Australian Enterprise Awards 2026 | 71 Whilst there are many organisations out there seeking to have a positive impact on young children with conditions and disabilities by supporting both them and their families, few identify and address these challenges as early as they might, thereby ensuring that the right support can be accessed to enhance quality of life. Lift Off Early Intervention in Sydney does exactly this, and to find out more about its work, we had the pleasure of catching up with Founder and Director Voula Valanidas. Working with infants, toddlers, and young children alike, Lift Off Early Intervention (Lift Off EI) exists to boost the potential of children during the most critical years of their brain development, recognising that their early experiences, relationships, and targeted support all help to promote powerful, lasting change. There is a real emphasis on warm, playbased development, as children learn best when they are engaged and connected. All of this is designed to translate into measurable improvements for children and families. Many of the children that Lift Off EI welcomes are navigating diverse needs, which could range from anything from autism to challenges with speech, sensory processing, fine-motor skills, emotional regulation, or behaviour. Children in need of extra support with communication, play, attention, learning, or early cognitive development are supported, with the team likewise assisting with daily routines and independence, including everyday routines such as dressing. This highlights that no concern is too big or too small for Lift Off EI. Regardless of a child’s needs, the team approach them with compassion and clarity. They do not measure success on what a good day looks like in a therapy room, they aim for this progress to be felt at home, in preschool, or in the playground. This is why Lift Off EI works closely with families to build practical strategies that can be used daily and embedded into routines. Progress is reviewed constantly, and plans are refined immediately to match a child’s progress, as children thrive when the adults around them are aligned and consistent. As this shows, Lift Off EI is unique in that it blends evidence-based, play-based intervention with a structured, data-driven clinical model to assess progress – two things parents seldom find in the same place. In other words, families get the ‘heart’ and the ‘science’ rolled into one. Combine this with the tailored therapy every child is provided, which is built around their own personality, development stage, and motivators, and what emerges is a centre that works rigorously, professionally, respectfully, and effectively to support children. With expectations constantly changing in this environment, driven by the NDIS evolving and a greater awareness of development challenges amongst children, Lift Off EI aims to become the ‘steady guide’ in this space, staying true to its play-based, family-centred model to drive a real impact and serve as a beacon of trust for concerned families – many of whom are struggling for a place to turn after receiving potentially life-changing diagnoses for their children. In this way, the centre stands an invaluable lifeline, as its reviews show. Just one of the numerous glowing testimonials Lift Off EI regularly receives comes from Sandy, whose daughter had recently been diagnosed with ASD, SPD, GDD, and ADHD when she first met with the team at the centre. At this point, even the smallest tasks such as sitting at the table to eat, responding to her name, expressing her needs seemed so far away. After just a few months with Voula and the team, the difference was staggering, and Sandy’s daughter was able to do everything that she could not previously, cementing this approach. Determined to bolster this reputation as we move into 2026, the team are planning to continue to do what they do so well, whilst adding more pathways, continuity, and wraparound support through the likes of service expansions, leading to fewer gaps in care and even earlier identification for children. Diving into specifics, some examples of future initiatives include adding speech therapy services to the model and launching a year-long school readiness pathway to prepare children for their next steps. As this demonstrates, NDIS-registered provider Lift Off Early Intervention stands out in the world of early intervention for its blend of comprehensive support solutions and a fun, rewarding experience for children and their families that extends far beyond the centre, all delivered by a passionate, experienced team determined to get the best results for every child. On the back of this, we are delighted to recognise Lift Off EI as the Best Early Childhood Education Centre 2026 – Sydney in our Australian Enterprise Awards. Contact: Voula Valanidas Company: Lift Off Early Intervention Web Address: https://liftoffei.com.au/ Best Early Childhood Education Centre 2026 – Sydney
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