Early Childhood Targeted Action Plan (Early Childhood TAP)

General information

There are five Targeted Action Plans (TAPs) under Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021-2031. They commit governments to specific actions to improve outcomes for people with disability.

The Department of Social Services oversees the Early Childhood Targeted Action Plan. This TAP focuses on infants to school age children. It includes those with disability and development concerns, their families and carers. It has key details to help families find information and support when they need it. The Early Childhood TAP also outlines how programs and services can work together. It is also useful to other people who help families, like doctors and teachers.

The Department of Social Services is working with the National Disability Insurance Agency, the Department of Health and Aged Care, the Department of Education, and the National Indigenous Australians Agency to complete the Australian Government actions in the Early Childhood TAP.

Each state and territory has committed to completing their own actions in the Early Childhood TAP.

Reporting

The Department of Social Services will release reports each year that will measure progress, successes and overall status of actions in the TAPs. These will be available to the public.

There is more information under Australia’s Disability Strategy Hub on the Disability Gateway.

Outcomes

Updates on Australian Government actions under the Early Childhood TAP will be provided as elements of actions are completed.

Australian Government Action 1.3: Improve culturally safe and appropriate developmental screening tool

The University of Melbourne was engaged to develop Ages and Stages Questionnaire - Talking about Raising Aboriginal Kids 2 (ASQ-TRAK2), an extension of the previous ASQ-TRAK to include culturally safe and appropriate developmental screening for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, aged 2 months – 5 years.

This tool went live in June 2023 and is being used within First Nation communities and adopted by Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services, government health services, education services, and community services.

Australian Government Action 2.4: Review guidance for best practice early intervention

Best practice stakeholder workshop

On 14 June 2023, the Department of Social Services co-convened a stakeholder workshop which involved key stakeholders in developing the parameters for the review of best practice guidance for children with disability or developmental concerns. A summary report of the workshop can be accessed via the link below:

Stakeholder Workshop Summary Report

The output and discussion of this workshop informed the procurement of services to review best practice guidance in early childhood intervention.

Development of a best practice framework

The department has engaged the University of Melbourne to lead a partnership to undertake an independent analysis and development of a framework of best practice in early childhood intervention for children with disability, delay or developmental concerns. Members of the consortium include University of Melbourne teams from:

  • Healthy Trajectories Child and Youth Disability Research Hub
  • Melbourne Disability Institute
  • STRONG kids, STRONG future.

In partnership with leading and peak organisations:

  • Children and Young People with Disability Australia
  • Murdoch Children’s Research Institute
  • Professionals and Researchers in Early Childhood Intervention 
  • SNAICC – the National Voice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families.

This project is scheduled to be completed in the first half of 2025.

The project team can be contacted at official-ecireview@unimelb.edu.au.

To stay informed or be consulted, register your interest.

Australian Government Action 2.5: Develop educator resources to support inclusion

The Department of Social Services, National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA), Department of Education and National Indigenous Australians Agency have partnered, in consultation with representatives from the early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector, to develop resources to support inclusion of children in mainstream ECEC settings.

The resources contribute towards the Australian Government’s commitments under the Early Childhood TAP. They aim to support early childhood educators to have respectful conversations and build relationships with families so they can make informed choices about their child.

Australian Government Action 3.1: Recommendation report on programs to best support diverse cohorts

On 3 May 2022, the department in collaboration with the NDIA, commissioned Whereto Research Based Consulting (Whereto) to undertake research on current models of peer support and to provide recommendations on models that best support diverse cohorts. Whereto engaged with parents and carers of young children with disability or developmental concerns, and sector stakeholders including, peak bodies and service providers through in-depth interviews, group discussions, online workshops and an online survey.

A summary report, including an easy read version, can be accessed via the link below:

Early Childhood TAP Summary report

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