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Early Childhood Intervention & Key Worker Support

Supporting children to learn, participate and thrive in everyday life

Every child develops differently. Some children may need additional support with communication, play, learning, emotional regulation, social interaction, independence or everyday routines.

Our Early Childhood Intervention and Key Worker Support provides practical, family-centred support for children with developmental delay, disability, autism and other developmental differences.

We work collaboratively with children, families, educators and other professionals to understand the child’s individual strengths, needs and goals and to help build skills that can be used where they matter most – in everyday life.

What is a Key Worker?

A Key Worker is a professional who holds a tertiary level qualification in allied health or other ECEI qualification – who works closely with the child and family and helps bring together the different areas of the child’s development.

Rather than focusing on only one isolated skill, Key Worker support looks at the whole child – including communication, learning, behaviour, emotional regulation, social development, play, independence and participation.

The Key Worker may also collaborate with the child’s broader team, such as occupational therapists, speech pathologists, physiotherapists, psychologists, educators, support coordinators and other professionals.

This provides families with a consistent point of contact and helps strategies become part of the child’s everyday routines rather than being limited to appointments.

Who We Support

Early intervention may be suitable for children experiencing challenges or differences in areas such as:

A formal diagnosis may not always be necessary for private early intervention support. Eligibility for NDIS-funded services depends on the child’s individual NDIS plan and funding arrangements.

How We Can Help

Developmental Support

We identify the child’s strengths, interests and areas where additional support may be helpful and develop practical strategies around their individual goals.

Support may focus on areas such as engagement, play, communication, attention, emotional regulation, independence, social interaction and participation.

Play-Based Learning

Children often learn best through meaningful activities and play.

Sessions can incorporate play, movement, games, visual activities, problem-solving and the child’s own interests to encourage engagement and development.

Rather than expecting every child to learn through traditional table-based activities, we adapt activities to the child’s developmental level, interests and learning style.

Communication & Interaction

For children who communicate differently, support can focus on creating more opportunities for meaningful interaction and communication throughout everyday activities.

Where a child uses AAC or has recommendations from a Speech Pathologist, we can help families incorporate those established strategies into everyday routines.

Key Worker support does not replace Speech Pathology assessment or treatment where specialist speech and language intervention is required.

Emotional Regulation & Behaviour

We help families understand what may be occurring before, during and after difficult situations and identify practical environmental and developmental strategies that may support the child.

Where behaviours of concern require specialist Positive Behaviour Support, this can be provided separately through our Positive Behaviour Support service.

Independence & Everyday Skills

Early intervention can support children to participate more independently in everyday routines.

Depending on the child’s goals, this may include participation in dressing, mealtimes, packing away, transitions, following routines, community activities and other age-appropriate everyday tasks.

Parent & Carer Coaching

Supporting the adults around the child is an important part of early intervention.

We provide practical strategies that parents and carers can use between sessions so that opportunities for development occur throughout the child’s everyday life.

This may include adapting routines, using visual supports, creating opportunities for communication, supporting transitions and breaking new skills into achievable steps.

Kindergarten, Childcare & School Collaboration

With parent or guardian consent, we can collaborate with educators and other professionals involved in the child’s care.

This may include observations, meetings, sharing agreed strategies and helping promote consistency between home and educational environments.

Our Approach

Our approach is:

Child-centred
We start with the individual child – their strengths, interests, communication, developmental needs and goals.

Family-centred
Families know their children best. Goals and strategies are developed collaboratively rather than imposed on families.

Neurodiversity-affirming
Our aim is not to make a child appear “less autistic” or force neurotypical behaviour. We focus on meaningful skills, participation, autonomy, communication, safety and quality of life.

Strengths-based
We build upon what the child can already do and what motivates them.

Practical
Strategies are designed to be usable in real environments including home, childcare, kindergarten, school and the community.

Collaborative
Where appropriate and with consent, we work alongside the child’s existing allied health, education and support team.

What Does a Session Look Like?

There is no single format that suits every child.

Depending on the child’s age, needs and goals, a session may involve:

Play → Connection → Learning → Practice → Parent Coaching

For one child this might involve floor-based play and communication opportunities.

For another, it may involve movement activities, visual routines, turn-taking games, emotional regulation activities or practising everyday independence.

Sessions can also include observation and coaching within the child’s natural environment.

The goal is to make intervention meaningful, achievable and relevant to everyday life.

Where Can Support Be Provided?

Depending on availability and the child’s needs, support may be provided:

Working within natural environments can help us understand what is happening in the child’s everyday life and develop strategies that can realistically be implemented.

Working With Your Child’s Therapy Team

Early intervention works best when everyone is working toward shared goals.

With your consent, we can collaborate with your child’s:

Where an assessment or intervention requires the expertise of a regulated or specialist allied health professional, we will recommend referral to the appropriate professional.

NDIS & Private Clients

We welcome NDIS participants and private self-funded families.

For NDIS participants, services must be appropriate to the participant’s goals and funding arrangements and must comply with applicable NDIS claiming requirements.

We can discuss your child’s goals and funding arrangements before commencing services to determine whether our Early Childhood Intervention / Key Worker support is appropriate.

Getting Started

1. Initial Enquiry

Contact us to tell us a little about your child and what you would like support with.

2. Initial Consultation

We discuss your child’s strengths, current challenges, developmental needs, existing supports and family priorities.

3. Individual Goals

Together, we identify practical and meaningful goals for your child and family.

4. Early Intervention

Sessions are tailored to your child’s developmental level, interests, communication and learning needs.

5. Review & Collaboration

Progress and strategies are reviewed over time and, with your consent, we can collaborate with the other professionals supporting your child.

Supporting Development Beyond the Therapy Room

Early intervention is about more than what happens during an appointment.

Our goal is to help children and families develop practical strategies that carry over into home, play, learning, relationships, education and the community.

By combining child-focused intervention, family coaching and collaboration with the child’s wider support team, we aim to help children build meaningful skills while supporting their independence, participation and quality of life.

Enquire about Early Childhood Intervention & Key Worker Support

We welcome enquiries from parents, carers, Support Coordinators and other professionals seeking early intervention support for a child.