Thriving Kids

About Thriving Kids

We have announced a commitment to contribute $2 billion over 5 years towards Thriving Kids, commencing from 1 July 2026.

Thriving Kids will focus on identifying developmental concerns earlier and establishing a national system of supports for children aged 8 and under with developmental delay and disability and low to moderate support needs and their families. Children with permanent and significant disability will continue to be supported through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

The final program design will be settled between the Australian Government and state and territory governments. It will be informed by experts and the significant community input received through the Independent Review of the NDIS, the Thriving Kids Advisory Group co-chaired by Professor Frank Oberklaid and engagement with the community, including through the House Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Disability Inquiry into the Thriving Kids initiative.

Timeline

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

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 Disability and the NDIS, Mark Butler referred an inquiry into the Thriving Kids initiative to the House Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Disability.

The committee is accepting written submissions addressing the terms of reference until 3 October 2025 and conducting a survey to gather community feedback on the experiences of families and carers in accessing support services for children with additional needs until 10 October 2025. The findings from the inquiry will help develop the future of Thriving Kids.  

Learn more about the committee's inquiry including the Terms of Reference and how to contribute.

Thriving Kids Advisory Group

An expert group has been appointed to provide advice in the coming months on how we can best support children and families across Australia.

The Thriving Kids Advisory Group is co-chaired by the Minister for Minister for Health and Ageing and Minister for Disability and the NDIS Mark Butler, and Professor Frank Oberklaid from the Murdoch Children's Research Institute.

In addition, the group includes experts from a range of fields including paediatrics, child development, research, disability, child and family services, health care, early education and schools, and First Nations perspective. Its members are:

• The Hon Mark Butler MP (Co-Chair) 
• Professor Frank Oberklaid, Co-Group Leader, Policy and Equity Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (Co-Chair) 
• Dr Anoo Bhopti, Course Director, Master of Occupational Therapy Practice Program, Monash University 
• Dr Caroline Croser-Barlow, Chief Executive Officer, The Front Project 
• Andrew Davis, Chief Executive Officer, Autism CRC 
• Angela Falkenberg, President, Australian Primary Principals Association 
• Morgan Fitzpatrick, Koorana Child & Family Services and Lived Experience Parent Representative 
• Denise Imms, Senior Speech Pathologist 
• Matthew Johnson, President, Australian Special Education Principals Association 
• Dr Tim Jones, Chair, Specific Interests, Child and Young Person’s Health, The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners  
• Skye Kakoschke-Moore, Chief Executive Officer, Children and Young People with Disability Australia 
• Samantha Page, Chief Executive Officer, Early Childhood Australia 
• Elly Robinson, Principal Specialist, Parenting Research Centre 
• Dr Louise Wightman, Clinical Nurse Maternal, Child and Family Health, Nurses Australia 
• Gretchen Young, Executive Director Programs, SNAICC National Voice for Our Children

In addition, two state and territory government representatives will be invited to join the Advisory Group to contribute state and territory service system perspectives.

Terms of Reference

Communiques

Resources