Early Communication Supports
Who is eligible?
Who Is Eligible?
- Ages: Families of children aged 2-4 years
- Diagnosis: Suitable for children with a diagnosis (like autism) or those without a diagnosis
- Concerns: Families who have concerns about any aspect of their child’s communication development
- Goals: Families wanting to learn strategies to support their child’s communication development
- Location: Families in north Canberra (Inner North, Gungahlin, and Belconnen regions), or via telehealth
Note: This service does not offer drop-off/pick-up activities and does not provide ABA therapy.
How does it work?
Our early communication support service:
- Delivery: Offered as home visits or via telehealth
- Focus: Builds family skills to support communication development
- Strategy: Emphasises practical strategies for long-term success
- Involvement: Caregivers work closely with the speech pathologist to integrate strategies into daily routines at home
What happens during an appointment?
During an appointment, you can expect:
- Progress Discussion: The speech pathologist will ask about any progress you’ve noticed at home
- Strategy Review: You’ll discuss what strategies you’ve tried, what worked, and what didn’t
- Strategy Adjustment: The speech pathologist will help adjust or add new strategies to better meet your child’s goals
- Practice: You’ll learn and practise these strategies with your child
- Implementation: The speech pathologist will work with you to make sure the strategies fit well with your family’s routine
Note: Early communication support services are not available at early childhood education settings, but occasional visits may be arranged if specifically requested by an educator.
How to access the service
- Hearing Screening: All children need a recent hearing screening to access this service. ACT residents can get this at no cost through the Children’s Hearing Service.
- NDIS: We accept NDIS participants as well as children not using NDIS.
- Booking: Schedule appointments online.