Communities and Justice

The Early Intervention Common Assessment Tool

The Early Intervention Common Assessment Tool (CAT) helps workers adopt a flexible and consistent approach to conducting comprehensive assessments with children, young people and families. The CAT is holistic, family led and culturally safe; and is designed to assess a family’s strengths and their current challenges.

It is made up of three resources that are designed to be used together:

Watch this animation to learn more about the Early Intervention Common Assessment Tool.

Common Assessment Tool (CAT) templates available in community languages

The CAT Practitioner Joint-assessment and Family Self-assessment Templates are available in 12 community languages to support families from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds. These translations aim to reduce language barriers and promote inclusive, culturally responsive practice across early support services.

The Common Assessment Framework

The Common Assessment Framework is for agencies delivering early intervention services and has broader applicability across all services offering early supports to children, young people and families.

The purpose of the framework is to provide a consistent approach across early intervention services when assessing children, young people and families' strengths and needs.

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