In 2000 Kids Are Kids! successfully applied to the Disability Services Commission to become a provider of comprehensive early childhood intervention therapy services.  This offered families an alternative to other government funded early intervention therapy service providers.

The service became the KidStart Program and it officially commenced January 15th 2001.

KIDSTART PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

• To provide children with access to a caring and stimulating learning environment.
• To enhance all areas of early childhood development (language, social, emotional and physical) in order to help children realise their full potential.
• To foster self-esteem and confidence through promoting success and the value of individual differences.
• To provide an equitable service and maintain high ethical standards.
• To provide a high quality, personalised service to families.

WHO IS KIDSTART FOR?

• This service is open to children aged 0 – 5 years who meet the Disability Service Commission’s eligibility criteria under the legislative requirements of the Disability Services Act 1993 and the DSC's policy requirements.
• Children with a range of diagnoses can access the KidStart program.  These include children with global developmental delay, a physical disability, an intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder, Down syndrome and some children with unspecified disabilities.

• Children who are 6 years of age and are repeating pre-primary and are ineligible for school age therapy services are also eligible.

KIDSTART SERVICES

The KidStart Program provides a comprensive early childhood intervention program involving speech pathology, occupational therapy, physiotherapy and psychology services in a collaborative transdisciplinary team based approach. The programme is based on the Family Centred Model of Practice.

The KidStart Program offers a wide range of service delivery options which include:

• Centre based individual therapy – assessment and intervention.
• Centre based group therapy – assessment and intervention.
• Home visits – evaluation and consultative support.
• Daycare, Kindy, Pre-primary visits – consultative support and advocacy.
• Formulation of Individual Family Intervention Plans and Individual Education plans.
• Parent/family information, education and networking.
• Liaison with other stakeholders – eg. teachers, daycare workers, LAC’s, extended family members.
• Support in other community facilities such as recreation programs.
• Support services including resource preparation and equipment applications.
• Consultancy with other private therapists.

As every child is unique and has different needs, each KidStart client has an individually tailored therapy program developed for them in conjunction with their family and the therapy team.

REFERRAL PROCESS

Referrals are accepted from family members, Paediatricians, Medical Officers, Local Area Coordinators and other government or non-government agencies.

• Clients who are registered with DSC must provide written confirmation of registration and/or their  DSC registration number
• Clients not already registered with DSC must provide a written referral from a Paediatrician or Medical Officer detailing the child’s diagnosis which meet the criteria.
• Clients who have not had an assessment through a Paediatrician will be screened by a therapist at Kids Are Kids! to determine eligibility.
• In keeping with our family centred practice approach we ask that the Parents or Legal Guardian must make the initial contact with Kids Are Kids!

ADDITIONAL SERVICES

Should any families wish to access additional therapy services for their child from Kids Are Kids!, they are able to do so.  However it should be noted that while a child is registered with the KidStart program  any additional fee for service therapy provided at Kids Are Kids! will NOT be eligible for rebates with any private health insurance.

To obtain further details regarding the KidStart Program please contact one of our friendly team.