Understand early intervention requirements
This article provides guidance for a local area coordinator, early childhood coordinator and all NDIA staff (planner, payment officer, internal review officer, complaints officer, participant service officer, access officer, quality officer, technical advisor, SDA officer, NCC officer, provider support officer) to:
- understand early intervention requirements.
Recent updates
July 2023
New article adapted from other access decision articles to optimise knowledge resources.
Before you start
You have:
- read Our Guideline — Applying to the NDIS in section, Do you need early intervention?
Early intervention requirements
What are the early intervention requirements?
If an applicant is not eligible under the disability requirements to join the NDIS, they may be eligible under the early intervention requirements.
Early intervention is for both children and adults, and they won’t need these supports for their lifetime.
Early intervention is usually for early access to supports to help reduce the functional impacts of an impairment.
To meet the early intervention requirements, we must have evidence of all the following:
- They have an impairment that’s likely to be permanent.
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- Early intervention supports will help them. For example, if it means they will need less disability support in the future and their functional capacity will improve.
- The early intervention they need is most appropriately funded by us.
A child younger than 9 will meet the early intervention requirements, if we have evidence of all the following:
- They have an impairment that’s likely to be permanent.
- Early intervention supports will help them. For example, if it means their functional capacity will improve, and they will need less disability support in the future.
- The early intervention they need is most appropriately funded by us.
Check also for a List D condition before you make an eligibility decision for a child younger than 9. Go to article Check evidence for a decision – List D condition.
There are also different requirements:
- children younger than 6 with developmental delay. Go to article Check evidence for a decision – developmental delay
- people aged between 0 and 25 with a hearing impairment. Go to article Check evidence for a decision – hearing loss 0-25 years of age.
Consider these articles when you check evidence for a decision:
- Check evidence for a decision (EI) – impairment is likely permanent
- Check evidence for a decision (EI) – likely to reduce future support needs
- Check evidence for a decision (EI) – likely to improve or reduce deterioration of functional capacity or strengthen informal supports
- Check evidence for a decision (EI) – support most appropriately funded by NDIS
If a person meets the early intervention requirements, they must also meet the eligibility requirements for age and residence to be eligible to join the NDIS. Go to article Check evidence for a decision – age and residence requirements.
Next steps
To determine eligibility, continue to follow guidance in article Make an access decision.
V1.0 2023-07-07 Understand early intervention requirements
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Version control
| Version | Amended by | Brief Description of Change | Status | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | TERO30 | Class 1 - Cl-applying work package | DRAFT | 2023-06-27 |
| New article adapted from multiple access EI-decision child “check evidence for a decision…” articles. | ||||
| 0.2 | JJO192 | Peer review | DRAFT | 2023-06-28 |
| 0.3 | TERO30 | Action peer review | DRAFT | 2023-06-28 |
| 0.4 | TERO30 | VT review | DRAFT | 2023-06-28 |
| Number of long sentences: 5 (7.81%) | ||||
| Number of Passive Sentences:2 (3.13%) | ||||
| Readability: 45 | ||||
| Grade Level: 8.9 | ||||
| 0.5 | TERO30 | Action VT feedback | DRAFT | 2023-06-28 |
| 0.6 | VFK746 | EL1 review and progress to EL2 | DRAFT | 2023-06-29 |
| 0.7 | TERO30 | Action EL2 feedback | DRAFT | 2023-06-30 |
| 0.8 | VFK746 | EL1 review and progress to EL2 | DRAFT | 2023-07-04 |
| 0.9 | VFK746 | EL1 implementation of minor EL2 Feedback — progress for BM / SD and Partner approval | DRAFT | 2023-07-04 |
| 1.0 | EMN960 | EL2 approval to publish | APPROVED | 2023-07-07 |
V1.0 2023-07-07 Understand early intervention requirements
Page 48 of 128