What a key worker does
The NDIS Commission describes a key worker as a person chosen by the family of a child receiving early childhood supports to work with them to coordinate information, services and supports for the child.
In practice the key worker visits you, often at home, childcare or kinder, helps you set goals, coaches you in strategies, and keeps the other professionals informed. You get one consistent relationship, and the advice you receive fits together.
The team around the child
A key worker does not work alone. The model is called transdisciplinary: speech pathologists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, psychologists, educators and the family work as one team and share knowledge across their usual boundaries. The key worker then delivers most of the hands on support, with input from the others.
If your child needs something only a particular specialist can do, such as a specific assessment or equipment prescription, that specialist still sees your child directly. The key worker helps you fit it all together.
Why it is considered best practice
- Families deal with one main person, which is less tiring and less confusing
- Strategies are joined up rather than competing
- Support happens in everyday routines, where young children learn most
- Parents and carers build their own skills and confidence
- It can reduce the number of separate appointments each week
When a key worker suits you, and when it might not
A key worker often suits families of babies and young children with needs across several areas, such as communication, movement and play. If your child has one clear need, seeing one therapist directly may be simpler.
It is your choice. Under the NDIS Practice Standards for early childhood supports, a registered provider should work with you to identify a suitable key worker if your family wants one.
Paying for a key worker under the NDIS
Key worker support is usually claimed as early childhood supports from your child's Capacity Building budget, at the rate of the professional delivering it, within the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits. Ask the provider how team meetings, travel and reports are charged, and get it in your service agreement.
For children younger than 6 with developmental concerns who are not NDIS participants, early childhood partners can offer short term early supports that follow the same best practice ideas.
Questions to ask a provider
- Do you offer a key worker model, and who would our key worker be?
- Which other professionals are on the team, and how do they share information?
- Will the key worker come to our home, childcare or kinder?
- How are team discussions and reports charged?
- What happens if the key worker leaves or we want to change?