23084 (2024). Dr Lawrence Xu-Nan to the Minister of Education

23084 (2024). Dr Lawrence Xu-Nan to the Minister of Education: What were the average waiting times for the Early Intervention Service as at 30 October 2023 and 30 May 2024?

Hon Erica Stanford: I am advised by the Ministry of Education (the Ministry) that as at 1 November 2023, the average number of days from request for support to actual service start date for the Early Intervention Service was 123.27 days. As at 1 June 2024, the average number was 127.26 days. Wait times are influenced by a range of factors including recruitment challenges, increasing demand for services and complexity of presenting need. There has been an increase in the number of children accessing early intervention services. Wait times fluctuate over time nationally and between regions. Due to the way the data is collected and analysed, the Ministry has provided figures from the first of the month rather that the end of the previous month, as requested by the Member.