Acknowledging that every child develops differently, and that families know their child best, KU’s allied health programs continued to deliver high-quality early childhood intervention services across targeted locations throughout 2025.
Innovation
KU’s expanding team of early intervention professionals continued to apply an evidence-based, best-practice approach, delivering developmentally appropriate, high-quality play-based learning experiences in settings that best meet the needs of children and families.
KU offered allied health services through a range of means, including on a fee for service basis, through chronic condition management plans and mental health care plans, and through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
During 2025, allied health services offered to families included speech therapy, occupational therapy, psychology and early intervention therapy supporting children with autism.
Our therapists delivered services across a diverse range of settings, including:
- children’s homes
- early childhood education and care services (both KU and non-KU early childhood settings)
- school environments
- small-group programs
- school-holiday social skills programs
- telehealth sessions
- clinic sessions offered on KU premises
Our early intervention professionals draw on established frameworks and contemporary research to ensure interventions remain consistently high-quality, inclusive and responsive.
Strengthening inclusion
KU early intervention therapists continued to support both KU and community-based early childhood services through the facilitation of tailored professional learning opportunities for educators, focusing on inclusion, speech and language development, augmentative communication and sensory processing, and the development of fine motor skills through play.
This integrated approach strengthened the capacity of educators and improved daily participation outcomes for children and families.
KU as a registered NDIS provider
KU has been a registered NDIS provider since 2014, providing services under the NDIS Early Childhood Approach for children under nine years of age.
In 2025, we undertook a review of KU’s allied health services offered within the community, and the age range of children receiving support by our therapists.
As an outcome of this review, KU allied health services were no longer offered within school settings. Our therapists worked with families to transition our school-age children to other allied health therapists or offered before and after school therapy sessions for families. This change aligned KU allied health services more closely with KU’s early childhood focus.
Sustainability and growth
As part of broader efforts to strengthen growth and long-term financial sustainability of KU’s allied health program, a difficult decision was made in the last quarter of 2025 to close KU’s Penrith regional office and integrate the Penrith allied health team into the Macarthur program in the latter part of 2025.
To provide continuity of support to our families from the Penrith area, our therapists delivered allied health services to children and families in the Penrith area in both KU and non-KU services, ensuring ongoing access to supports.
During the year, KU expanded its early childhood intervention services into Victoria. This included introducing psychology services for the first time on the grounds of KU Koo Wee Rup Kindergarten and offering play-based early intervention therapy opportunities on the grounds of KU Birnbial Kindergarten, KU Dianella Kindergarten and KU Maidstone Children’s Centre.
Strong community partnerships further enhanced KU’s early childhood intervention offerings. Referrals to the Little Buddies Toy Library and the on-site Maternal and Child Health Nurse service at KU Birnbial and KU Dianella have strengthened the support available to children and families and contributed to KU’s growing footprint in Victoria.
Through collaborative partnerships, eight Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours) students from Monash University joined four KU Victorian early childhood education and care services, along with KU’s Early Careers and Allied Health Managers, to undertake a Participatory Community Practice (PCP) program.
Working in pairs, the students collaborated closely with KU to design projects that support children, families and educators through an occupational therapy lens, with final project outcomes to be delivered in mid-2026. This partnership approach was further strengthened through KU’s ongoing guidance on ethical, child-centred decision making, which remains foundational to high-quality early childhood and allied health practice.
The difference we make
The positive impact of KU’s allied health services is strongly reflected A child’s voice in the experiences shared by families. Our therapists receive consistent positive feedback highlighting the meaningful progress children have made, the supportive relationships built with therapists, and the value placed on high-quality, child-centred intervention.
“The availability of our KU therapist to support my children with play skills in a pre-school environment has been amazing.”
“The work, observations, reports and recommendations that have been provided by our KU speech pathologist have been invaluable.”
“I am truly so grateful for all the support for not only my son but for myself as a parent.”
“Keep doing what you’re doing. My child has come a long way from where we first started.”
