Child health expert praises establishment of new NDIS advisory group

Key points:

• Approximately 13 percent of Australian children aged between five and 14 years have disability
• NDIS Minister Bill Shorten recently announced the establishment of the NDIA Children’s Expert Advisory Group to improve NDIS participant outcomes for younger Australians with disability
• Eligible children under the age of nine can access early connections support, even if they are not NDIS participants

NDIS Minister Bill Shorten recently announced that a new expert advisory group has been established to provide better experiences for young NDIS participants and their families.

More than 13 percent of Australians between the ages of five and 14 years have disability.

The Children’s Expert Advisory Group will provide advice to the NDIA regarding:

• strategies to improve the NDIS experience for children and their families;
• improvements to NDIS and supporting participant engagement;
• communication about the NDIS to children and their families.

NDIS Minister Bill Shorten spoke about the importance of providing appropriate supports for Australian children to give them the best start in life.

“We know that early childhood supports are critical to kids getting the right start in life and the NDIS Review told us that we need a much more holistic and connected system of support,’’ he said.

“It’s fantastic to have a group of people with such diverse and relevant experience on board to help shape changes to NDIA policy, practice and process and make sure our kids are flourishing.”

Participating in social/community activities and managing daily life are the most common goals outlined in NDIS plans for participants aged between seven and 14 years.

Chief Executive Officer of Children and Young People with Disability Skye Kakoschke-Moore explained why this advisory group will improve the NDIS experience for children with disability and their families.

“The NDIS provides vital support to children, particularly in the early years, but we know the scheme can be difficult to access and navigate,” she said.

“We look forward to working with government to ensure reforms meet the needs of our community and result in the best possible outcomes for children and young people.” 

Members of the Children’s Expert Advisory Group include:

• Skye Kakoschke-Moore from CYDA;
• Samantha Page from Early Childhood Australia; and
• Morgan Fitzpatrick from Best Practice in Early Childhood Intervention Network.

NDIS participants may also be asked to provide feedback regarding their own experiences to help influence future NDIS changes and improve participant outcomes.

NDIS funding is currently allocated to 649,623 eligible participants as of February 2024.

In addition to the newly established advisory group, the NDIS provides support to children through the early connections approach. Children under the age of nine years old and who aren’t NDIS participants can receive early connections support.  

Approximately 10,780 children accessed early connections — an approach funded by the NDIS — as of March 31, 2024.

Children with developmental concerns or disability can benefit from this initiative even if they don’t have a formal diagnosis.

Early intervention services can provide children with increased support to meet their needs and can provide better outcomes for a child’s long-term development. 

While there is some variance when children reach certain milestones, comparing your child’s progress against age-appropriate skills may provide an indication if early intervention is required. 

The Early Years Learning Framework Practice Based Resources – Developmental Milestones is a government-funded document that can provide caregivers with expected milestones for children of different ages.

The early connections approach can include providing caregivers with practical information regarding their child’s development, connecting them with other families for peer support and assistance in applying for the NDIS.

To find out more about the early connections program and how it could benefit your child, chat with your local doctor or child health nurse. More information is also available on the NDIS website.

What are your thoughts on the new NDIS Children’s Expert Advisory Group?

Let the team at Talking Disability know on social media. 

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