The Wellbeing Page

Free Funding - Early Childhood Approach:

The early childhood approach has extended their funding for children up to 9 years old.

The early childhood approach was developed based on evidence- based research with the help of leading experts in early childhood intervention. Note that this organisation is not linked with SMPS.

The approach supports best practice in early childhood intervention because it helps the child and family to build their capacity and supports greater inclusion in community and every day settings, meaning each child will be provided with opportunities to grow and learn.

It is about giving children and their families the right supports to enable them to have the best possible start in life. A child’s early years are very important as they set up how they will learn and develop later in life.

The early childhood approach focusses on being both family-centred and strengths-based. We do this by acknowledging that as parents and carers you know your child best. 

Families are at the centre of all services and supports.

Early childhood intervention should fit in as much as possible with your child and family’s daily activities.

To learn more about early childhood intervention, watch this family perspectives video .

The early childhood approach aims to:

• provide timely support to ensure that you are able to access the supports you need
• give you information about best-practice early childhood intervention supports and how you can help your child
• increase your confidence and capacity to manage and respond to your child’s support needs increase your child’s ability to do activities they need or want to do throughout their day increase your child’s inclusion and participation in mainstream and community settings like childcare or recreation
• give you information about, and referrals to, other support services if needed, like parent support groups.

Learn more about the early childhood approach in their guidelines - early childhood approach .

• To obtain the Early Childhood funding, families can complete the referral form here: https://ndis.bsl.org.au/early-childhood/referral-form/
• The referral form takes around 20 minutes to complete. 
• Your Local Area Coordinator (Brotherhood of St Laurence) will then contact you to set up a meeting. 
• During that meeting they will identify which pathway is best for your child and support you to go from there. 
• Alternatively, you can call them to do this on tel: 1300 275 634
• Email: BSL.customerservice@ndis.gov.au
• Funding can support with: after-school clubs, swimming lessons, sports classes, psychologist sessions, speech therapy sessions, occupational therapy sessions, behaviour support and much more. 

For Prep Families Only: Reminder  - Free Health, Wellbeing and Development Checks

Recently you were provided information about the Primary School Nursing Program, along with a link to an online version of the School Entrant Health Questionnaire. You can access and complete this questionnaire on a mobile phone, computer or tablet. If you have not yet completed the questionnaire and would like to do so, please use the QR code or link below to access the questionnaire:

 https://students.educationapps.vic.gov.au/sehq/s

If you have already completed the School Entrant Health Questionnaire, thank you.

 If you have started an online questionnaire but have not yet submitted it, please log in, complete the questionnaire, and submit it. 

Participation in the program is not mandatory and parent/carer consent is required for the Primary School Nurse to see your child. 

If you do not wish to participate, you are encouraged to register and select ‘No I do not consent’ in the online questionnaire so that your response is recorded. 

If you prefer, an identical paper version of the questionnaire is available from your child’s school. Please only complete one questionnaire per child. If you have any questions or concerns about this service, you can contact the Primary School Nurse:

Annemaree Montgomerie

Tel: 0419300384

Email: annemaree.montgomerie@education.vic.gov.au