For low-income families, waitlists for public health early childhood intervention can take 12mths+ or possibly not to all. Likewise, out-of-pocket expenses to access private health are prohibitive, creating further barriers, delayed assessments or withdrawal of children from therapy altogether. In recognition of these barriers, this program provides financial assistance for children, who have a disability, ...
KU Marcia Burgess Foundation
Supporting Children with Additional Needs
GOAL
$15,000
Australia > National / Multi-state > Metro and Regional
Field of Interest
- Individual/family services and support
- Social inclusion and justice
Target Population
- Early years (0-5)
- People experiencing socio-economic disadvantage or vulnerability
KU Marcia Burgess Foundation
KU Marcia Burgess Foundation is the charitable entity of KU Children’s Services (KU) and was established as a means for reaching more children and families through initiatives that promote equity, diversity, inclusion, and affect social change. It was named in honour of the late Marcia Burgess, a KU luminary dedicated to child wellbeing, social inclusion, and equality of access to early education for all children.
KU is a not-for-profit leader in quality early childhood education and takes pride in its commitment in delivering programs that have a profound social impact and premised on a framework of evidence-based best practice to meet the needs of individual children.
Marcia’s commitment is what underpins initiatives KU Marcia Burgess Foundation supports, for children who may miss out on access to early education or face limitations in reaching their best potential. Programs to date include:
- Financial assistance for children from low-income families to access early intervention developmental assessments and therapy before starting school,
- Multi-year program in Wagga Wagga strengthening connections and collaborations with local Wiradjuri Peoples and Aboriginal community groups and services, and with locally led programs in KU’s preschools,
- Locally led Wiradjuri and Dharawal Languages programs,
- Fee assistance, creating opportunities for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander families to access KU’s early education,
- Early learning resources for a toy library established in Manor Lakes in Melbourne’s high growth western suburbs, and
- Distribution of Sound Amplifications Systems to over 40 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander early education services in Australia.
Project Summary
For low-income families, waitlists for public health early childhood intervention can take 12mths+ or possibly not to all. Likewise, out-of-pocket expenses to access private health are prohibitive, creating further barriers, delayed assessments or withdrawal of children from therapy altogether.
In recognition of these barriers, this program provides financial assistance for children, who have a disability, autism or other additional needs, to access specialist early childhood developmental assessments and therapies before starting school.
Evidence-based research and KU Children’s Services (KU) early intervention experiences with children under 5yrs, show access to specialist services markedly increase children’s ability to achieve their best learnings and social outcomes. It is a life changer for the child, their family, and educators.
This holistic program is delivered in collaboration with families, KU allied health managers and KU’s early education directors. Professional services are provided by KU’s Early Intervention and Allied Health Services, a NDIS registered provider.
National guidelines on Best Practice in Early Childhood Intervention guide the approach What is early childhood intervention? | NDIS, and early childhood intervention research and evidence based best practice relating to the needs of specific children are applied (eg. Early Start Denver Model: autism therapy | Raising Children Network.
Services are provided across Sydney’s western, south-west, southern, south-east, and eastern suburbs, in Wagga Wagga NSW, ACT, and Melbourne’s city, western, southern and eastern suburbs.
Developmental assessments and therapies can be delivered from child friendly clinics, within early education and care services, and in family homes or within the local community.
Project Outcomes
The Supporting Children with Additional Needs program is premised on inclusion and support for children from low-income families. Over 1,000 children with additional needs attend KU’s early education services, with many likely not to access early intervention before starting school.
The program aims to support families and educators to:
- Understand children’s individual developmental needs,
- Identify goals and priorities to support children reach their full potential,
- Increase confidence and capacity to implement early intervention strategies into everyday routines and activities to support children,
- Access early childhood intervention supports under the NDIS Early Childhood Approach (as required), and
- Help make connections with other local support services.
Program outcomes are based on:
- Timely and targeted professional health assessments and therapy sessions provided for children from low-income families,
- Building family and educator capacity to implement early intervention strategies and supports for individual developmental needs of children, and
- Families supported to navigate, access and advocate for professional services for their children, and in their transition to school.
Measurements include:
- Data collected in application process (ie. demographics, support needs),
- Data collected on types, number and delivery of early intervention services,
- Observations and feedback from stakeholders.
“We wouldn't have been able to access these services otherwise. The waiting lists and costs prevented us from supporting her speech and language. She's more confident, people can understand her better, and she's making friends. It’s such a relief to know she is getting support and before starting school." Mum
Budget Breakdown
TOTAL BUDGET: $136,138
FUNDING
| Funding source | Amount |
|---|---|
| KU Children’s Services – in kind | $24,857 |
| Funding Gap | $15,000 |
EXPENSES
| Expense item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Developmental Assessments (projections are based on estimates in consultation with KU’s Allied Health managers and may vary depending on need of families and children. incl Speech & Language, Occupational Therapy, Autism, Psychology) | $31,073 |
| Therapy Sessions (projections are based on estimates in consultation with KU’s Allied Health managers and may vary depending on need of families and children. incl Speech & Language, Occupational Therapy, Autism Support, Psychology, Groups) | $80,208 |
| KU Children’s Service In-Kind: Allied Health Managers - overseeing application process, liaison with families, service directors, and allied health professionals, monitoring, follow-up. | $18,375 |
| KU Children’s Service In-Kind: Program Administration, Management, HR, Finance, Early Educators - calculated conservatively | $6,482 |
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