Developmental delay

A significant delay in a young child’s development that may make them eligible for early intervention.

What it means

Developmental delay describes when a young child is significantly behind other children their age in one or more areas of development. These areas include physical development, cognitive (thinking and learning) development, communication, social and emotional development, and adaptive skills such as feeding, dressing and toileting.

For it to be considered a developmental delay in the NDIS sense, the delay needs to be significant, affect the child's everyday activities, and mean they need more support than other children their age to take part in daily life. It is not about a child simply reaching a milestone a little later than a sibling or friend. The focus is on the practical impact on the child's day-to-day functioning.

In practice

Developmental delay is important because it can be a pathway to support through the NDIS early childhood approach and early intervention, even before a specific diagnosis is known. Getting support early, while a child's development is still rapidly changing, can help them build skills and reduce the impact of the delay over time.

In everyday terms, a delay might look like a toddler who is not yet walking or using words when most children their age are, a child who struggles to interact and play with others, or a child who needs much more help than usual with everyday tasks. Families who notice these signs can talk to an Early Childhood partner, GP or child health nurse. Support may include information, strategies for use at home, connections to community services, and where needed, individualised early intervention supports.

A real example

For example, Leilani's son was almost three but was not yet putting words together, could not follow simple instructions, and found it hard to play alongside other children. Because these delays affected his everyday activities and he clearly needed more help than other children his age, her GP suggested she contact an Early Childhood partner to look at early intervention support.

Developmental delay — FAQs

What areas of development can be affected by developmental delay?
Developmental delay can affect a child's physical development, cognitive or thinking skills, communication, social and emotional development, and adaptive skills such as feeding, dressing and toileting. A child might be delayed in just one of these areas or in several at once. What matters for NDIS purposes is that the delay is significant and affects the child's ability to take part in everyday activities.
How is developmental delay different from a disability?
Developmental delay is usually identified in young children when they are significantly behind others their age, sometimes before any specific diagnosis is made. A disability may be a diagnosed, longer-term condition. For young children, developmental delay can be a pathway to support through the early childhood approach and early intervention, so families can get help early even when the full picture is not yet clear.
My child seems a bit behind. Is that a developmental delay?
Not necessarily. Children develop at different rates, and reaching a milestone a little later than others is often within the normal range. A developmental delay is significant, affects everyday activities, and means a child needs more support than other children their age. If you are worried, it is worth talking with your GP, child health nurse or an Early Childhood partner, who can help you understand what is going on.
Why does early support matter for developmental delay?
Early support matters because a young child's development changes rapidly, so help provided early can make a real difference to the skills they build. Acting early can reduce the impact of a delay over time and support the child to take part more fully in everyday life. It also helps families feel confident using strategies at home and in everyday settings like childcare and playgroups.
Who can I talk to if I think my child has a developmental delay?
You can start with your GP, a child health nurse, or your child's early learning centre, and you can contact your local Early Childhood partner directly without needing a diagnosis or referral. These people can talk with you about your child's development, suggest strategies, connect you with services, and help you work out whether early intervention or NDIS support might be right for your family.

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