Mission Australia, one of the largest NGOs in Australia, has designed and delivered an early intervention program for pre-school children and their parents in the northern suburbs of Perth. These programs, based on international research and broader programs delivered in Queensland and elsewhere in Australia, are attempting to ameliorate the effects of socio-economic and other disadvantage on the health (including substance use), educational and social futures of young people. The aim of our research was to work with Mission Australia staff and participants of the program to qualitatively assess the extent to which the program is meeting its objectives (primarily to do with school readiness) in the short term. We were also attempting to identify a standard data recording system which will allow comparisons across programs throughout Australia.