Key Workers

Early Childhood Early Intervention Approach (ECEIA) and The Key Worker Role

The Early Childhood Early Intervention approach is the NDIS’ nationally consistent approach to providing the best possible intervention access to children under the age of 7 years with a developmental delay or disability. 

“Early childhood intervention is all about giving children with developmental delay or disability, and their families, supports to enable the child to have the best possible start in life. Through early childhood intervention, infants, and young children as well as their families, can get specialised supports and services “ (NDIS, Early Childhood Approach, 2023)

 In order to achieve this, the NDIS funded the development of national guidelines on best practice in early childhood intervention. The guidelines outline evidence for best practice in providing intervention supports to children and families and advocate strongly for the use of a Key Worker model.

The Key Worker model of care is a multidisciplinary approach to supporting children where there is one main point of contact for families to access therapies for their child -the Key Worker. The Key Worker will liaise with a team of other allied health professionals to develop a therapy program that is tailored to the needs and goals of your child and your family. However, rather than needing to see multiple therapists, your Key Worker is the person who delivers the majority of the therapy having been guided by the NDIS goals, your families goals and the goals developed by the Occupational Therapist or Speech Therapist.

A Key Worker is an early childhood development specialist who has significant experience working with children under the age of 7. A Key Worker is your child’s main therapist support and will work with both you and your child to help them to reach your NDIS goals. A Key Worker can be an early childhood teacher, a speech therapist, an occupational therapist or a psychologist. 

Your Key Worker will use a strengths-based approach and will work with you and your family to build your capacity to support your child by increasing your confidence, skills, knowledge and understanding of your child and their disability. 

Evidence shows that any early intervention therapy is best delivered in a natural environment, that is somewhere that feels safe and comfortable for you and the child. This means that your Key Worker has the flexibility to work with your family to provide intervention where and when you need it – including your child’s preschool or daycare, at home or at the clinic, in a park or even at the swimming pool. 

Unfortunately, your therapist cannot be with you 24 hours a day. However, by providing therapy in a natural environment, you and your child learn how to fit the therapy into your everyday routines and you will become comfortable to continue to provide the therapy in your everyday routine and events. Therapy becomes less of a chore or something that has to be done and simply becomes another part of your everyday.

Key Workers advocate for your child and will support you to build your ability to advocate for your child on their behalf, for example; your Key Worker can accompany you to appointments or help you to find the right school for your child.

There is no typical session for a Key Worker because each day and each session is tailored to the needs of the individual child and the goals that they are working towards. Some examples of past sessions include:

• Visits at the day care to provide school readiness support.
• A visit to the park to practice our gross motor skills.
• A home visit discussing a parental concerns and problem solving together to develop a plan of action.
• A phone call to check in with a family to see how they feel their child is progressing and to see if there are additional supports or information they require.
• A session at a local café with a parent who just needs to chat about their concerns about their child’s recent diagnosis.
• Attending a school orientation visit with a child to help them to participate and to develop their relationships with their new teacher.
• A team around the child meeting with the parents, Occupational Therapist, Support Co-ordinator and day care educators to develop a plan to support the child to transition to a new classroom.
• A session at the day care where the Key Worker works with the educators to provide them with information and supports to help the child to participate in the daily education program.

If you would like to know more about how our Key Workers can help you please contact our admin team today.

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