Paul Fletcher (Bradfield, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

asked the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, in writing, on 16 June 2011:

In respect of the Better Start for Children with a Disability program, why is eligibility restricted to a child having one of only five identified categories of disabilities, and not instead based on an assessment of the needs of an individual child with a disability of any description.

Jenny Macklin (Jagajaga, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The answer to the honourable member's question is as follows:

The Government's Better Start for Children with Disability program commenced on 1 July 2011. It will help ensure children with disabilities that affect their development have access to early intervention therapies and treatments. Around 9000 children diagnosed with cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, Fragile X syndrome and sight or hearing impairments will be eligible to receive up to $12,000 for early intervention services.

The categories of disability included in the Better Start initiative were based on existing evidence that targeted early intervention in the preschool years is effective in preparing this cohort of children for school.

The Parliamentary Secretary for Disability and Carers has asked my Department to seek expert advice about evidence for early intervention in relation to other types of childhood disability and developmental delay, including an analysis of current research. Along with the planned evaluation of Better Start program, this will help inform the future direction of the program, including consideration of extending it more broadly.