Beginnings of NECIC

In 2003, John Forster, CEO of Noah’s Ark Inc. Australia, a leading early childhood intervention service provider, visited Malaysia. This visit sparked the development of a staff exchange program between Malaysia and Australia in the field of early childhood intervention.

The exchange program involved Noah’s Ark sending one or two professionals to conduct training workshops in various locations for a duration of 2-3 weeks. In 2004, the first two candidates from Malaysia (Asia Community Service and Malaysian Care) were hosted by Noah’s Ark for over three weeks in Victoria. During their visit, they toured 13 centres and participated in the 24th OMEP (World Organization for Early Childhood Education) Conference and the 6th Biennial Early Childhood Intervention Australia (ECIA) Conference.

In 2005, a group of seven NGO service providers in Malaysia’s early childhood intervention field proposed the idea of convening interested individuals to discuss early childhood intervention issues in Malaysia. They include Asia Community Service, Bethany Home, JJ Resources, Malaysian Care, New Horizons Society, Persatuan Kanak-Kanak Istimewa Kajang, and Wings Melaka.

The Early Childhood Intervention Symposium took place at the Grand Bluewave Hotel in Shah Alam from 12-14 August 2005, attracting over 100 participants. This event marked the beginning of several national conferences held in Penang (2006), Kota Kinabalu (2008), Melaka (2010), and Sibu (2012). These conferences garnered significant interest, as evidenced by the growing number of participants.

To provide direction and consistency for future conferences, there was a consensus to establish a national council. The National Council’s role would involve advocating on early childhood intervention matters arising from the conferences and addressing current issues. A protem committee, comprising representatives from various states, was formed to oversee the constitutional framework and formal registration of the National Council.

Following the Malacca conference, the National Early Childhood Intervention Council received formal registration approval in February 2011.