If your child is under 9 and has a disability or developmental delay, NDIS approaches their support differently than it does for adults and older children. The system uses what's called the Early Childhood Approach, and the supports, the assessment process, and the goals look different from a standard NDIS plan.

This guide walks through how it works, what supports are available, how to apply, and what to expect.

What the Early Childhood Approach is

The Early Childhood Approach (sometimes still called ECEI — Early Childhood Early Intervention) is the way NDIS works with children under 9 and their families.

The basic idea: early intervention works. A child with developmental delay who gets the right support at age 2 has different outcomes from one who waits until age 7. NDIS aims to fund early support to maximise development and independence.

For children under 9, the entry point isn't necessarily a full NDIS plan. It might be early childhood supports through a partner organisation, with the goal of building skills and capacity early. For some children, those supports are enough. For others, a full NDIS plan follows.

In Queensland, Early Childhood partners include Carers Queensland, Helping Hands, and other organisations. These partners are the first point of contact for families with concerns about a young child's development.

Who can access early childhood supports

Children under 9 may access early childhood supports if they have:

A diagnosed disability that affects their development.

A developmental delay — meaning their development is significantly below what's expected for their age.

A medical condition that's likely to result in disability.

In some cases, children get supports based on developmental delay before a formal disability diagnosis is confirmed. The system is designed to act early, even with diagnostic uncertainty.

You don't need a confirmed diagnosis to start the conversation. Concerns from parents, GPs, child health nurses, or daycare educators can prompt a referral to an Early Childhood partner.

How to start the process

The starting point is contact with an Early Childhood partner in your region. In Queensland, this depends on postcode — partners cover specific geographic areas.

To find your partner, you can call NDIS on 1800 800 110 and ask, or check the NDIS website's Early Childhood section.

Once you contact the partner, they'll set up an initial conversation. This is usually a meeting between you, your child, and an Early Childhood worker. They look at:

Your child's development and current functioning.

Your concerns and what you're noticing.

What supports or services your child currently has (kindergarten, daycare, allied health).

What you'd like to see for your child.

Based on this conversation, they might:

Refer you to early childhood supports they offer directly (groups, programs, parent education).

Connect you with allied health services (speech pathology, OT, physiotherapy) that may not require a full NDIS plan.

Help you prepare an access request for a full NDIS plan if your child's needs warrant it.

Early Childhood Early Intervention (ECEI) supports

Some children get supports without a full NDIS plan, through the Early Childhood partner directly. These can include:

Time-limited intensive intervention for specific developmental areas.

Group programs for children with similar needs.

Parent training and support.

Therapy programs delivered by partner-funded clinicians.

Connections with mainstream services.

ECEI supports are usually provided for shorter periods (3–12 months) with the goal of building specific skills or transitioning to ongoing support if needed.

Transitioning from ECEI to a full plan

If your child needs ongoing, individualised support beyond what ECEI offers, you'd transition to a full NDIS plan. The Early Childhood partner helps with this — they support the access request, gather evidence, and prepare for planning meetings.

A full plan for a young child looks different from an adult plan:

More emphasis on capacity building (early intervention therapy).

Often less Core support funding (because parents are providing most day-to-day care).

Heavy involvement of allied health professionals — OT, speech pathology, physiotherapy, psychology.

Family-centred goals (supporting the family to support the child, not just supporting the child directly).

Specific funding for things like assistive technology that grows with the child.

What supports are available for young children

Common supports in plans for under-9s:

Allied health. OT, speech pathology, physiotherapy, psychology — all can be funded under Capacity Building. Therapy is the largest funding category for many young children's plans.

Behaviour support. For children with challenging behaviours, behaviour support practitioners can develop a behaviour support plan and provide therapy.

Early intervention programs. Specific programs designed for children with autism, intellectual disability, or developmental delay.

Parent training. Programs that teach parents skills to support their child. PCIT (Parent-Child Interaction Therapy), Hanen, RDI, Floortime, and others.

Assistive technology. Communication devices for non-speaking children, mobility equipment, adaptive seating, sensory equipment.

Personal care. For children with significant disability where parents can't manage everything alone.

Respite. Funding for short-term out-of-home care to give family carers a break.

Support coordination. For families managing complex situations.

Specific conditions

A few common conditions and how NDIS approaches them:

Autism Spectrum Disorder. Most commonly funded condition for children. Levels 2 and 3 generally meet eligibility readily. Level 1 sometimes does, depending on functional impact. Funding focuses on early intervention, social skills, communication, behavioural support.

Down Syndrome. Generally meets eligibility from early diagnosis. Funding includes early intervention across multiple developmental areas — speech, motor skills, cognitive development.

Cerebral Palsy. Eligibility usually clear from medical diagnosis. Funding focuses on physiotherapy, OT, equipment, and family support.

Global Developmental Delay. Eligibility based on functional impact rather than specific diagnosis. Some children move from this category to a specific diagnosis as they grow; some don't.

Intellectual Disability. Eligibility usually clear once formally diagnosed. Often paired with developmental delay.

Hearing or Vision Impairment. Specific assessments and supports tailored to sensory needs. Often involves connection with specialist services like Hear and Say (in Queensland) for hearing impairment.

Practical advice for families

Some things that help:

Start documenting early. Keep records of medical appointments, allied health reports, and observations of what your child can and can't do. This evidence supports access requests and planning.

Ask for support coordination if your situation is complex. Multiple service providers, complex medical needs, parents managing work alongside care — coordination helps.

Use the funding actively. Underused funding for young children means missed development opportunities. Engage with services consistently.

Build a relationship with one or two key providers. Continuity matters more for young children than for adults. The same OT working with your child for 3 years builds knowledge that a series of short-term workers can't match.

Plan for school transitions. When children move from preschool to primary school, supports often need to be reconfigured. Work on this with your child's plan well in advance.

Frequently asked questions

My child has been diagnosed with autism. Will they automatically get NDIS?

Not automatically. The diagnosis is necessary but not sufficient. NDIS looks at functional impact — how the disability affects daily life. ASD level 2 and 3 generally meet eligibility easily. Level 1 sometimes does, depending on how it presents.

My child is 7 and was just diagnosed. Is it too late for early intervention?

No. Early childhood approach extends to age 9, and significant intervention can still help children at 7 or 8. Don't let the term "early intervention" make you think it's too late if your child is older but still under 9.

What happens when my child turns 9?

Around age 8, planning starts to shift to a more standard NDIS plan format. The transition is usually managed by the partner organisation. By age 9, the plan looks more like a standard NDIS plan rather than an ECEI/early childhood approach.

Can I use mainstream therapists or do they need to be NDIS-registered?

Depends on plan management. Plan-managed and self-managed allow you to choose. Agency-managed restricts to registered providers.

If you have a child with disability and want help thinking through NDIS, Seareal's coordinators work with families across Queensland. We can connect you with the right Early Childhood partner and walk through what's involved.