Early Years Engagement Support (EYES)

The Early Years Engagement Support (EYES) program assists children and families from our children’s services who may be eligible to receive early intervention or NDIS support into the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

In partnership with families and agencies, we provide a holistic approach to education and care for children, deliver tailored inclusion support plans, and guide educators and families with strategies for the best interests of each child’s individual needs.

Our role is to work together with you to inform, provide guidance and to be a conduit for agencies, community services and families to reduce acceptance times into the NDIS and for the initial NDIS Plans in a safe and supportive way.

We also guide our educators in creating supportive learning environments that meet each child’s needs, with a view to bridging the gap between agencies, services, families and educators.

How we can support you

Provide positive behaviour guidance strategies to families and educators for children with additional needs and/or challenging behaviours
Assist families to establish collaborative relationships with community service organisations
Provide support for educational programs for children with additional needs or challenging behaviours in consultation with children, families and relevant support agencies
Support families and educators with providing inclusive learning environments
Assist with understanding the NDIS and its support packages and navigation through the process
Identify services that meet your individual needs
Provide guidance and support with accessing external support agencies
Help coordinate health and medical connections to support NDIS eligibility
Work with you to help resolve points of crisis getting into the NDIS
Connect you to our NDIS Support Coordination team once eligible to receive this service
Re-develop your goals prior to a NDIS plan review

Program goals

For our families and children

To support and connect families with children who may be eligible to receive early intervention or NDIS support
Help families understand the NDIS and Pre-NDIS
Connect families with external agencies creating further support
Increase independence in NDIS
Keep abreast of best practice principles and innovate thinking to meet children’s individual needs
Deliver tailored inclusion support plans

For our Educators and Early Learning Services

To develop, implement and monitor progress of inclusion support plans for children
Apply and manage funding for inclusion support in services
Guide educators with training and help source resources
Deliver supportive inclusion support to services, families and children
Connect educators and services with external agencies
Build productive partnerships with internal and external support agencies

A woman and a young boy assemble a tall, colorful plastic gear structure together at a table indoors.

We haven’t had the experience in this service (NDIS) before and staff helped a lot to get the base knowledge (specially Maxine Vu) Helped to apply for NDIS in timely manner, and following up and helping to find speech and OT services.

Parent of child at Y Whittlesea Early Learning Centre

A young boy and a smiling woman sit at a table, interacting with craft materials next to a potted plant in a cheerful setting.

EYES has not only helped my son but our whole family, we have been provided with consistent services, information and support. Our overall experience has been exceptional. Thank you.

Stephanie - Parent of child at Y Whittlesea Early Learning Centre

Funda and Maxine are supportive and with their help, we can better support children with special needs. Funda always listens to our concerns carefully and gives us constructive feedbacks. When she talks with the family, she is gentle and polite. Parents are happy to communicate with her. When we got several rejections from one of the child’s application, Maxine helped us to contact the service again and again. They try their best to support us educators.

Yishan - Educator at Orchard Road Early Learning Centre

Young boy and woman smiling together while playing with educational toys at a table in a classroom setting.

The service gave as much time as was needed. I never felt rushed during a phone call, every email was answered, every question was treated as important and I felt highly valued and supported.

Lauren - Parent of child at Y Whittlesea Early Learning Centre

Enquire about the EYES program

Fill in the form and our EYES team will be in touch.