Review of Best Practice in Early Childhood Intervention

Bringing together the best evidence about best practice in early childhood intervention

A landmark national framework setting out best practice standards for early childhood intervention has been officially launched in Australia, following a major collaborative effort led by the University of Melbourne and backed by $1.89 million in Commonwealth funding.

The National Framework for Best Practice in Early Childhood Intervention, endorsed by the Australian Government and launched in October 2025, provides a shared foundation for practitioners, families, and policymakers working with children who have developmental concerns, delays, or disabilities.

The project was led by Professor Christine Imms from the Healthy Trajectories Child and Youth Disability Research Hub, with partners drawn from across the sector: the Department of Paediatrics, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Professionals and Researchers in Early Childhood Intervention (PRECI), SNAICC (National Voice for Our Children), Children and Young People with Disability Australia, and Advocating for Children (ACD).

Professors Bruce Bonyhady and Kirsten Deane served on the project leadership group. The Melbourne Disability Institute (MDI) provided leadership across communications, design, and stakeholder engagement throughout the project.

You can read more about the work of the project consortium partners here.

The Framework's launch generated significant coverage across government and sector media channels, and was featured as a central theme at the 3rd National PRECI Conference, drawing researchers, practitioners, and policymakers from across Australia and internationally.

Supporting resources, including Easy Read versions, language translations, practice guides, family guides, presentations, and videos, have been released to enable broad dissemination and implementation across services and communities.

What's next: a National Technical Centre

With the Framework now in the hands of the sector, the consortium is turning its attention to implementation. A proposal is underway for a National Technical Centre that would provide practical tools, training, and advice to help practitioners, families, and policymakers embed best practice at scale.

View the National Best Practice Framework for Early Childhood Intervention