What I want every parent to know about early intervention

By Lucilyn Montano, Behaviour Support Specialist, Lizard Centre QLD

Over the years, I’ve sat with many worried parents. Many arrive feeling unsure, sometimes a little frightened, and almost always wondering whether they’ve left it too late or started looking for help too soon. If that’s how you’re feeling right now, I want to begin with something I tell every family I meet: you’re not alone, and you don’t need to have all the answers today.

I’m a Behaviour Support Specialist at Lizard Centre Queensland. Before moving to Brisbane, I spent several years as a special education teacher working with young children in the Philippines and the United Arab Emirates. Throughout my career, I’ve seen how powerful early intervention can be in supporting a child’s communication, behaviour, social skills and overall development. I hope that by sharing what I’ve learned, I can help make your next steps a little clearer and less overwhelming.

You Don’t Have to Wait for a Diagnosis

One of the most common questions parents ask me is:

“Do we need a diagnosis before we can start therapy?”

My answer is always the same. A formal diagnosis from qualified professionals is important, but you don’t have to wait before beginning early intervention. Starting support as early as possible gives children the greatest opportunity to develop communication, learning, behaviour and social skills during their most important developmental years.

While waiting for assessments or appointments, spend time reading information from trusted sources and speaking with experienced professionals. The more you understand your child’s needs, the more confident you’ll feel supporting them at home.

It’s also worth remembering that many families first hear concerns from a teacher, childcare educator or relative. If that’s how your journey began, please don’t feel guilty. Often, that gentle observation becomes the first step towards getting the right support.

What Good Behaviour Support Really Looks Like

Many parents worry their child is too young for therapy or imagine therapy as something highly structured and serious.

In reality, effective behaviour support for young children is often built around play-based learning. Through everyday games and activities, children naturally learn essential life skills, including:

• Taking turns
• Communicating their needs
• Managing emotions
• Building social skills
• Adapting to changes in routine

Play isn’t simply about keeping children entertained—it’s one of the most effective ways children learn. Skilled therapists intentionally use play to encourage meaningful development while making therapy engaging and enjoyable.

Five Things to Look for When Choosing a Behaviour Support Provider

Parents often ask me how to choose the right behaviour support provider. These are the five qualities I always recommend looking for.

1. Qualified and Experienced Professionals

Ensure your child is working directly with trained and experienced therapists who specialise in supporting children with developmental and behavioural needs.

2. Open Communication with Families

A quality provider welcomes your questions, explains therapy strategies clearly, and works closely with your family throughout the intervention process.

3. Reliable Reports and Documentation

Progress reports, assessments and NDIS documentation should be accurate, professional and delivered on time without unnecessary delays.

4. A Collaborative Team Approach

The best outcomes happen when therapists, teachers, carers and parents work together with consistent strategies and shared developmental goals.

5. Evidence-Based Goals

Look for realistic goals supported by research and evidence-based practice rather than relying on trends or unsupported therapy methods.

Above everything else, you should feel respected, listened to and actively involved. Strong partnerships between families and therapists are one of the biggest contributors to successful outcomes.

Understanding NDIS Funding

For many families, understanding the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) can feel just as overwhelming as navigating a new diagnosis.

Many parents don’t realise that NDIS funding can often be used across several different therapy services, including:

• Behaviour Support
• Speech Pathology
• Occupational Therapy
• Other Early Intervention Supports

Each therapy supports different aspects of your child’s development. Using funding across multiple therapies often provides a more comprehensive and effective approach than focusing on only one area.

One of the things I value most about working in Queensland is that therapy often takes place in familiar environments such as your home, childcare centre, preschool, playground or local community. Children generally learn best where they feel comfortable, confident and safe.

Behaviour support isn’t only about helping children. It’s about empowering parents, carers, educators and everyone involved in the child’s daily life to confidently support ongoing learning and development.

Remember to Look After Yourself

If there’s one message I hope every parent remembers, it’s this:

Please take care of yourself as well.

When information feels confusing or difficult to find, it’s completely normal to feel overwhelmed, isolated or uncertain. I’ve worked with many parents carrying enormous responsibilities while trying to do what’s best for their child.

You don’t have to do everything on your own.

Reach out to trusted professionals, ask questions, and accept support whenever you need it. Looking after your own wellbeing allows you to better support your child throughout their early intervention journey.

You know your child better than anyone else. With the right team beside you, guidance becomes clearer, challenges become more manageable, and you never have to face the journey alone.

FAQs

Do I Need a Diagnosis Before Starting Early Intervention?

No. A formal diagnosis from a qualified professional is important and worth pursuing, but you do not have to wait for one to begin early intervention. You can start while your child is reaching or missing developmental milestones, and acting early gives them the best possible opportunity to build communication, social and developmental skills. While waiting for assessments, researching trusted information and seeking professional guidance can also help you confidently support your child at home.

How Do I Know if an Early Intervention Provider Is High Quality?

Choose an early intervention provider with qualified and experienced professionals who work directly with your child. Look for open communication, timely reports and documentation, strong collaboration between therapists, educators and families, and realistic, evidence-based goals. Above all, a quality provider should make you feel respected, informed and actively involved in your child’s therapy journey.

Can NDIS Funding Be Used for More Than One Type of Therapy?

Yes. Depending on your child’s NDIS plan, funding can often be allocated across multiple therapy services, including behaviour support, speech pathology, and occupational therapy. Each service supports different aspects of your child’s development, and combining therapies can provide a more comprehensive and effective approach to achieving developmental goals.

What Makes Early Intervention in Queensland Different?

In Queensland, early intervention services funded through the NDIS are commonly delivered in natural learning environments such as the home, preschool, childcare centre, playgroups and the wider community. These familiar settings encourage children to learn and practise new skills where they feel most comfortable, while also empowering parents, carers and educators to support their ongoing development.

Is Play Really Part of Therapy?

Absolutely. Play-based therapy is one of the most effective ways young children learn and develop. Rather than simply filling time, play helps children build communication, emotional regulation, social interaction, problem-solving and everyday living skills in a natural, enjoyable and engaging way. Skilled therapists intentionally use play to achieve meaningful developmental outcomes.

Glossary

Early Intervention

Support provided as early as possible to help children develop communication, behaviour, social interaction and everyday living skills, often before or shortly after receiving a formal diagnosis. Early intervention is most effective during the first few years of life when brain development occurs most rapidly.

NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme)

The Australian Government’s funding scheme that provides eligible people with disability access to therapies, supports and services, including early childhood intervention, behaviour support and allied health services.

Allied Health

Qualified healthcare professionals who are not doctors or nurses, including speech pathologists, occupational therapists, psychologists, physiotherapists and behaviour support practitioners who work together to improve a child’s development and wellbeing.

Developmental Milestones

The skills most children develop at different stages of childhood, including walking, talking, communicating, learning and social interaction. Delays or differences in reaching these milestones may indicate that additional assessment or early intervention could be beneficial.

Board Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA)

A highly qualified behaviour specialist who has completed advanced education and internationally recognised certification in behaviour analysis. BCBAs assess behaviour, design evidence-based intervention programs and supervise behaviour support strategies.

Behaviour Support

An evidence-based therapy approach that helps children develop positive behaviours, improve communication and social skills, and reduce behaviours that interfere with learning, participation and daily life.

Occupational Therapy

A therapy service that helps children build everyday living skills, including fine motor development, self-care, sensory processing, emotional regulation, school readiness and participation at home, school and within the community.

Evidence-Based Practice

An approach to therapy that combines the best available research, clinical expertise and individual family needs to deliver effective interventions and achieve the best possible outcomes for children.