This timeline tracks over 40 years of early childhood intervention for children and their families.  It acknowledges the vision and determination of the families and staff in those early years to establish EarlyEd. It shares the stories generously provided by families and reflections from staff.  If you have anything you can share about the journey EarlyEd, its family and community have taken please contact us.

Despite all the changes in the sector since EarlyEd started 40 years ago, families still have access to services that are family centred.  That is definitely worth a celebration.

Across the years 1,000s of children with disabilities or developmental delays and their families, and 1,000’s of families who have needed advice have been supported by EarlyEd. What a legacy those early, committed EarlyEd families and determined staff have left.

EarlyEd commenced operating in 1979 as part of UNESCO’s International Year of the Child in Northern Sydney and was soon also delivering services in Western Sydney area from Parramatta. It was the first service of its kind in NSW to cater for all children aged 0-5 with a disability. While other services existed for specific disabilities such as physical disabilities, sight or hearing, EarlyEd was unique in that it supported all children with disability, aiming to help each child to achieve their full potential and offering family centred supports to parents to help support their child’s development at home.