The NDIS Early Childhood Approach Explained

Before any of the reforms, the NDIS already has a dedicated pathway for young children, and it works differently from the adult application process. It is called the early childhood approach, and understanding it is useful in its own right and as the backdrop to the Thriving Kids changes. This article explains who it is for, how early connections work, and what happens as a child grows.

Who it is for

The approach has a clear age focus.

The NDIS early childhood approach is for children younger than 9 with delays in their development or disability. As of 2026-07-23 · Guide to the early childhood approach - NDIS

Its aim is to help families get support so a child can learn and develop to their potential, and it is built around the reality that early support tends to do more when it starts early. The design assumes families need help making sense of the options, not just a form to fill in.

Early connections

The feature that sets the approach apart is early connections. Through it, an early childhood partner can give a child quick access to some supports and help a family, in some cases before any decision about NDIS eligibility. That matters, because it softens the all-or-nothing feeling that access questions can carry: a family is not left with nothing while a decision is pending.

Early connections points in a couple of directions depending on the child. For a younger child with developmental concerns, it can mean early supports without becoming an NDIS participant. For a child who looks likely to meet the requirements, it can mean help to apply. The developmental delay and developmental concerns article explains the terms that decide which way that goes.

Who delivers it

The approach is delivered locally rather than centrally. Early childhood partners are local organisations the NDIS funds to run it, and they are the usual first point of contact for a family with a young child. They help a family understand the options, connect a child with early supports, and apply to the NDIS where that is the right path.

The handover as a child grows

The approach does not last forever. Once a child moves past the early childhood age band, they stop working with an early childhood partner and start working with a local area coordinator instead, the same kind of NDIS partner that supports older participants. It is a change of contact rather than a loss of support, but it is worth knowing it is coming so it is not a surprise.

This is how the system works today, and it keeps working alongside the reforms. The official guide to the early childhood approach carries the current detail, and an early childhood partner is the right place to start for a specific child.