Early Childhood Early Intervention (ECEI) is a way the NDIS provides supports for children aged under 7 years old with a developmental delay or disability. Below we guide you through how ECEI works and how Plan Management can assist your family on the ECEI journey.
What is ECEI?
ECEI is in place to ensure children with a disability or developmental delay are supported to access their community and reach their goals. The program is available for children between 0 – 6 years old and aims to provide assistance early on to minimise the number of complex supports they may require in the future.
How does it work?
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Step 1: Contact an Early Childhood Partner
The best way to contact an Early Childhood Partner is through the NDIS. Contact them directly on 1800 110 800 or visit the NDIS website.
You will need to provide written statements from your child’s teachers, family, treating doctor or specialist to highlight why they might benefit from accessing ECEI. The statement should outline your child’s diagnosis or developmental delay and how it impacts their life. The NDIA will confirm if your child is eligible to access the program.
Step 2: Work out your child’s support needs
Your Early Childhood Partner will work with you to understand the appropriate supports needed to allow your child to reach their goals. They will also assist you to access community health centers, educational settings, and playgroups.
Step 3: Referral Services
Now that your child’s needs are understood an ECEI plan will be developed. At this point, you can request how you wish to manage your plan’s funding. Find out more about the ways to manage your plan. If you would like more information on how Plan Management works, feel free to reach out to our friendly team on 1300 402 568. You can also download our Request for Plan Management form, to bring along with you to your planning meeting.
Step 4: Begin receiving supports
Once your plan is completed you can begin accessing the services your child requires.
How can a Plan Manager like BudgetNet assist your child on their ECEI journey?
As parents/carers, it can be stressful to understand and implement your child’s ECEI plan. To make it less stressful, consider having your child’s NDIS plan, plan managed by BudgetNet.
Plan Management is when a company such as BudgetNet takes care of all your provider payments/invoices on your behalf.
Here are the top benefits to Plan Management:
- Flexibility: You can access registered or non-registered providers giving you more options when it comes to the items/services you access.
- Trusted Advice: Our team of chartered accountants and NDIS experts are here to assist you with any questions, advice, or issues you may have. No long wait times and the ability to speak with the same team member means gives you a truly personalised experience.
- Access to a real-time Budget App: Download our app to your smart device and have your child’s funding information available 24/7 from the palm of your hand.
- Simple refunds: If you purchase an item with your own money we may be able to reimburse you for your purchase. Read more about claiming refunds.
What happens once your child turns 7?
If your child has a permanent disability and you would like them to continue to receive supports, you may wish to transition over to the NDIS. To do so, you will be required to provide a formal diagnosis. The NDIS will contact you before your child’s 7th birthday to ensure the transition is as easy as possible.