Reducing wait times for South Australian children with complex developmental concerns is part of a new action plan to improve access for families.
The plan will provide a blueprint for improving timely and equitable access to the assessment and diagnosis of children with developmental concerns in three or more of the following areas:
- Speech and language
- Fine-motor skills
- Gross-motor skills
- Sensory processing
- Socialisation, play and daily living skills
- Learning difficulties
- Inflexible or repetitive behaviours
The plan aims to reduce wait times for the diagnostic assessment for conditions such as autism spectrum disorder, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, global developmental delay and intellectual disability.
The Royal Commission into Early Childhood Education and Care – led by Julia Gillard – included 43 recommendations aimed at improving the early childhood education and care system and better supporting children with developmental vulnerabilities.
So far, as part of this initiative, more than $13m to increase child health and development checks, through partnership between the Office for Early Childhood Development and Child and Family Health Service. This has seen growth in the uptake of all seven milestone checks from birth to school-age.
This uplift in the numbers of families taking advantage of the CDHC program has seen a significant increase in the waitlists at public child development services.
In 2022, there were 800 people on the waitlist which has now increased to 1,417.
Currently, each service manages its waiting list differently and has its own criteria for referrals and triaging. As a result, there can be significant variation in wait times, ranging from 12-months to over three years.
In a bid to make it faster and fairer for children to access a diagnosis, SA Health will examine the current service offering to identify ways to help improve access and strengthen opportunities for systemwide collaboration.
As put by Blair Boyer
We recognise that families with children with multiple and complex developmental concerns are too often facing long and uneven wait times for assessment and diagnosis.
That delay can have a lasting impact on a child's development, as well as on the wellbeing of their family.
Demand has grown significantly as more children are being identified early, and the system now needs to adapt.
This action plan is about making sure services keep pace with that growing need.
Increased demand is a sign that more families are seeking support — but it also highlights the need for better coordination across services.
By working closely with clinicians, service providers, and community, we are taking practical steps to build a more responsive and equitable system that puts children first.
