The Australian Government has introduced a new programme for kids under 9 years of age called Thriving Kids. The support program, which is meant to be an alternative to NDIS, seeks to lessen the financial burden on NDIS by moving kids with mild or moderate Autism or Developmental Delays to Thriving Kids.
The sudden introduction of the Thriving Kids program, along with the absence of a few clear-cut details, has left many families confused and worried. Here we look into the main details of Thriving Kids, its funding sources, and how it differs from specialised NDIS assistance. Let’s get into it and see if this alternative support system is indeed a beneficial idea.
What is the Thriving Kids support system?
The main purpose of the program is to move away children aged 0-8 with lower levels of support requirements from the NDIS services. The government believes Thriving Kids can better help children under 9 years of age with mild autism or developmental delays while lowering financial pressure on NDIS. Under Thriving Kids, children under 9 years of age with low to moderate developmental delay or autism will be supported by a $2 billion investment committed by the federal government, with states and territories matching that funding.
The services will be delivered mainly through schools and playgroups, GPs and child health services, early learning centres, community centres, and digital and phone services, to name a few. The funding is fixed, which means that the total allotted amount will remain the same irrespective of the number of children in the program.
The program set to launch on 1st July 2026, will be rolled out across states and territories over the following 12 months. It means that from the middle of 2027, kids aged 8 and under with mild autism or developmental delays will receive support from Thriving Kids instead of specialised NDIS assistance.
Will Thriving Kids impact your child’s care?
The NDIS is meant for permanent disabilities, while the main focus of Thriving Kids is early checks and involvement to ensure learning delays don’t become permanent. If your child is aged 8 and under with mild autism or developmental delays, they may be moved out of NDIS to this new support program as part of the rollout from July 2026. The government has assured that no child will be moved from NDIS services to Thriving Kids until the plan is fully in place and the child is fully reassessed.
What does Thriving Kids mean for your child and family?
If your child is currently on the NDIS, it’s unlikely to change unless Thriving Kids is fully functional. Also, your child will continue to receive NDIS services if they are suffering from significant and permanent disability, as Thriving Kids is focused on children who need less support.
Thriving Kids—The Final Thoughts
The primary difference, as mentioned above, between NDIS and Thriving Kids is that NDIS is for adults and children with permanent and serious disabilities, whereas Thriving Kids is for children aged between 0 and 8 years who require a low to moderate level of care. Also, in the case of NDIS, families choose providers, while in Thriving Kids, support is provided through GPs, schools, child health services, playgroups and phone/digital options, among others. More importantly, if your child is in NDIS, they will continue to remain in it unless all the services are made available in Thriving Kids.
How Special Care Australia can help
Raising a child with a disability is challenging, and the transition to Thriving Kids for those under nine with moderate support needs can be confusing. Special Care Australia empowers families by supporting independence and daily life skills. Our team provides up-to-date guidance, helping you manage your plan and budget with confidence at every stage.
If you are looking for a reputable NDIS support service provider in Melbourne or have any questions about how these changes can affect you or your family, feel free to reach out to Special Care Australia at (03) 5906 8722 or info@specialcare.au
