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 2.4: Review guidance for best practice early intervention

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 will inform development of the activities to be commissioned through a procurement process to review and update best practice guidance in early childhood intervention.

This procurement process has commenced, and the following 11 suppliers from the Panel for Indigenous Evaluation and Research Services have been invited to provide quotations:

  • ARTD Pty Ltd
  • IPS Management Consultants
  • KPMG
  • La Trobe University
  • Nous Group Pty Ltd
  • Parenting Research Centre Inc.
  • Social Ventures Australia
  • Swinburne University of Technology
  • The University of Queensland
  • The University of Melbourne
  • The University of New South Wales

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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