south-eastern suburbs. Support is delivered at home, school, work and in community settings. Enter your postcode below to check whether we service your area or find your nearest therapy hub.
How to start early childhood supports in Melbourne
Enquire or make a referral using the form below. We aim to get back to you within 24 hours.
Talk with our team about your child and family’s goals, funding, service options and availability.
Plan your support with your practitioner including where your sessions happen.
If your child doesn’t currently have an NDIS plan, read our blog which explains eligibility for the NDIS.
Funding and payment options
You can access early childhood supports with a self-managed, plan-managed or NDIA-managed NDIS plan, or pay privately. If you’re paying privately, we’ll explain the costs for your chosen service and any applicable travel costs.
Private options depend on your needs and practitioner availability. We’ll explain fees, including any travel and assessment charges, before you start. If you’re waiting for an NDIS plan, contact us to discuss your options.
Who are you seeking services for? Select an option below to begin your enquiry.
A child you care for
A client
Common questions about NDIS Early Childhood Intervention in Melbourne
What is early childhood intervention?
Early childhood intervention (or early childhood services) aims to help children with developmental delay and/or disabilities and their families access support to promote their child’s wellbeing, community participation and development.
As children’s brains grow most during their early years, the earlier they receive early intervention services, the better the outcome will likely be.
Early childhood intervention promotes:
optimal chances of physical development
improved social and emotional outcomes
ability to participate in everyday activities
positive behaviours and ability to engage in learning
confidence, resilience and independence.
Who is a key worker and how do they help my child and family?
Our key workers are mainly teachers with a degree in education and specialist training in child development and learning. They will be your main therapist and day-to-day contact for all your early intervention services. They support your child and family as part of a broader team that may include speech pathologists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, behaviour support practitioners, and habit coaches.
I only need occupational or speech therapy for my child, can a key worker help with this?
Our key workers use their specialised training in child development and learning to design and implement strategies to support your child’s development. These include activities to improve fine motor skills, language development, or strategies to help with sensory processing issues. Other members of your child’s team, such as speech pathologists, occupational therapists, and physiotherapists, can also use these strategies.
Key workers can deliver more than an individual registered occupational therapist, speech pathologist or physiotherapist as they can implement their strategies and activities as well as those designed by the team of therapists.
Can children with autism spectrum disorder access NDIS early childhood supports?
Yes. We support children with autism, autistic children, and those on the autism spectrum through personalised NDIS early childhood intervention services. Our team understands that every autistic child has unique strengths, interests, and support needs. Starting early gives children on the autism spectrum the best opportunity to build strong foundations for learning and development.
Why do you use the key worker model?
We use the key worker approach because it is the NDIA’s preferred, evidence-based approach to helping children with developmental delays and disabilities.
I’m looking for an early childhood specialist near me. Can you help?
If you’re searching for early childhood supports near me, or early childhood services Melbourne our Melbourne child and family team can help. Access paediatric occupational therapy, child speech pathology, physiotherapy, positive behaviour support and habit coaches, through a key worker model, to support your child develop everyday skills.
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