New Applications for Membership of the Early Intervention Service Provider Panel

Organisations that meet eligibility requirements and can address the selection criteria can apply to be a panel member at any time.

Helping Children with Autism - background information

FaHCSIA has established a panel of early intervention service providers to deliver evidence based services to eligible children as part of the Helping Children with Autism package. Eligible interventions under the package have a multidisciplinary focus. FaHCSIA is now seeking further applications from eligible organisations and sole providers who wish to apply for membership of the panel.

The early intervention component of the package provides funding to ensure that children up to their sixth birthday diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder have greater access to a range of early intervention services, including packages of individual assistance.

Families and carers of eligible children will be able to access a funding package of up to $12,000 (up to $6,000 per child per financial year) to assist with the financial cost of accessing early intervention services.

Providers will be eligible for inclusion on the Panel if they meet the requirements of the Helping Children with Autism Early Intervention Operational Guidelines and the eligibility requirements. This will be assessed by FaHCSIA based on the information provided by applicants.

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Eligibility to Apply

FaHCSIA will accept applications from individual organisations or from consortia of individual providers, providing they meet the requirements outlined below. Each consortium must include a lead agency.

Organisations/lead agencies eligible to apply include:

  • Incorporated Associations
  • Incorporated Cooperatives
  • Partnerships
  • Sole Providers
  • Aboriginal Corporations
  • Organisations established through specific Commonwealth or State/Territory legislation (e.g. universities)
  • Companies (incorporated under the Corporations Act 2001)
  • Trustee on behalf of a Trust.

Organisations/lead agencies not eligible to apply include:

  • Local Governments
  • State/Territory Governments
  • Overseas Entities.

To be eligible for membership of the Panel, organisations must be:

  • A multidisciplinary early intervention provider; or
  • A consortium of early intervention providers that collectively and collaboratively provide multidisciplinary services; or
  • Sole Providers (speech pathologists, occupational therapists and psychologists) subject to quality requirements.

Eligible interventions:

Policy decisions relating to the Early Intervention funding are based on Roberts J.M.A and Prior M (2006) A review of the research to identify the most effective models of practice in early intervention for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders, the Early Intervention for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Guidelines for Best Practice published by Prior and Roberts (2006) and updated A review of the research to identify the most effective models of practice in early intervention of children with autism spectrum disorders by Prior, M., Roberts, J. M.A., Rodger, S., Williams, K.& Sutherland, R.(2011) – the Executive Summary and full report of the 2011 Review are available below.

Based on the 2011 Review, an Early Interventions Table with a list of eligible and ineligible interventions has been developed. The document is not exhaustive and will be updated as additional information and research becomes available. Questions about the Table and eligible interventions can be directed to the Early Intervention Helpdesk on 1800 778 581 or email ASD.Support@fahcsia.gov.au

Guidelines for Good Practice

Professors Margot Prior and Jacqueline Roberts have updated their Guidelines for Good Practice to provide advice for families and practitioners on what interventions and principles of practice work best for children with ASD.

View the 2006 Guidelines.

Documents required for Panel Membership

Organisations interested in applying for membership of the Panel should download the attached documents.

Any queries you have about the application or selection process should be directed via email to ASD.Support@fahcsia.gov.au.

Joining the Panel as a Consortium of Providers

The Australian Government considers that multidisciplinary teams or a consortium of providers are well placed to provide the breadth of multidisciplinary services required for optimal early intervention for children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Individual practitioners, including early intervention providers, speech pathologist, occupational therapists and child psychologist, can form consortia to deliver services through membership of the Panel. A consortium must include a lead agency. The lead agency must be an eligible organisation (as per the list above) which, if successful will enter into a Deed of Agreement with the Department.

Joining the Panel through an existing Consortium

To be accepted into an existing consortium you will need to meet the eligibility requirements outlined under Eligibility to Apply. If you meet the eligibility requirements and are interested in providing services to eligible children through an existing consortium, please complete the Expression of Interest form and Fee Schedule template and send them to the lead agency to register your interest in joining their consortium.

Lead Agencies interested in accepting new consortium members

If the lead agency accepts your Expression of Interest to add you as a consortium member, the lead agency will use your details from the Expression of Interest form to develop a memorandum of understanding between the lead agency and your organisation, which is signed by both the lead agency and consortium member.

The Fee Schedule template provides information about the eligible services you will be providing to families and will be included on the FaHCSIA website under the lead agency's existing Fee Schedule.

The lead agency will notify you if they choose not to add you as a consortium member.

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Joining the Panel as a Sole Provider

While the early intervention component of the Helping Children with Austim package continues to support the benefits of a multidisciplinary approach, consideration will be given to allow sole providers to join the Panel. Allowing sole providers to join the Panel broadens service delivery coverage and reduces waiting list times for families and carers to access services. Sole Providers need to meet the eligibility criteria below, fill out an Application for Panel Membership and Fee Schedule Template form, sign a deed of agreement with the Department and operate within the Early Intervention Service Provider Panel Operational Guidelines.

Please note: To process claims for payment through FaHCSIA's Online Funding Management System, you will require a minimum of two users.

If you have any questions or require further information regarding this process, please email ASD.Support@fahcsia.gov.au.

Eligibility Criteria for Sole Providers

Before submitting an application to join the Panel as a sole provider please confirm your eligibility.

  • Occupational Therapists in Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory must be registered with the Occupational Therapists Board in the State or Territory in which they are practising; in other States and the Australian Capital Territory, they must be a 'Full-time Member' or 'Part-time Member' of OT AUSTRALIA, the national body of the Australian Association of Occupational Therapists.
  • Psychologists must be registered, without limitation, with the Psychologists Registration Board in the State or Territory in which they are practising. Psychologists must identify themselves as providers of Autism services and be on the APS Autism and PDD Identified Practitioners List
  • Speech Pathologists must be a Certified Practising Speech Pathologist (under Speech Pathology Australia's Professional Self Regulation program). Speech Pathologists practising in Queensland must be registered with the Speech Pathologist Board of Queensland. In all other States, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory, you must be a 'Practising Member' of Speech Pathology Australia.

Lodging an Application

After downloading and reading the related documents and information above, organisations wishing to apply for membership of the Panel should either:

  • Approach an existing Panel Member to discuss joining their Consortium; or
  • Download the Application for Panel Membership form and Fee Schedule template and return it to ASD.Support@fahcsia.gov.au.

Please note: FaHCSIA is unable to send out hard copies of the documents to be downloaded or the Application Form.

Content Updated: 19 November 2012