Thriving Kids

Thriving Kids will help give children the best start in life by identifying children with additional developmental needs as early as possible, when timely, evidence-based supports can make the greatest impact. 

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 remain eligible for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), subject to usual arrangements.

About Thriving Kids and Foundational Supports

Governments have committed to jointly contribute $4 billion over 5 years to implement the first phase of Foundational Supports, known as ‘Thriving Kids’. This investment 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. At least $1.4 billion of the Australian Government’s $2 billion contribution will be provided as direct funding to states for Thriving Kids services.

Foundational Supports were a key recommendation of the Independent Review into the National Disability Insurance Scheme (the Review). Since the Review, governments have consistently heard children will be better supported to thrive through services that are easier-to-access in the locations they live, learn and play. This feedback has been gathered through:

• the Thriving Kids Advisory Group
• the Parliamentary Inquiry No child left behind report (currently being considered by the Australian Government)
• community engagement.  

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. 

Parents and families will be able to access trusted information, advice and evidence-based child development supports delivered by allied health professionals, where these are needed to achieve good outcomes. Each child’s needs and circumstances will guide decisions about which Thriving Kids services and supports are best suited for them and their family. Children and families will access supports matched to their needs. 

NDIS access changes

The Australian Government and all state and territory governments have agreed in principle to change NDIS access arrangements to support the rollout of Thriving Kids. 

These changes will ensure children and their families are supported to access services from the system best suited to their needs.

Changes to NDIS access will commence from 1 January 2028 and will be limited to children aged 8 and under with developmental delay and/or autism with low to moderate support needs. 

Children aged 8 and under enrolled in the NDIS prior to 1 January 2028 with developmental delay and/or autism with low to moderate support needs to be subject to reassessment under the eligibility criteria in place prior to 1 January 2028.

These changes will require amendments to the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 (Cth). The Australian Government will work closely with state and territory governments, people with disability and the disability sector to inform the design and implementation of these important reforms.

Timeline

We will continue to prioritise work with state and territory governments to finalise the design of Thriving Kids program.

It is expected the Thriving Kids program would rollout in phases. The first services are expected to be available from 1 July 2026 and would continue to ramp up over 12 months.

This will ensure national services are in place ahead of broader changes to NDIS access arrangements from mid-2027.

Inquiry into Thriving Kids

On 2 September 2025, Minister for Health and Ageing and Minister for Disability and the National Disability Insurance Scheme referred an inquiry into the Thriving Kids initiative (the Inquiry) to the House Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Disability (the Committee).

The Committee accepted written submissions addressing the terms of reference and conducted a survey to gather community feedback on the experiences of families and carers in accessing support services for children with additional needs. The Inquiry’s findings will continue to help develop Thriving Kids.

The Parliamentary Inquiry Report into Thriving Kids is now available.

Learn more about the Committee's inquiry.

Thriving Kids Advisory Group

The Australian Government appointed an expert group to provide advice on how we can best support children and families across Australia. The Advisory Group has now published its advice to governments in a final report. The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing (the department) has also developed a suite of supporting accessible communication products, including Easy Read summaries and Auslan videos. 

You can find these materials and learn about the Thriving Kids Advisory Group.

Resources

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