Thriving Kids – What we know so far, and what it means for families

A major change is coming to Australia… Thriving Kids.

Thriving Kids was announced in 2025 as a new national program to change the way that children can access early support, early identification, and early intervention. The Minister for Health and Ageing, Disability and the NDIS, Hon Mark Butler MP, has released a report from the Thriving Kids Advisory Group, along with the Thriving Kids and Foundational Supports Model. These documents mark the next step along the journey of bringing the Thriving Kids plan into reality.

While many details are still being developed and not all questions have yet been answered; here at Inside Out Therapy, we are committed to keeping families updated and informed. Therefore, we have developed a summary of what we know so far, and what it means for you the families, as we go through the major reform that is Thriving Kids.

What is Thriving Kids?

Thriving Kids is a system reform that focuses on early identification of developmental differences for children aged 0-8. It will operate outside of the NDIS and is designed to support children in the early years, and provide access to help, information and formal supports without the need for a formal diagnosis. Supports will largely be delivered through community settings such as health services, early childhood education and schools.

This system aims to provide early, evidence-informed supports and access for children with developmental need in the environments where they live, learn and play. With early access and intervention, the Thriving Kids program aims to use foundational supports for children with mild to moderate developmental delay and autism, to reduce long-term reliance on the NDIS.

When does Thriving Kids start?

Thriving kids is scheduled to commence from 1 October 2026, with full roll out completed by 1 January 2028.

The Thriving Kids Model

Figure 1: Thriving Kids Model (2026). Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Aging

The Foundational Supports Model confirms that Thriving Kids will:

• Focus on earlier identification of developmental differences in children 0-8
• Deliver supports through everyday community settings
• Operate alongside the NDIS
• Ongoing access to individualized NDIS funding for children with more complex needs

How does it work?

The Australian Government has pledged $2 billion over the next 5 years, with co-funding from the states and territories to support this initiative.

Children with significant and permanent high developmental needs will continue to be able to access individualised NDIS support

Children with mild to moderate needs will have access to the new system containing free supports such as:

• General parenting supports and programs eg: peer support, playgroups, family programs, parenting courses
• Local information and advice via phone and online
• Access to targeted allied health supports including speech pathologists, occupational therapists and physiotherapists, along with low-cost assistive technology, aids and equipment
• Self-advocacy supports
• Culturally safe training

Who is eligible? What does this mean for children currently in the NDIS?

Any child aged 0-8 experiencing developmental delay or autism with mild to moderate needs is eligible for Thriving Kids regardless of diagnosis.

The current NDIS eligibility rules for children aged 0-8 years will remain in place until 1 January 2028. If your child is currently accessing the NDIS, there will be no changes – they will continue to remain on the NDIS subject to current rules, and assessment of eligibility.

Any child entering the NDIS with developmental delay or disability can still access the early childhood approach and the NDIS subject to current requirements.

From 1 January 2028, the eligibility rules for the NDIS will change.

• Children aged 0-8 with significant and permanent disability will continue to access the NDIS, including young children with developmental delay or autism presenting with high support needs
• Children aged 0-8 years with developmental delays and low to moderate support needs will receive support through Thriving Kids instead of the NDIS

All access points to Thriving Kids will be related to support needs, functional capacity and ability – not diagnosis. Therefore, this program will be able to provide early assistance to thrive, support to understand individual communication styles, skills and needs; and will aim to cater and provide early intervention supports to a wider range of kids.

What does this mean for me and my child?

• Thriving Kids is not a one-size fits all approach. If your child has support needs, talk to your allied health team for support and access.
• If your child already has access to the NDIS – not much will change over the next year as Thriving Kids rolls out.
• If your child has support needs and is not on the NDIS. Speak to your health centres about access to Early Intervention. This may include Thriving Kids from October 2026.
• No child should lose access to support while new services are scaling up – please contact your medical and allied health team if you have any concerns.

Times of change can be confusing and difficult to navigate. Here at Inside Out Therapy, we are fully committed to providing a trauma-informed, evidence-based, neuro-affirming service to our children and their families. Thriving Kids is a new way for us to continue to provide this support. We will continue to share updates as we know more, aiming to make this transition as easy and supportive as possible.

For more information and resources; please visit the Thriving Kids website at: https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/thriving-kids.