SUCCESS IN WA PILOT TO OBSERVE BABIES SHOWING DELAYS IN SOCIAL INTERACTION & COMMUNICATION DEVELOPMENT World-first program for babies delivered in partnership between the NDIA, The Kids and WA Health Services

SEGMENT
Filmed in Subiaco, Western Australia | January 2025

INTERVIEWS
Gemma Upson,
General Manager, CliniKids and Inklings
The Kids Research Institute Australia

Lindy Henry, Child Health Nurse and Inklings Practitioner
CliniKids at The Kids Research Institute Australia

Professor Andrew Whitehouse,
Angela Wright Bennett Professor of Autism Research,
The Kids Research Institute Australia

Inklings – led by The Kids Research Institute Australia – is a program for babies aged 6-18 months whose communications skills are developing differently to expected milestones. In early 2025 it has completed the first year of a pilot program.

At the time of filming (Nov 2024), Inklings has received more then 300 enquiries across WA and started to deliver services to 160 children, with almost 60 who have completed the program.

The world-first program for babies with delays in their social and communication skills was funded and launched in Western Australia in early 2024 in partnership with the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA), The Kids Research Institute Australia, Child and Adolescent Health Service (CAHS) and WA Country Health Service.

The Inklings Program builds on landmark research conducted by The Kids Research Institute Australia, 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 The Kids Research Institute Australia and The University of Western Australia, welcomed the Federal and State Governments’ support of Inklings at the launch in early 2024.

“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.

“Inklings is all about helping every child reach their full potential, and our goal is to give this opportunity to as many babies as possible, both across WA and beyond.”

Inklings was launched in February 2024 by the Minister for the former NDIS and Government Services Bill Shorten and Western Australian Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson, WA Health.

And in November 2024, the program launched in regional and remote Western Australia, with two new delivery partners joining the Inklings Program.

Caregivers who live in WA can either be referred by a health professional or enquire direct to Inklings to see if they are eligible to participate.

Australian Health Journal spoke with the management and operational team supporting the program about its journey and success to date, including the upcoming South Australian implementation of the program.