New plans for ‘Thriving Kids’
Aug 21, 2025
Thriving Kids is a program for children under nine-years-old with mild to moderate developmental delays or autism, that will use existing systems and settings for support provision, outside of the NDIS.
Health Minister Mark Butler MP has announced the ‘Thriving Kids’ program, a $2 billion dollar investment to move children with mild to moderate developmental delays and autism off the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
What is Thriving Kids?
Thriving Kids is a program for children under nine-years-old with mild to moderate developmental delays or autism, that will use existing systems and settings for support provision, outside of the NDIS.
This includes:
- infant or child and maternal systems (community-based nurses who see children at health and developmental check-ups from birth to 3.5 years)
- GPs
- early learning centres
- community centres, and
- schools.
Thriving Kids will be funded by the Commonwealth, with funds to come jointly from states and territories.
Why is this happening?
Just under half of the 740,000 participants are children under 15, with half of new entrants to the scheme under nine-years-old, most of whom have developmental delay or autism, with one of every 10 six-year-olds in the NDIS.
This has been an unprecedented amount of growth to the scheme that was designed to support people with profound, lifelong disability.
Thriving Kids will be introduced to ensure the ongoing sustainability of the NDIS and to provide children with lower-level needs the right kind of support as soon as possible, in settings where they spend most of their time, such as schools and early learning centres.
What does this mean for children with developmental delay or disability?
While the exact details haven’t been shared yet, it appears that:
If your child is already an NDIS participant, there will be no immediate change to supports. As Thriving Kids takes effect, you may transition to the new system if your child’s needs are assessed as better suited to mainstream supports.
If your child is not yet on the NDIS, once Thriving Kids has been rolled out, your child may become part of the program and access their supports outside of the NDIS.
When is this happening?
The program is set to launch in July 2026 and roll out over 12 months, and will be designed in consultation with the disability community.
From mid-2027, children under nine-years-old with mild developmental delay or disability will no longer enter the NDIS, instead receiving support through Thriving Kids.
What do I have to do?
At the moment, nothing. As Thriving Kids is not set to start until July 2027, there will plenty of communication about any changes that may impact you and your family.
Is this different to Foundational supports?
Foundational Supports were recommended as part of the NDIS Review, where people with disability can access services in the community, without needing an NDIS plan.
Foundational Supports are intended to be available to all those with disability in the community, whereas Thriving Kids is a specific program for children.
Thriving Kids is not intended to replace Foundational Supports, but is a key component of foundational supports overall.
Seeking NDIS support?
Whether you’re seeking support with your NDIS plan, or looking to sign up for new supports, you can speak to our Yooralla Connect team about any questions you may have.
Contact us via phone on 1800 966 725, email yoorallaconnect@yooralla.com.au