First Steps Thriving Kids

First Steps — Thriving Kids

A guide to early childhood supports, developmental flags, and getting your child the help they need

Young children aged 0-8 playing together

Every child develops at their own pace

But knowing what to look for helps you support them better

The Thriving Kids program provides funded early childhood supports for children (0–8 years) with developmental delays. Here are signs it may be worth seeking an assessment or referral:

Developmental concerns:

  • Not meeting developmental milestones (speech, walking, socialising)
  • Limited or no eye contact
  • Not responding to their name by 12 months
  • Loss of skills they previously had
  • Significant difficulty with change or transitions
  • Repetitive play patterns or restricted interests
  • Sensory sensitivities (sounds, textures, lights)
  • Feeding difficulties or extreme food aversions
  • Frequent, intense meltdowns beyond typical tantrums

What to do:

  • Speak to your GP or paediatrician and ask for a referral
  • Contact your local early childhood partner (NDIA funded)
  • You don't need a diagnosis to access early intervention
  • Start documenting behaviours now — this is where Behaviour Trackr helps
  • Ask your child's daycare or preschool for written observations
  • Request a referral to a speech pathologist or OT for assessment
💡 Tip: You do NOT need a formal diagnosis to access Thriving Kids supports. Early intervention is the key — the sooner, the better.

Why Behaviour Trackr Matters on Your Journey

When you're working with Thriving Kids, documenting progress is powerful — for your own understanding, for professionals supporting your child, and for planning the next steps of their support journey.

Things to track:

  • • Speech and language milestones (first words, understanding instructions)
  • • Physical development (walking, coordination, balance)
  • • Behaviour and self-regulation (tantrums, transitions, focus)
  • • Social interactions (eye contact, sharing, playing with peers)
  • • Sleep, eating, and daily routines
  • • Progress towards therapy goals

Behaviour Trackr makes this easy. Log activities as they happen, track patterns over weeks and months, and get visual reports to share with your child's therapists or at review meetings.

Ready to learn about the NDIS?

As your child grows, you may transition to NDIS support. Get a full understanding of how it works and what to expect.