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Foundational Supports for Children

Foundational supports for children under 9

The NSW Government is working hard to deliver on our commitment to ensure that children across NSW get the best start in life and learning, no matter their postcode or background.

We are working with the Australian Government and other states and territories to design foundational supports for children under nine with autism and developmental delay. These supports would help children with low-to-moderate support needs and their families, carers and kin.

Foundational supports will help children to meet developmental milestones, learn, be social, and support them with their emotional, physical and mental health. Supports are also being designed to give families, carers and kin the right information to understand and support their child’s needs.

Governments are working together on how and when these services could be rolled out after they sign a long-term agreement on foundational supports.

Community consultation

The Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) is pleased to open registration for community and sector consultation on Foundational Supports for children in NSW.

We will be traveling across NSW to meet with people who are interested in how foundational supports can meet the needs of children and families in NSW.

We want to hear from parents, carers and kin, people with disability, and people working in early childhood education, disability or early intervention services.

Unless otherwise specified, all sessions will be open to community and sector. If you are a service provider that works directly with children and families, we encourage you to share these links across your networks to ensure we are hearing directly from people who will benefit from foundational supports.

As numbers are strictly limited, we ask that you do not register more than one representative of your agency.

Community consultations will occur from August to November 2025. The following dates and locations are currently planned:

Date Location Time Attendees Registration link
Monday 18 August Liverpool Morning Open to all Register here
Tuesday 19 August Parramatta Morning Open to all Register here
Monday 25 August Seven Hills Morning Open to all Register here
Monday 25 August Seven Hills Afternoon First Nations*
Tuesday 26 August Campbelltown Morning  Open to all Register here
Tuesday 26 August Campbelltown Afternoon First Nations*
Monday 1 September Regents Park Morning Open to all Register here
Tuesday 2 September Wagga Wagga Morning Open to all Register here
Monday 8 September Chatswood Morning Lived experience people with disability and advocates Register here
Monday 8 Septebmer Chatswood Afternoon Sector Register here
Monday 15 September Randwick Morning Lived experince people with disability and advocates Register here
Monday 15 September Randwick Afternoon Sector Register here
Tuesday 16 September Bankstown Morning Open to all Register here
Monday 22 September Lithgow Morning Open to all Register here
Tuesday 23 September Dubbo Morning Open to all Register here
Tuesday 23 September Dubbo Afternoon First Nations*

*to be confirmed

As new venues are confirmed we will be opening registrations. Please keep an eye on our webpage as we will continue rolling our registrations.

Additional consultations will be scheduled across NSW in the coming months, including sessions planned in Broken Hill, Redfern, Armidale, Tamworth, Ballina, Coffs Harbour, Gosford, Wollongong, Batemans Bay, Newcastle, Penrith and Lake Macquarie.

We are working with a First Nations organisation to design and deliver consultation for Aboriginal people. Dates and locations will be confirmed soon.

We recognise that the timing and locations will not suit everyone. To support broader engagement, we will be hosting six webinars, which may be a more accessible option for those who cannot attend face to face.

Advisory group

The NSW Department of Communities and Justice has established a Foundational Supports for Children Advisory Group. This includes peak bodies, advocates and service providers who will share their expertise and insights.

The following organisations are members of the Advisory Group:

  • People With Disability Australia
  • Family Advocacy 
  • Multicultural Disability Advocacy Association NSW 
  • First Nations Peoples Disability Network 
  • AbSec 
  • Autism Awareness Australia
  • National Disability Services
  • Local Community Services Association
  • NSW Family Services
  • NSW Council of Social Services
  • Marathon Health
  • Sydney Region Aboriginal Corp
  • We Care NSW 
  • Plumtree
  • Ethnic Community Services Co-operative
  • Koorana 
  • Orange District Early Education Program
  • A Growing Understanding Speech Pathology
  • Occupational Therapy Paediatric Services 
  • EarlyEd.

The Advisory Group is meeting fortnightly from July to September 2025.

Further information

The NSW Department of Communities and Justice, the Cabinet Office, NSW Health, the NSW Department of Education and Aboriginal Affairs NSW are all working together to design effective, community-based supports.

If you have any questions, please email foundationalsupports@dcj.nsw.gov.au

The Australian Government asked the community about foundational supports from September to November 2024. You can read the discussion paper and watch a video of the ‘What we heard’ webinar on the DSS Engage website.

Where to get support

If you are worried about how your child is growing and learning, talk to your child's doctor or the Community Nurse at your local Child and Family Health Centre.  

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) – Early Childhood Approach helps  children under 9 with developmental delay or disabilities. They focus on early intervention and support. To find an NDIS Early Childhood provider, go to the NDIS website.

Additional information:

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