Submission on Foundational Supports for children with developmental concern, delay and/or disability and their families, carers and kin
5 December 2024
Overview
It is common for many children in our community’s cohort to receive a prenatal or immediately postnatal diagnosis, though some may not be diagnosed until adulthood. However, whether an individual has a diagnosis or not, no two people’s needs are the same. People in the cohort we represent may present with intellectual, physical, and/or neurodevelopmental conditions and health issues. For this reason it is important that Foundational Supports are provided based on individual functional assessment and need rather than diagnosis. These supports must be delivered as soon as possible in the early years to have the best chance of setting up a child for the best possible outcomes.
List of Recommendations
- The DSA consortium should be involved in the design of Targeted Foundational Supports as a specialist in early years and life transitions.
- Targeted Foundational Supports should be designed so that they can also be accessed by someone with an Individual NDIS supports or someone accessing mainstream supports, to allow supports in many settings.
- The interaction of Targeted Foundational supports and the re-design of the Early Intervention pathway for children must be aligned to recognise the way they interplay for the community.
- The NDIA must not permit changes to NDIS Plans or Supports while Foundational Supports are being developed. No one should experience the removal of supports.
- The Federal Government and State and Territory Governments must commit to further consultation on issues and design of both General and Targeted Foundational Supports which affect young children aged 0-9 years, particularly with families who are familiar with the system.
- Foundational Supports should be straightforward to access and require only minimal information or referral.