Practical steps Victorian families can take now

1. Write down the concern in everyday terms

Before your appointment, take a few minutes to jot down what you're noticing in everyday life.

For example, instead of writing only "speech delay", note whether your child is having difficulty making needs known, following instructions, being understood by unfamiliar people or joining play with other children.

For movement or sensory concerns, note situations where your child has difficulty dressing, eating, using cutlery, tolerating noise, joining playground activities, sitting for group time or managing transitions.

Real examples help a professional understand how a concern affects your child's day. They also save you from trying to remember everything during the appointment.

You don't need to diagnose your child yourself. Just share what you notice and what makes daily life easier or harder.

2. Use Victoria's Maternal and Child Health service if your child is not yet at school

Victoria's Maternal and Child Health service is free and available to Victorian families from birth until children start school.

The service includes 10 Key Ages and Stages visits, from the first home visit after birth through to the 3.5-year visit. These appointments cover growth, health, learning and development, and MCH nurses can connect families with additional services where extra help is needed.

Families can also contact the Maternal and Child Health Line on 13 22 29, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for advice from an MCH nurse.

Missed a visit, or noticed something between routine checks? You can still contact your local service. You don't have to wait for the next scheduled appointment.

Victoria has also introduced a digital version of the My Health, Learning and Development Record through the Service Victoria Parent Portal. Families can continue using the physical green book as well.

3. Book a GP appointment when the concern needs broader review

A GP can look at the child's health and development in context, check for medical issues, discuss referrals and help coordinate next steps.

Bring anything that helps tell the story: MCH notes, kinder observations, school feedback, previous reports or a few examples from home.

Thriving Kids is also expected to strengthen the role of primary care. The national model includes a Medicare Healthy Kids Check for children at age 3 and new tools to support GP-led health checks for children with suspected or confirmed neurodevelopmental delay.

Those measures are part of the rollout. In the meantime, you can speak with your usual GP now.

4. Ask the child's kindergarten, early learning service or school what they are noticing

Your child may do things differently at home and at kinder. Something you notice in one place may not show up in the other, so it's worth comparing notes.

Ask educators specific questions. How does my child manage group activities? Can they follow routines? How do they communicate with peers? Are there concerns about fine motor skills, attention, emotional regulation, sensory needs or transitions?

You're not asking educators to make a diagnosis. You're gathering useful observations from people who see your child learning and spending time with others.

Victoria's Thriving Kids model is intentionally connected to early childhood education and care. The state has said new services will be delivered in places where children live, learn and play, and that kindergartens will be part of the service environment.

5. Explore existing early childhood and NDIS pathways where appropriate

The NDIS early childhood approach remains available under current arrangements for children younger than 9 with developmental delay or disability.

The NDIA says early connections can provide quick access to information, community and mainstream services and, in some cases, early supports. An early childhood partner may also help a family understand whether an NDIS application is appropriate.

Importantly, the early childhood approach can help families even when a child is not eligible for the NDIS.

Thriving Kids will begin rolling out before the NDIS child access changes scheduled for 1 January 2028. If your child needs help now, use the pathways that exist now rather than delaying action because a future system is coming.

6. Consider allied health support based on the child's needs

Not sure which professional to ask? Different professionals help with different parts of development.

A speech pathologist may help with communication, language, speech, feeding or social communication. An occupational therapist may help with everyday skills, fine motor development, sensory regulation, play and participation. A psychologist may support emotional wellbeing, behaviour, anxiety or family strategies. Physiotherapists may help with movement, strength and physical participation.

Your child doesn't need every type of therapy, and more isn't automatically better. The best fit depends on your child's needs, your family's goals and professional advice.

The Thriving Kids national model includes targeted allied health for children and families who need it, but the exact public pathways and local service availability in Victoria are still being rolled out. Families may continue to use existing public, Medicare, NDIS, private and community options where relevant.

7. Keep a simple record of reports, referrals and changes

One folder, on your phone or on paper, can make things much easier.

Keep copies of:

It doesn't need to be a huge file. Keep what helps the next professional understand your child, so you don't have to repeat the whole story each time.

This may become increasingly useful as Thriving Kids connects health, education and community services. The Australian Government is also developing a National Digital Child Health Record to make developmental information easier for families and health providers to access and share.

• developmental or health reports
• referral letters
• MCH records
• school or kindergarten observations
• therapy summaries
• relevant NDIS correspondence
• a short list of current priorities and concerns

8. Ask what can be done at home and in everyday routines

Helpful support can happen between appointments, too.

Government planning for Thriving Kids emphasises helping families build skills and confidence and supporting children where they live, learn and play. Useful strategies may be built into mealtimes, dressing, play, books, getting ready for kinder, playground visits or family routines.

Ask for a few practical ideas you can genuinely fit into your day. A manageable plan is more useful than a long list you can't keep up with.

9. Do not wait for a diagnosis before asking for help

One of the key principles of Thriving Kids is that children will not need a diagnosis to access support through the program.

That principle is important even before the full rollout. If you have concerns, ask for advice based on the child's development and daily functioning. Some services may have their own eligibility or referral requirements, but a family does not need to wait passively for a diagnostic label before discussing concerns with MCH, a GP or an early childhood professional.

10. Follow official updates as the Victorian pathway becomes clearer

Between October 2026 and January 2028, Victorian access arrangements will become more detailed.

Keep an eye out for where supports will be offered, how to make a referral and what's available in your area through general and targeted services.

Use official Victorian and Australian Government sources for program rules. ThrivingKidsVIC.au can help translate changes into plain language and help people discover independent support options, but it does not replace official eligibility advice.

The most important action now is straightforward: if you have a concern about a child's development, raise it. Early conversations can help clarify whether reassurance, monitoring, practical family strategies, assessment or more targeted support is the right next step.