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NDIS Key Workers
Key workers to strengthen partnerships with children and families
At Ability Action Australia, a key worker is an early childhood intervention professional who acts as the key point of support for young children living with developmental delay, disability and autism, and their families.
With qualifications in allied health or education, the key worker collaborates with a team of specialists, but takes the lead role in providing therapeutic interventions that support your child to achieve their goals. No need to schedule multiple therapists or coordinate their efforts. A key worker is a holistic, coordinated and family-friendly approach to supporting all of your child’s development goals through a single, highly-qualified professional.
A key worker is:
- The main contact for your family
- The person you will see and talk to most in your early childhood intervention service
- Your child’s primary therapist
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- The person who chooses and delivers your child’s services
- Responsible for coordinating and building your child’s team
- One of the best ways to receive early intervention services
What does an NDIS key worker do?
Your key worker will have a background in allied health or education and be qualified as an:
- Occupational therapist
- Speech pathologist
- Physiotherapist
- Exercise physiologist
- Early childhood educator
Whatever their background, they’ll draw on the knowledge and skills of a team of professionals and deliver that expertise to your child and family in your home or everyday environment, such as in their childcare centre or school, or the local park.
Here are some examples of what a key worker does:
If your key worker is an occupational therapist and one of your child’s goals is to develop play skills, they might seek advice about how to help your child use more words from their team’s speech pathologist.
If your key worker is a speech pathologist who is helping your child communicate better, they may also play games that work on an occupational therapist’s program for fine motor skill development.
A key worker might work with an occupational therapist and psychologist if you decide that it’s important to help your child with their anxiety, to plan a coordinated approach.
How can an NDIS key worker help me?
There are many positive reasons to choose a key worker to support your child and family during NDIS early childhood intervention.
One of the major benefits of a key worker is the ability to access the services your child needs through one single service provider, rather than through a range of individual professionals.
Here are some of the ways a key worker can help you and your family:
- Support to identify and address your goals and priorities
- Coordinate and draw on knowledge from multiple specialists
- Deliver therapy where and when you need it
- Embed therapy techniques into your everyday routine
- Connect with many different services on your behalf
- Talk to your child’s support network to ensure everyone is coordinated
- Develop tailored, personalised strategies
- Monitor progress towards your goals
Support your child through their journey with a qualified, NDIS key worker
Having a consistent and dedicated key worker who forms a strong connection with your child can make all the difference in their long-term progress. The relationship between your child and their key worker is built on trust and understanding, allowing the key worker to tailor their approach and support based on your child’s individual needs and preferences.
Personalised Approach:
An NDIS key worker who knows your child well can tailor their approach to suit your child’s unique strengths, challenges, and interests. They will take the time to understand your child’s individual needs and preferences, allowing them to deliver interventions that resonate with your child and are more likely to be effective.
Continuity of Care:
With a dedicated key worker, NDIS participants will benefit from continuity of care. This means they won’t have to adjust to working with different professionals frequently, which can be disruptive and challenging, especially for children with developmental differences. Consistency in the therapeutic relationship fosters a sense of stability and security for your child.
Building Trust and Confidence:
As your child develops a bond with their key worker, they will feel more comfortable and secure during therapy sessions. This trust and confidence can lead to increased engagement and willingness to participate in various activities, further supporting their progress.
Family Involvement:
The relationship between your child and their NDIS key worker extends to the entire family. The key worker will actively involve you in the intervention process, providing guidance, training, and strategies that can be implemented at home to reinforce your child’s development.
Long-Term Goal Setting:
Having a consistent NDIS key worker allows for more effective long-term planning. The key worker can work with you to set meaningful and achievable goals for your child’s development, monitoring progress and adjusting the plan as needed.
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Multidisciplinary care is when a team of health professionals with different skills collaborate to support as many of your needs as possible. Our multidisciplinary team can support you reach your goals!
NDIS Key Worker Frequently Asked Questions
Key workers in disability services are highly trained early childhood intervention specialists who acts as the key point of contact for young children living with developmental delay, disability and autism, and their families.
With qualifications in allied health or education, the key worker is also the main therapy provider who collaborates in a team but takes the lead role in providing interventions that support your child to achieve their goals.
If your child requires you to access many different services, the traditional multidisciplinary approach would see you engaging with a range of allied health professionals. A key worker is a holistic, coordinated and family-friendly approach to supporting all of your child’s development goals through a single, highly-qualified professional.
The transdisciplinary key worker model is similar to multidisciplinary support but provides an alternative that is highly family-centred and suitable for early childhood intervention. One primary therapist can provide comfort to families that a consistent approach is being taken and reduce confusion.
We know your child learns best in familiar places where they feel safe, secure and supported, so our NDIS key workers come to see your child wherever they spend their time and need support in daily life.
This might be in your home or other everyday environment such as:
- At the park
- At school
- In preschool or childcare
- Out shopping
- At the swimming pool
- In the community
Typically, your NDIS key worker will see you and your child in a place of your choosing on a weekly or fortnightly basis.
They will also want to see parents and carers at other times to discuss your child’s needs and goals, expectations and the kinds of support required.
The key worker will also spend time consulting with and coordinating other professionals in the team to discuss care and progress and with other services such as teachers and educators on ways to support your child.
You can access a key worker using funding through the NDIS Early Childhood Approach for children aged up to seven years.
For further details or to access our key worker therapy service, get in touch with Ability Action Australia’s Concierge Team on 1800 238 958 or fill out our online referral form.
You can also email us at hello@abilityactionaustralia.com.au.
Yes, an NDIS key worker can support you in setting and achieving your child’s goals. They can work collaboratively with you to identify developmental needs, develop strategies, connect with relevant people in your child’s support network, and provide ongoing therapeutic supports and encouragement throughout the goal attainment process.
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NDIS key workers
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is a way of supporting people with permanent and significant disability. The NDIS is designed to give individuals greater choice and control over when, where and how their funded supports are provided. The specific support and funding available is based on each individual’s specific needs. You can find out more about what therapeutic supports are funded by referring to the NDIS website.
