Relationship-based approaches in early childhood intervention: Are these applicable to paediatric occupational therapy under the NDIS?

With the transition to individualised funding packages under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), intervention services for young children with developmental difficulties are facing significant change. National roll‐out of the full NDIS is scheduled to commence progressively from July 2016, under the guidance of the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) (National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), 2014). According to the NDIA, evidence‐based practice requires a transdisciplinary, family centred, key worker approach for children from birth to 6 years with disabilities, and their families. One of the seven principles of early childhood intervention (Workgroup on Principles and Practices in Natural Environments, OSEP TA Community of Practice: Part C Settings, 2008), included on the NDIS website, emphasises the need for learning to be relationship‐based. In this viewpoint, the definition of relationship‐based approaches within early childhood interventions is considered, and the applicability of these approaches to occupational therapy under the NDIS explored.