What is Thriving Kids?
Thriving Kids is a proposed national program to supporting children aged 8 and under who have developmental delay or are autistic with low to moderate support needs, and their families. The program aims to give children earlier access to support, and a formal diagnose won’t always be needed to get help.
When will it start?
In February, the Thriving Kids Advisory Group released a proposed model outlining how the program will work. The final details are still being decided, but the first rollouts are expected from October 2026. While Thriving Kids will sit outside of the NDIS, the Advisory Group recommends that families should be able to transition between the two systems easily if needed.
How can families access Thriving Kids?
There will be several ways to access the program. Families may connect through:
- GPs, Maternal Child Health Nurses or allied health professionals
- Education settings such as childcare, kindergarten or school
- Community services
- Online and digital pathways
The program aims to strengthen early identification of developmental differences and improve connections between families and the support they need.
How will children and families be supported?
Support will be provided across three phases:
1. Early Identification: This phase focuses on increasing awareness of child development and developmental delay. Families, educators and health professionals can all flag areas where a child may need support.
2. Connection to supports: Through any of the pathways provided above, families will be directed to the right services, resources or professionals based on their child’s needs. Some supports will also aim to build the capacity of other people involved in a child’s care, for example educators or medical practitioners.
3. Delivery of supports: The type of support a child receives will be depend on their needs and goals. Support categories include:
- Low support needs – this includes services such as parenting programs, peer support or playgroups. These supports are proposed to be flexible, evidence-informed and delivered in everyday settings.
- Low-Moderate support needs – child may access a mix of low and moderate level of supports.
- Moderate support needs – access to more targeted allied health services such as speech pathology or occupational therapy, delivered at home, in education settings, in the community or at community hubs. In some cases, one professional may act as a key contact to help coordinate support.
Children with permanent and significant disability would continue to be supported through the NDIS.
Next steps for Thriving Kids
Thriving Kids is still a proposed model. Further consultation and decisions at state level will shape how it is rolled out across Australia. The model will continue to be developed with input from families, people with disability and priority groups, including First Nations families, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, and children in the out-of-home care system.
What this means for NRCH
As an organisation committed to quality healthcare that enhances lives, strengthens community and reduces health inequities, we welcome any approach that makes it easier for children and families to get the support they need. We deliver services using a place-based approach, which allows children to be supported within the environments where they live, work and play. We hope Thriving Kids will help us identify and respond to children’s needs as early as possible – giving every child the best chance to grow and thrive.
