Thriving Kids in 2026: What Families Need to Know

Last updated: 16 July 2026. This page will be updated as further information becomes available from official sources.

As many families are hearing more about changes to the way support for children's developmental needs is delivered in Australia, you may have come across the term “Thriving Kids”. This article explains what Thriving Kids is, how it may affect families, and what is currently known — and what is still emerging — so you can stay informed without unnecessary worry.

What is the Thriving Kids Program?

Thriving Kids is a new national initiative announced by the Australian Government to provide early supports for children aged 8 and under with developmental delays and/or autism who have low to moderate support needs.

Rather than being a continuation of the traditional NDIS model for all children, Thriving Kids is described as a foundational supports program that delivers services earlier and in mainstream contexts such as:

Schools and early childhood centres.
Community health and child health services.
GPs and allied health providers.
Community hubs and digital/online support pathways.

Families may not need a formal diagnosis to access supports once Thriving Kids is fully implemented, which may make access quicker and less costly in some cases.

Further detail released in February 2026 clarified that allied health supports — including occupational therapy and speech pathology — are expected to be tiered to a child's level of need, rather than a single blanket level of support for everyone in the program.

Why is Thriving Kids Being Introduced?

The government has said that Thriving Kids is intended to ease pressure on the NDIS by helping children earlier and more flexibly, while allowing the NDIS to prioritise people with permanent and significant disability. The emphasis is on early identification and practical supports that can help children thrive in everyday environments such as home, school, and childcare.

When Will Thriving Kids Start?

Initial rollout of supports is expected to begin in October 2026. Full implementation across states and territories is expected by 1 January 2028.

Importantly, children's access to the NDIS will not change until Thriving Kids is fully implemented — meaning families currently on NDIS plans will continue to receive supports while the system transitions.

How Is Thriving Kids Different from the NDIS?

Here's a simplified comparison to help clarify what's changing:

Feature	NDIS	Thriving Kids
Who it's for	Children and adults with significant, permanent disability	Children 0–8 with low–moderate developmental needs
Support model	Individualised plans and provider choice	Mainstream/community supports (schools, GPs, clinics)
Access requirements	Disability criteria + evidence	Developmental needs; no mandatory diagnosis
Funding type	Entitlement scheme (plan funds)	Program funding and service delivery

This means that while the NDIS continues for children with higher support needs, Thriving Kids focuses on earlier and broader access routes with different delivery mechanisms.

Who Will Be Affected?

Children who may transition to Thriving Kids:

Aged 8 years and under.
Developmental delay and/or autism.
Assessed as requiring low to moderate support needs (not currently meeting the NDIS threshold for significant permanent disability).

Children who will remain covered by the NDIS:

Those currently on NDIS with permanent, significant disability.
Children whose evidence of functional impact continues to meet NDIS access criteria.

Participants with complex or high support needs — even under 8 — will continue under the NDIS model as usual.

What Does This Mean for Your Child's NDIS Plan?

If your child already has an NDIS plan, nothing changes right now. Your supports continue as planned.
NDIS access changes are staged and will not take effect until Thriving Kids is fully operational.
Families will not be removed from NDIS supports before alternative services are in place. Planning and transition pathways are still being worked out and communicated.

Common Questions Parents Want Answered

At this stage, no. Existing supports continue under current NDIS arrangements while Thriving Kids is being rolled out. Children with higher or more complex support needs will continue to be eligible for the NDIS following the full rollout in January 2028. Importantly, changes are being phased in — families won't be expected to transition without alternative supports in place.

One of the aims of Thriving Kids is to make early support easier to access. In the future, families may be able to access some supports through mainstream and community services without needing a formal diagnosis or an NDIS plan. Details around access pathways are still being finalised and may vary by state, but the intention is to reduce barriers for families early on.

Thriving Kids is focused on children aged 8 and under. After this age, eligibility for supports — including the NDIS — will continue to be based on existing criteria. How transitions between systems will work is still being clarified, and more guidance is expected closer to the full rollout.

Thriving Kids is expected to involve more state-commissioned and community-based services, which may look different from the individualised funding model families are used to under the NDIS. How provider choice will work in practice is still being developed and may vary between states.

These are supports available outside the NDIS, through everyday systems that support children and families. This may include schools, community health services, GPs, allied health programs, and parent education or early intervention supports.

Questions Still Being Clarified

As Thriving Kids continues to be developed and rolled out, there are some areas where further guidance is still expected. These include:

How services will be commissioned and delivered in each state.
How eligibility and referrals will work in practice.
How families will transition between Thriving Kids and the NDIS if needs change.
How continuity of care will be supported for children already receiving therapy.
How choice of provider will operate under state-based models.

It's also worth knowing that disability advocacy groups — including autism-specific organisations and Disability Representative Organisations — continue to seek firmer commitments from government on issues like guaranteed NDIS continuity until Thriving Kids is proven, no out-of-pocket costs for families, and clearer eligibility criteria. This is a normal and healthy part of a program still being finalised, and it's a space worth watching if you want the fullest picture.

As more information becomes available, this page will be updated to reflect official guidance.

What Parents Should Do Now

Keep your child's current supports and therapy going as usual.

Gather functional information (what your child can and can't do in daily life).

Talk with your allied health team (OT, speech, physio) about planning for transitions.

Stay informed via trusted sources like the Australian Government and your service providers.

Where to Find Official Information

This information is based on official government announcements and documentation:

Closing Note

Thriving Kids represents a significant change in how childhood supports are delivered, with a focus on early identification and community access. While many details are still being finalised, you can be confident of the following. If you need a current Functional Capacity Assessment or NDIS Report while this transition plays out, we're here to help.

Key takeaways

Your child's current supports will continue while systems transition.
Children with complex, ongoing needs will remain eligible for NDIS.
Thriving Kids aims to make early help easier to access in everyday settings.
As more information is released, this article will be updated accordingly.

Thriving Kids in 2026: What Families Need to Know (Updated Resource)

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