The Australian Psychological Society (APS) welcomed the opportunity to contribute to the Federal Government’s inquiry intoThriving Kids, an initiative which aims to strengthen early identification and foundational supports for children with developmental delays and disabilities and low to moderate support needs.
The APS strongly supports the vision of a nationally consistent, equitable and sustainable disability system that is based on the science and best practices of early intervention. Our submission emphasised that psychologists are central to achieving this goal— bringing unique expertise in early identification and intervention, developmental and functional assessment, workforce capability building, family support, and research and evaluation across health, education, disability, and community settings.
Our submission included 19 recommendations, which together aim to ensure that Thriving Kids delivers a coherent, equitable and evidence-based system of foundational supports.
Key recommendations include:
- A continuum of supports and clear pathways – ensuring children and families have access to the right supports, at the right time, and with the right intensity, with pathways that extend beyond the early and middle years of childhood.
- Explicit representation of psychologists – embedding psychologists on the Thriving Kids Advisory Group and all related governance structures, and at every level of design, implementation, workforce planning and evaluation, including in related initiatives such as the proposed new allied health Medicare items. Psychologist representation should be distinct and not subsumed under broader allied health categories.
- Embedding equity and cultural safety as core design principles – ensuring Thriving Kids supports all children and families, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, culturally and linguistically diverse groups, and those in rural and disadvantaged areas. This requires co-production with communities, investment in bicultural and outreach workforces, and flexible service delivery models so no child is left behind.
- Strengthened access to timely, affordable developmental and functional assessment and support by:
- Establishing new Medicare items for developmental screening of three-year-olds, including funded referral pathways to psychologists for follow-up, parent support, and further functional, cognitive, psychosocial, and diagnostic assessments as required.
- Reforming existing MBS neurodevelopmental assessment items to streamline referral and access, separate psychology-led items from other allied health items, and reduce out-of-pocket costs for families.
View submission