Early intervention - Here’s what you should know.

Early intervention sets up the foundation for a child’s development.

Reimagine Australia (formerly known as Early Childhood Intervention Australia) is a leader in all things early intervention. As a family beginning in this space, it can be overwhelming to decide which service fits your family and child, and will support you throughout your journey.

Reimagine Australia is a one-stop-shop for all things early intervention, and is perfect to start understanding how service providers should be supporting your family. A perfect starting point is the ‘Best Practice Guidelines’ that give families an understanding of the approaches service providers should be striving to implement:

1. Family – the centre of all services and supports

Your family works together with early childhood intervention practitioners as active and equal partners where planning and interventions for your child are based on your family life and your priorities and choices.

2. All families are different and unique

Early childhood intervention practitioners provide services and supports in ways that are sensitive and respectful of your family’s cultural, language and social backgrounds and your family’s values and beliefs.

3. Your child at home and in the community

Your child is fully included and participates meaningfully in home and community life, with additional supports as needed, creating a real sense of belonging.

4. Your child practises and learns new skills everyday

Your child engages, learns and practises skills through participation in the activities and daily routines of their everyday life.

5. Team around your child

Your family works together with practitioners as a team around your child communicating and sharing information, knowledge and skills, with one main person, called a key worker, working with your family.

6. Building everyone’s knowledge and skills

Building the knowledge, skills and confidence of your family and the important people in your child’s life will have the biggest impact on your child’s learning and development.

7. What you want for your child and family

Early childhood intervention practitioners will focus on what you want for your child and family and will work closely with you to achieve the best outcomes for your child.

8. Quality services and supports

Ensures that practitioners working with your child have appropriate qualifications and experience and base their intervention on sound clinical evidence and research. 

(Reimagine Australia, 2023)

For more information on early intervention and other important information for families moving into this space, find it here.