South Australia is preparing a coordinated action plan aimed at improving how children with complex developmental concerns are assessed, as families continue to face long and uneven waiting times across the system.
The plan focuses on strengthening access to diagnosis and assessment for children presenting with challenges across multiple areas of development, including speech and language, fine and gross motor skills, sensory processing, social interaction and play, learning difficulties, and patterns of inflexible or repetitive behaviour.
It also covers conditions such as autism spectrum disorder, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, global developmental delay and intellectual disability, where early assessment can shape the type and timing of support a child receives.
The initiative comes after recommendations from the Royal Commission into Early Childhood Education and Care, led by Julia Gillard, which set out 43 recommendations aimed at improving early learning and support services for children with developmental vulnerability.
As part of related work already underway, more than $13 million has been invested to expand child health and development checks. The funding, delivered through a partnership between the Office for Early Childhood Development and the Child and Family Health Service, has contributed to increased participation in developmental milestone checks from birth through to school age.
While more families are now engaging with early screening programs, this has also contributed to pressure on public child development services. The number of people waiting for assessment has grown from around 800 in 2022 to 1,417 at present.
At the same time, waiting times vary widely depending on where families are referred. Each service currently manages its own waitlist and applies different referral and triage processes. In practice, this means some children are seen within roughly 12 months, while others may wait more than three years for assessment.
The state government says the new action plan will examine how services are currently delivered, with a focus on improving consistency and coordination across the system. SA Health will work alongside clinicians, service providers and community stakeholders to identify practical changes that could help streamline access and reduce delays.
The aim is to create a more consistent approach to how children are prioritised for assessment, while also improving collaboration between services that currently operate in parallel rather than as a fully connected system.
Blair Boyer said families are often facing extended waits at a time when early intervention can be particularly important for a child’s development and family wellbeing.
“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,” he said.
“That delay can have a lasting impact on a child’s development, as well as on the wellbeing of their family.”
He said demand for services has increased as more children are being identified earlier, which places additional pressure on assessment pathways that were not designed for current levels of need.
“Demand has grown significantly as more children are being identified early, and the system now needs to adapt,” he said.
“This action plan is about making sure services keep pace with that growing need.”
Mr Boyer also pointed to the broader shift in families seeking help earlier, noting that this trend reflects greater awareness and improved screening, but also exposes gaps in coordination between services.
“Increased demand is a sign that more families are seeking support,” he said. “But it also highlights the need for better coordination across services.”
He said the focus would be on practical changes that improve how families move through the system, rather than adding complexity or new layers of process.
“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,” he said.
The action plan is expected to review how referrals are managed, how waiting lists are prioritised, and how different services share information and work together. It will also consider whether current models of assessment can be adjusted to reduce duplication and improve timeliness.
For families navigating developmental concerns, the changes are intended to provide clearer pathways and reduce the uncertainty that often comes with long waiting periods. While the details of implementation are still being developed, the government says the focus is on improving fairness and consistency in access across the system.
The work sits within a broader effort to strengthen early childhood supports across South Australia, particularly for children who require additional assessment and intervention during their early years.
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