Early intervention
At Anchor Therapy, our early intervention team follows the Key Worker model approach when working with families. The Key Worker model is the preferred way to approach Early Intervention for children with a developmental delay or disability. Understanding that families are already facing challenges, and adding multiple therapies to their lives may not be the most practical and beneficial solution, the Key Worker model focuses on a holistic family-centred approach. Families are empowered to be active participants in the goal setting process, ensuring that supports are targeted in a meaningful way.
At Anchor Therapy, you and your child will be assigned an early childhood professional who will work with your family to build a strong relationship, be your main point of contact, and provide family-centred, child-led interventions within your child's natural environments. Each Key Worker is supported by the whole transdisciplinary team including Speech Pathology, Occuoational Therapy and Early Childhood Education. Each family has access to all disciplines and will be provided with discipline-specific supports through specialist consultations that are guided by the Key Worker.
The approach supports families in strengthening their ability to help their children within their natural environments and daily routines, integrating support into everyday life rather than adding extra tasks. Additionally, Key Workers foster advocacy skills in parents and carers, enabling them to make informed decisions to support their child’s development.
The National Disaility Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and Early Childhood Intervention Australia support the Key Worker model as best practice for children requiring early intervention supports. More information about the benefits of the Key Worker model and Family Centred Practices can be found below.
https://ourguidelines.ndis.gov.au/early-childhood/early-childhood-approach/what-early-childhood-intervention
https://www.eciavic.org.au/documents/item/1849
https://www.eciavic.org.au/documents/item/1497
School-age therapy
As children continue to grow and benefit from Key Worker supports , some children may need more intensive discipline-specific intervention to increase their ability to engage in age-appropriate tasks and activities as well as to build capacity to fullfil their potential in their social and economic participation. Our Speech Pathologists and Occupational Therapists can continue to support children throughout their primary and secondary school years and aim to reduce the disability -related barriers that impact a child from participating while providing direct intervention to build the child's skills and capacity.