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Thriving Kids

Helping you through the upcoming changes

Thriving Kids is a new national early childhood support program being established to help children aged 8 and under with developmental delay, developmental concerns and/or autism access support earlier through local services. It is intended to sit alongside the NDIS, not replace support for children with permanent and significant disability or high support needs.

The Australian Government has confirmed that Thriving Kids services will begin rolling out from 1 October 2026 and are expected to be fully rolled out by 1 January 2028. Until detailed Victorian pathways are released, families should continue using existing supports and advice channels, including their GP, maternal and child health nurse, kindergarten, school, paediatrician, allied health professionals and, where relevant, the NDIS.

If you have any concerns about the new Thriving Kids program and what it may mean for your child or family, reach out to bestchance at any time for a no-obligation discussion to ensure you are preparing for this vital transition.

Call us on 1300 224 644 and dial Option 3 to discuss how these changes may impact you, and what you can do to prepare.

Important note for families

Thriving Kids is still being designed by the Commonwealth, states and territories. This page explains what has been publicly confirmed and what families can reasonably expect, but details about local services, referral pathways and providers may change as government guidance is released.

Who is it for and when does it start?

Children aged 8 and under with developmental needs, including developmental delay and/or autism, particularly children with low to moderate support needs.

Services start rolling out from 1 October 2026. Full national rollout is expected by 1 January 2028.

Will children with high support needs still use the NDIS?

Yes. Children with permanent and significant disability, including children with high support needs, are expected to remain eligible for the NDIS subject to usual access requirements.

What should families do now?

Keep using existing services and supports. Do not stop current therapy, NDIS supports or assessments unless advised by the relevant professional or agency.

FAQs about Thriving Kids

Thriving Kids is a new early childhood support program being developed by the Australian Government with states and territories. It is intended to give families earlier access to practical help when a child has developmental concerns, developmental delay and/or autism. The focus is on timely advice, parent and family support, connection to local services, and access to targeted developmental supports where needed.

The program is being introduced as part of wider reforms to the NDIS and the creation of Foundational Supports. Governments have said the aim is to make it easier for children with developmental needs to receive help earlier, closer to home, without every family needing to rely on an individual NDIS plan.

No. Thriving Kids is expected to provide supports outside the NDIS for children with developmental needs who do not require the individualised supports of the NDIS. The NDIS will continue for children who meet NDIS access requirements, including children with permanent and significant disability and children with high support needs.

Eligibility and access

Current public information says Thriving Kids will focus on children aged 8 and under with developmental delay and/or autism with low to moderate support needs. It may also help families where there are developmental concerns and a child would benefit from early advice, monitoring or targeted developmental support.

Governments have not yet confirmed the final access rules. The public information released so far suggests the model is intended to support earlier help and may not always require a formal diagnosis before families can receive information, advice or connection to services. More detailed access pathways are expected closer to commencement.

The final access pathways have not yet been published. Governments have indicated that families may be able to connect through local services and mainstream systems, which may include health, early childhood education and community services. Families should continue to speak with trusted professionals such as their GP, maternal and child health nurse, kindergarten or school if they have concerns.

The detailed funding and service arrangements have not yet been released. This FAQ should not promise that all services will be free. Once government guidance is published, this section should be updated with local information about costs, subsidies, referral arrangements and any available fee-free supports.

Current NDIS participants and applicants

Public NDIS and government information indicates that children currently in the NDIS will continue with existing arrangements for now. Families should not assume their child will immediately lose support because Thriving Kids is being introduced.

Government information indicates that changes will be phased and that current NDIS arrangements will continue during the transition. From 1 January 2028, children aged 8 and under with developmental delay and/or autism with low to moderate support needs are expected to be supported through Thriving Kids and Foundational Supports rather than new NDIS access pathways, subject to final rules and transition arrangements.

Yes, where you believe your child may meet NDIS access requirements, you should continue to seek advice and apply through existing pathways. Do not delay seeking support while waiting for Thriving Kids to commence. A GP, paediatrician, allied health professional or early childhood partner can help guide next steps.

What support might look like

Government engagement materials describe a focus on awareness of child development and developmental differences, trusted information and advice for parents, support for families in their role in a child’s development, connection with other families, and targeted group or one-to-one supports where needed, including supports delivered by allied health professionals.

Some one-to-one support may be available where needed, but the program is not expected to operate exactly like an individual NDIS plan. Families should expect a mix of information, coaching, group programs, family capacity-building, local service navigation and targeted professional support depending on their child’s needs.

No. Thriving Kids is intended to connect with mainstream systems such as early childhood education, health and community services. Families should continue to use existing kindergarten inclusion supports, maternal and child health, allied health, school readiness supports and health services where available.

For Victorian families

Victorian service details have not yet been fully published. In Victoria, families should continue to use existing pathways such as maternal and child health, GPs, paediatricians, kindergarten and school supports, community health, allied health and NDIS early childhood pathways where relevant. This FAQ should be updated once the Victorian Government releases local Thriving Kids service arrangements.

Victoria already has major early childhood reforms and supports, including Best Start, Best Life, School Readiness Funding and kindergarten inclusion supports. Thriving Kids is expected to work alongside mainstream early childhood services rather than replace them.

Speak with a trusted professional as soon as possible. Good first steps include your maternal and child health nurse, GP, paediatrician, kindergarten teacher, school, allied health professional or local community health service. Early conversations can help identify whether monitoring, assessment, therapy, family coaching or other supports are appropriate.

Practical next steps

1. Keep records of your child’s assessments, reports, therapy goals, kindergarten or school observations and any professional recommendations. Continue current supports. Ask your child’s professionals what they recommend now, rather than waiting for the new program.

2. Providers should be able to explain confirmed public information and support families to keep using current pathways. However, providers should avoid making promises about eligibility, funding or service models until governments publish final details.

3. Families should check official Australian Government, NDIS and Victorian Government information sources, and speak with their current service providers.

This FAQ should be reviewed regularly as government guidance is updated.

More information: Australian Government Thriving Kids

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