Why Is the Thriving Kids Program Being Introduced?
The NDIS has continued to grow each year, raising concerns about its sustainability. It was originally designed to support people with significant and permanent disabilities, but the government now states that almost half of its Participants are children with developmental disabilities under 15.
Many families say they’ve had no choice but to apply for NDIS for early supports because community services just aren’t available. The government’s said this isn’t the family’s fault; it reflects a gap in the system.
Thriving Kids is meant to fill that gap, creating a stronger network of supports for young children that doesn’t rely on the NDIS. The Government’s plan is to keep NDIS “for people with permanent, high-level support needs”, while families with milder or temporary needs get help through other systems like Thriving Kids.
Image: Health and Disability Minister (and NDIS Minister) Mark Butler, who formally unveiled the Thriving Kids program during his address at the National Press Club on 20 August 2025.
What Is the Thriving Kids Program?
Targeted at children aged 9 and under with mild to moderate developmental delay or autism, Thriving Kids will connect families with support through mainstream services, health, education, and community, not individual NDIS packages.
The aim is to offer:
- More support in preschools and schools
- Community programs, playgroups, parent workshops
- Online navigation tools for families
- Training for GPs, educators, nurses to spot developmental concerns early
The hope is that families get support earlier, in easier settings, without the NDIS red tape.
What We Know Right Now
It’s still early, and many details are being worked through. Commonwealth and states/territories are co-designing it with experts and families. Thriving Kids is set to begin on the 1st July 2026 and be fully rolled out by mid-2027. After that, children with mild or moderate needs will go into Thriving Kids, not the NDIS. Children with significant, permanent disabilities will continue being supported by the NDIS.
Emerging Concerns
Despite government assurances, families are seeing eligibility reassessments happening now, even before Thriving Kids is ready, and that’s creating real worry. This is especially urgent given stories of children being removed from the NDIS without any alternative supports in place.
Children and Young People with Disability Australia (CYDA), the national peak body for 0–25-year-olds with disability, has called for:
- A pause on eligibility reassessments until Thriving Kids is fully functional
- Guarantees that no child is removed from the NDIS before new supports are available
- A longer rollout timetable for genuine co-design and consultation
- A clear pathway for young people over 9, who are currently being left out of the conversation
The concern isn’t hypothetical; some families report having their eligibility reassessed at present and are being removed from the NDIS, with nowhere to turn. This is a serious breakdown in support, and CYDA is pushing for fairness, transparency, and inclusion in every step.
References & Further Reading
- Department of Health and Aged Care – Thriving Kids announcement and fact sheets
- The Guardian – Coverage of NDIS reforms and Thriving Kids
- The Conversation – Independent analysis of what Thriving Kids means for the NDIS
- Occupational Therapy Australia – Summary of Minister Butler’s announcements
- ABC News – Families raise concerns about Thriving Kids and NDIS changes
- A Growing Understanding – Q&A for families on Thriving Kids
- CYDA – Thriving Kids rollout risks leaving families without support
