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World first Inklings program has support from the NDIA
Freya Lucas
Feb 23, 2024
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The world-first Inklings program, which supports babies aged between 6 and 18 months who are showing early differences in their social interaction and communication development, has launched in Western Australia, thanks to support from the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA).
Inklings is now funded in WA by the NDIA as part of a new partnership between NDIA, Telethon Kids, Child and Adolescent Health Service (CAHS) and WA Country Health Service.The Inklings partnership will run for three years, and will involve 700 families from across WA.
“The program puts Australia at the head of the world in redefining early childhood supports,” Minister for the NDIS and Government Services Bill Shorten MP said.
“What we learn from Inklings has the potential to change the way we help our littlest Australians who have delays.”
WA Minister for Health Amber-Jade Sanderson said Inklings has the potential to be “game changing.”
“The hope is that Inklings will help support parents and provide easy access to developmental support for babies experiencing a delay in social and communication skills,” she said.
“It means parents can also be proactive in their approach to their baby’s development, and if they have an ‘inkling’ about a delay in these areas, they will be empowered to act.”
The Inklings Program builds on landmark research conducted by Telethon Kids Institute, University of Manchester, La Trobe University and CAHS, which found improvements in parent-child interactions and children’s language skills.
Professor Andrew Whitehouse, the Angela Wright Bennet Professor of Autism Research at Telethon Kids and The University of Western Australia, welcomed the Federal and State Governments’ support of Inklings.
“It’s a great feeling to see translation of this life-changing research actually making a difference to families who need support so that each child has their very best chance to reach their potential,” Professor Whitehouse said.
Caregivers who live in WA can either be referred by a health professional or enquire directly to Inklings to see if they are eligible to participate in Inklings.
To find out more about the Inklings Program, head to inklings.org.au/wa
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