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Early intervention services for children

Not sure what kind of support your child needs? Here's what each service does, who it helps, and how to find one near you.

  • 4,100+ providers
  • 11 services
  • 1,378 suburbs covered

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Browse 11 different types of early intervention support.

Therapy

Assessments

Behaviour & emotional wellbeing

Learning & health

What's the difference?

A quick guide to services that parents often confuse. Select a service name to learn more.

  • Speech Therapy
    What it helps with
    Talking, understanding words, stuttering and speech sounds
    Who gives it
    Speech pathologist
    A typical session
    Play-based games that work on language goals. Usually 45–60 minutes.
    Funding
    Usually funded
  • Occupational Therapy
    What it helps with
    Fine motor skills (hand use), sensory processing and daily routines
    Who gives it
    Occupational therapist (OT)
    A typical session
    Activities and exercises in a sensory gym or clinic
    Funding
    Usually funded
  • Psychology
    What it helps with
    Anxiety, emotions and behaviour
    Who gives it
    Psychologist or clinical psychologist
    A typical session
    Talk and play therapy that fits the child's emotional needs
    Funding
    Often funded
  • Behaviour Support
    What it helps with
    Complex or unsafe behaviour
    Who gives it
    Behaviour support practitioner
    A typical session
    The practitioner writes a plan with clear strategies, often for use at home or school
    Funding
    Usually NDIS only
  • Early Intervention
    What it helps with
    Delays in talking, movement, play or behaviour in young children
    Who gives it
    A team of therapists, often with one key worker
    A typical session
    Therapy at home, at childcare or in a clinic, with goals set with the family
    Funding
    Often NDIS funded
  • Autism Assessment
    What it helps with
    Questions about social communication, play, and repeated behaviours or strong interests
    Who gives it
    Paediatrician, psychologist or a team that includes a speech pathologist
    A typical session
    Play-based tasks, observation and interviews with parents. Often 2–3 visits.
    Funding
    Sometimes funded
  • ADHD Assessment
    What it helps with
    Questions about attention, focus, impulse control and activity level
    Who gives it
    Paediatrician or psychiatrist, often with a psychologist
    A typical session
    Questionnaires for parents and school, and time with the child. Often 2–3 visits.
    Funding
    Sometimes funded
  • Learning Support & Tutoring
    What it helps with
    Reading, writing, maths and getting ready for school
    Who gives it
    Tutor or learning support teacher
    A typical session
    One-to-one or small-group lessons, often once a week
    Funding
    Usually not funded

How to get started

  1. 1

    Notice

    Notice something about how your child talks, moves, plays or feels.

  2. 2

    Talk to someone

    Speak to your GP, child health nurse or paediatrician for advice.

  3. 3

    Check funding

    Explore NDIS early childhood, Medicare, or private health options.

  4. 4

    Find a provider

    Search EarlyBloom by service and suburb to connect locally.

Cost and funding

Fees depend on the service, the provider and the length of the session. Ask each provider for their fees before the first visit.

Three types of funding can pay for some or all of the cost. If your child has an NDIS plan, you can use it for the supports in the plan. Medicare pays a rebate for some sessions when your GP writes a plan and a referral first. Some private health extras policies pay part of the cost of speech therapy, OT and psychology.

Read our guide to NDIS for kids

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Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between speech therapy and occupational therapy?

Speech therapy helps with communication: talking, listening, understanding, and sometimes eating and drinking. Occupational therapy (OT) helps with daily skills, fine motor skills such as writing or using a spoon, and how a child handles sensory input such as noise or touch.

Do I need a referral to see a speech pathologist or OT?

No. You can book most private speech pathologists, OTs and psychologists without a referral. To get a Medicare rebate, see your GP first. Your GP can write a plan and a referral: a GP Chronic Condition Management Plan for therapies such as speech and OT, or a Mental Health Treatment Plan for psychology.

What is early intervention?

Early intervention is therapy and support for young children with a developmental delay or disability. It starts as early as possible. In the NDIS, the early childhood approach covers children younger than 6 with a developmental delay, or younger than 9 with a disability.

Can I use NDIS funding for these services?

Yes, if your child has an NDIS plan that includes these supports, such as OT, speech therapy or psychology. If your plan is self-managed or plan-managed, you can also use providers that are not NDIS registered. If the NDIA manages your plan, you must use registered providers.

How do I know which service my child needs?

Start with our 2-minute quiz, or talk to your GP or child health nurse. Many clinics with several types of therapist can also do a first assessment and tell you where to start.