About Foundational Supports
Foundational Supports are specific supports outside the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). They are in addition to services offered by mainstream systems, like education and health.
Foundational Supports will help people with disability, their families, carers and kin. They will include general and targeted supports.
All governments made a commitment to work together to deliver Foundational Supports, including a commitment of $10 billion in joint funding over 5 years. You can read more here.
General supports
These will help people with disability to live a better life. They will improve access to:
- evidence-based information
- supports that help build skills, improve confidence and independence
- supports that will develop connections between peers and within the community
- supports to find other services and resources
- advice that helps community organisations to be more inclusive and accessible.
Targeted supports
These will help those who may have extra support needs but do not need these met through the NDIS. The Independent Review into the NDIS recommended more of these supports outside the NDIS.
Thriving Kids
Governments announced their commitment to contribute $4 billion over 5 years to implement the first phase of Foundational Supports, known as ‘Thriving Kids’.
Thriving Kids will support children aged 8 and under with developmental delay and/or autism with low to moderate support needs, and their families, carers and kin. Children with permanent and significant disability and children aged 8 and under with developmental delay and/or autism who have substantially reduced functional capacity (high support needs) will continue to be supported through the NDIS.
Supports will help give children the best start in life by ensuring those with additional developmental needs receive quality supports earlier in their developmental journey – when these supports can have a big impact.
Read more about the design of Thriving Kids and the timeline for delivering supports.
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