Understanding Thriving Kids: A New Approach to Support
Updated: Oct 6
With a lot of information circulating, the bigger picture can feel daunting and unclear. Here’s what you need to know: the Australian Government has partnered with state and territory governments to reform Australia’s health and disability systems. The key focus is on ensuring the sustainable growth of the NDIS in the future.
What is Thriving Kids?
Part of this reform involves investing in supports outside of the NDIS, referred to as “Foundational Supports.” Thriving Kids is one phase of this support, with governments committing $4 billion over five years to implement it.
Thriving Kids aims to adopt a child, family, and kin-centered approach. It encourages children and families to access support in the places where children already live, learn, and play. The initiative focuses on providing support based on the child's developmental and functional needs, rather than solely on a diagnosis.
Why Has Thriving Kids Been Introduced?
Thriving Kids is designed for children aged 8 and under with developmental delays and autism who require low to moderate support needs. The goal is to identify developmental differences earlier and provide support before families need to navigate the NDIS. Ideally, children would have access to assistance in early childhood, schools, and community services. This includes:
Support in early childhood education and school settings.
Support for parents, families, and kin, including practical strategies and parenting support.
Developmental information, screening, and earlier identification, with pathways to appropriate support.
When Will Things Change?
Thriving Kids will be introduced gradually, rolling out across the country from 1 October 2026, with full implementation expected by 1 January 2028.
Children aged 8 and under will not immediately lose access to their NDIS supports on 1 October 2026. The Government has confirmed that children targeted by the Thriving Kids initiative who are already accessing the NDIS before 1 January 2028 will continue to be reassessed under the eligibility criteria in place prior to the changes.
From 1 January 2028, children with developmental delays and autism requiring low to moderate support needs who are applying for NDIS support will be redirected to receive support through Thriving Kids.
These changes are part of the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026, which passed in parliament on 19 August 2026 and is currently awaiting Royal Assent. This legislation is part of a broader reform intended to refocus the NDIS on people with permanent and significant disabilities.
What We Don’t Know
This is where things become less clear. Thriving Kids is intended to support children who need more than universal services can provide but who have low to moderate support needs and do not require an individualized NDIS plan.
However, what happens to children with developmental delays who are school-aged but over 8? Many questions remain unanswered about how Thriving Kids will work in practice, including available services and what happens when a child’s support needs change.
While we now have a clearer picture of what Thriving Kids is intended to be, there is still much to understand about what it will actually mean for children and families on the ground.
Conclusion
In summary, Thriving Kids represents a significant shift in how support is provided to young children with developmental delays and autism. The initiative aims to create a more accessible and effective support system that focuses on early intervention and community-based resources.
If you need to know more about how these changes may affect you or your child, please reach out. Contact our office on 07 56200558 to discuss.
This article is provided for general information purposes only. Its content is current at the date of publication. It is not legal advice and is not tailored to meet your individual needs. You should obtain specialist advice based on your specific circumstances before taking any action concerning the matters discussed in this article.
References:
National Disability Insurance Agency, ‘Thriving Kids’ (Web Page, 5 February 2026) https://www.ndis.gov.au/news/11085-thriving-kids
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Grattan Institute, ‘Reform Must Make the NDIS Work Better for the People who Need It Most’ (Web Page, 2024) https://grattan.edu.au/news/reform-must-make-the-ndis-work-better-for-the-people-who-need-it-most/
Learning Links, ‘Thriving Kids: What Families Need to Know’ (Web Page, 2026) https://www.learninglinks.org.au/thriving-kids-what-families-need-to-know/
Bloom Healthcare, ‘Thriving Kids: Eligibility, Rollout, and Support Overview’ (Web Page, 2026) https://bloom-healthcare.com.au/blog/thriving-kids-eligibility/
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