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Researchers from the University of Melbourne are leading a consortium of partners to review best practice in early childhood intervention in Australia. The review will produce a best practice framework, resources and tools to help practitioners, professionals and families ensure all children with developmental concerns, delay or disability have the best possible start in life.
Over 300 parents, caregivers, and professionals attended an information session on 25 November 2024 to hear from the entire project team about what we have been up to, what we have learned and what are our next steps.
The highly engaged audience was very keen to hear about the progress of the review, what the international evidence on best practice early childhood intervention points to, and how practice and lived experience wisdom will be incorporated into the new framework.
The information session was part of the Consortium’s ongoing consultations to authentically involve parents, caregivers, professionals and researchers and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in the early childhood community across Australia.
Your views are needed regarding key ECI terminology being considered as part of the new Framework. Through consultations with families, early childhood practitioners, and professionals, we’ve heard the terms ‘Intervention’ and ‘Best’ Practice can be problematic. What do they truly mean, and are they still relevant? By completing the brief survey, you will contribute to the new Framework by ensuring that such important terminology is appropriate and meaningful.
Please read the short paper we have prepared on considerations for new terminology and have your say now.
Four consultations were undertaken, led by four of the Consortium partners. These reports are available below. The next step in the review is to bring together the evidence from the literature and the consultations to inform the development of the Best Practice Framework.
Three desktop reviews were completed to bring together the best evidence from the literature about best practice in early intervention: a narrative review; a scoping review and comparison of several ECI frameworks; and, a systematic review of interventions and approaches. The Executive Summary and full Desktop Review report are available via the below tile.
The ECI review summary paper describes the key areas identified as having important implications for the development of an ECI practice framework. These areas have been identified following a comprehensive review of the international literature and will be priority focus areas for consultation sessions with professionals, organisations, professional groups, policy makers and researchers.
Over 200 parents, caregivers, and professionals attended an information session on 16 July 2024, keen to hear how the review will deliver improved outcomes for children with developmental concerns, delay or disability and their families.
The audience feedback was very positive and highlighted the need for all those working in early childhood intervention to be provided with the translational tools to take a best practice framework from theory to practice.
The event was one of many events that are intended to occur over the next six months to consult deeply with parents, caregivers, professionals and researchers in the early childhood community across Australia.
Click the buttons below to download a copy of our full FAQ documents, in either PDF or Word format.
Our Healthy Trajectories team is delighted to be leading an outstanding consortium to independently review best practice in early childhood intervention and develop a new Best Practice Framework for Early Childhood Intervention. This framework will help to ensure children growing up in Australia with disability or developmental concerns and their families are well supported and have every chance to thrive.
If you would like to contribute, or to receive updates on progress please register your interest by clicking this link.
If you would like to contact the project team, please email [email protected].
This project is funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services. It involves a review of best practice in early intervention for children with developmental concerns, delay or disability in Australia and around the world. Most importantly, the review will consult with families, young people with disability and professionals and practitioners to hear their views about what works best for children and families.
The results of these processes be combined to produce a Best Practice Framework, along with resources and tools to help practitioners and families understand the framework and how to use it in their everyday practice and lives.
The project brings together academic and clinical expertise, international experts and leaders, and the lived experience of families and communities across the country, including First Nations communities. The team includes researchers from University of Melbourne, the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Professionals and Researchers in Early Childhood Intervention (PRECI), SNAICC – National Voice for our Children, Children and Young People with Disability Australia (CYDA), and Association for Children with a Disability (ACD).
The framework and tools will be developed through deep consultation with parents, caregivers, professionals and researchers in the early childhood community across Australia.
The Healthy Trajectories Child and Youth Disability Research Hub acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to the lands and waterways on which we live, learn and work. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, and to Elders past, present and emerging.
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