ECIS provides special education, therapy, counselling, service planning and co-ordination and assistance and support to access generic children's services.

Early childhood intervention services are tailored to meet the individual need of the child and are generally focused on supporting children in their natural environment, in their everyday experiences and activities. The aim of the service is to provide parents and families with the knowledge, skills and support to meet the needs of their child and to optimise the child's development and ability to participate in family and community life. The early childhood intervention service is strongly family centred and recognises the importance of working in partnership with family and other service providers.
 

Eligibility

Families who have a child with significant delays in two or more of the following areas are eligible to receive support through Villa Maria's Early Childhood Intervention services:

• Physical
• Language/communication
• Behaviour
• Social – emotional
• Cognitive thought
• Play
   

Our Programs

Villa Maria's Early Childhood Intervention Service offers a variety of centre-based, home-based or community-based programs that incorporate play, education and therapy for children with additional needs as well as information and support to family members. Programs focussed on children and their families include:
 

Children's Esrly Childhood Intervention Programs:

• Playgroups for children aged from birth to three years
• Play-based specialist groups for three and four year olds
• Individually tailored programs
• Community based educational and therapeutic groups programs
• Therapist and teacher support to children and universal pre-school services within the community
• Hydrotherapy programs
• Sensory Integration programs
• Preschool inclusion support
   

Families Programs:

• Family Connections Series
• Siblings programs
• Signposts – Building Better Behaviour Series
• Parent Child Mother Goose programs
• Father's Sunday Group
   

Referral

Anyone can refer your child to Villa Maria's Early Childhood Intervention Service, including yourself, your medical or early childhood professional.
 

Fees

Fees vary according to early childhood intervention services received.