Basics
7 plain-English guides on basics for Australian parents.
The Medicare Healthy Kids Check for 3-year-olds: what to bring
The Medicare Healthy Kids Check starts on 1 November 2026 for Medicare-eligible 3-year-olds. What the GP looks at, what to bring, and what can happen next.3 min readNDIS or Thriving Kids: which one, and what changes in 2028
Thriving Kids and NDIS questions answered: how the two differ for children aged 8 and under, what changes on 1 January 2028, and what to do this month.7 min readGlossary — Australian early-intervention terms in plain English
What does ECA mean? What's a GP Chronic Condition Management Plan? An A–Z reference of acronyms and terms used across Australian children's allied-health care.17 min readIs my child on track? Developmental milestones from 12 months to 5 years
A plain-English reference of speech, motor, social, and cognitive milestones — from a worried-parent's perspective. Every child is different; this is a starting point, not a diagnosis.9 min readMedicare rebates for children's allied-health care — what parents need to know
How Better Access, Mental Health Treatment Plans, and the GP Chronic Condition Management Plan work for kids — plus how rebates show up in practice.14 min readNDIS for kids — a plain-English guide for Australian parents
How the NDIS works for children, the Early Childhood Approach for under-9s, eligibility, and what's funded — written for parents who are new to the scheme.13 min readWhen to seek help — trust your instinct, then know the next step
Red flags by domain, the GP referral pathway, and what an early appointment with a paediatrician or allied-health professional actually looks like.12 min read
What the basics guides cover
Start here if you are new to child development support in Australia. Is my child on track? lists milestones from 12 months to 5 years. When to seek help lists signs to look for in each area of development, what to bring to your GP, and what a first appointment with a paediatrician, speech pathologist, OT or psychologist looks like.
Three guides cover paying for support: Medicare rebates, NDIS for kids, and NDIS or Thriving Kids, which says what changes on 1 January 2028. The Healthy Kids Check guide says what to bring to the Medicare check for 3-year-olds. The glossary explains acronyms and terms used in Australian children’s allied health care.
If you are not sure who to contact first, Where to start asks four questions and lists who to contact in your state.