The Thriving Kids program is a new system of support outside the NDIS for children aged eight and under with developmental delay and/or autism and low to moderate support needs. Its first phase began on 1 October 2026, with further services rolling out through to 1 January 2028. What your family can access, and when, depends on where you live.
The quick answer for parents
- A diagnosis will not be required to access Thriving Kids.
- Services are being introduced in stages, with full rollout planned by 1 January 2028.
- The launch does not, by itself, end an existing NDIS plan. Other NDIS reforms can affect plans separately.
- Check your local pathway before assuming a service is available or an application is open.
Reform update — 8 October 2026: The first phase is now underway. The government’s current support directory lists the national digital hub, the Autism Helpline on 1300 654 789 (8am–7pm, Monday–Friday) and the maternal and child health nurse line on 1800 882 436 (7am–midnight, seven days). Local services differ and continue to expand. NDIS access arrangements do not change before 1 January 2028.
What should I do now?
My child already has an NDIS plan
Check the existing-participant arrangements below and any notices from the NDIA. Do not assume a launch announcement changes your child’s individual eligibility or budget. Ask your NDIA contact about anything you do not understand before changing support arrangements.
My child needs help and we are waiting
Speak with your GP, child health nurse or educator about your concerns. The NDIS explains how to contact an early childhood partner and find support now. You do not have to wait for further local Thriving Kids services to ask for help.
My child is approaching nine
Ask your current support contact about the next pathway and what information will be needed. Thriving Kids’ intended age range does not mean a child automatically qualifies for the NDIS when they turn nine. See the distinction between current support routes and the 2028 changes.
What is the Thriving Kids program?
Thriving Kids aims to connect children and families with developmental support earlier, in familiar settings such as home, early education and the community. It is the first phase of Foundational Supports: services outside the NDIS. Governments have committed $4 billion over five years to Thriving Kids, within the wider $10 billion Foundational Supports commitment. The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing leads the national work; states and territories deliver most services. Read the official overview.
| Question | Thriving Kids | NDIS |
|---|---|---|
| What is it? | A developing network of supports outside the NDIS. | A scheme providing individually funded support for eligible participants. |
| How do I seek help? | Follow the state or territory access information as services become available. | Use the existing NDIS application or early childhood support pathway, as appropriate. |
| Does it give my child an NDIS budget? | Accessing Thriving Kids is not the same as receiving an NDIS plan. | An approved plan sets out a participant’s funded supports. |
For the broader scheme, see our plain-English NDIS guide.
Who is eligible for Thriving Kids?
The intended group is children aged eight and under with developmental delay and/or autism who have low to moderate support needs, together with their families, carers and kin. Children will not need a formal diagnosis for Thriving Kids. Official eligibility overview.
Do not use a diagnosis label alone to decide which system your child belongs in. Ask the relevant service about its intake requirements and how it considers your child’s everyday support needs. Detailed assessment arrangements are still being developed.
Diagnosis-free help is not entirely new. The NDIS already says children younger than six do not need a diagnosis for its early childhood approach; early connections can also help children who are not eligible for an NDIS plan. Check the current age groups and pathways. Our NDIS application guide explains the wider process.
What does Thriving Kids mean for an existing NDIS plan?
The Thriving Kids launch does not automatically end your child’s NDIS plan. There is also a distinction between children already participating and children applying after the access changes begin.
Current government guidance says children aged eight and under accessing the NDIS before 1 January 2028 will continue to be reassessed under the earlier eligibility criteria. This is not a promise of permanent eligibility or an unchanged budget. Children with permanent and significant disability, including high support needs, remain eligible subject to the applicable requirements.
What happens when my child turns nine?
Under the published reform guidance, from 1 January 2028 children turning nine will be reassessed against the new functional-capacity eligibility criteria. Check the government’s current-participant and new-applicant guidance and your child’s individual notices.
For help under today’s arrangements, the NDIS directs children aged nine or older with disability to its partners, also known as local area coordinators. They can help families explore the NDIS and other supports. Find the current support route.
NDIS access and NDIS budgets are different questions. Separate changes to some support budgets apply progressively for new or reassessed plans from 1 October 2026, and renewals from 1 February 2027. The effect depends on the individual plan; some supports are excluded. Read the NDIS budget announcement rather than assuming nothing can change before 2028.
When does Thriving Kids start?
- From 1 October 2026: the first phase has begun. This does not mean every type of support is available in every location.
- During 2027: services and local access routes expand.
- By 1 January 2028: full rollout is planned, ahead of the changed NDIS access arrangements.
The national announcement identifies 1 October as the starting milestone. Use the local information below for your family’s circumstances.
What supports will be available?
The national model describes several kinds of help. Some are now available nationally; others are still being introduced locally. The model does not guarantee a particular service, number of sessions or start date for your child.
- Information and navigation: advice about child development and finding services. The national digital information hub and phone supports are now available.
- Earlier identification: developmental checks and planned GP health-check initiatives.
- Family support: peer groups, supported playgroups, practical resources and programs that build families’ skills.
- Targeted support: allied health such as speech pathology, occupational therapy, physiotherapy or psychology; low-cost assistive technology; and additional help for families who need it.
Delivery can include individual or group support, in person or online. Ask what is actually available locally and how it will fit your child’s needs. The department’s supports being rolled out page distinguishes the national initiatives from services delivered by states and territories.
How to access Thriving Kids in your state or territory
Local rollout information rechecked 8 October 2026. Start with the official link for your area. A policy announcement, provider tender or grant application is not confirmation that a family can enrol. Where an intake route is not yet listed, use the official updates or contact route and continue seeking existing support.
| Location | What is confirmed | Next step for families |
|---|---|---|
| NSW | Parent peer support and supported playgroups begin from October 2026; targeted supports begin from January 2027. Targeted intake will be managed by DCJ. | Check NSW’s service updates for locations and access details as providers start. |
| Victoria | Current supports include the ACD support line, parent support programs and additional autism assessments. The first six allied-health sites are scheduled to open from January 2027. | Use the Victorian family information page for current contacts and locations; broader rollout continues. |
| Queensland | The federal state directory does not currently list a Queensland Thriving Kids page. | Check the federal directory for updates. Do not assume a Queensland enrolment route or local October service is confirmed. |
| Western Australia | Services are being introduced progressively from October 2026 to January 2028, beginning with a transitional phase to learn what works locally. | Read WA’s program updates. Provider grant information is separate from family access. |
| South Australia | Child health and development checks are available now. Community supports are planned from 2027, with targeted family and allied-health supports from 2028. | Read South Australia’s current family guidance for booking links and rollout details. |
| Tasmania | The government confirms supports are expanding progressively from October 2026, with full services expected by 1 January 2028. | Follow the Tasmanian launch update and its program link for local access information. Confirm availability before booking. |
| ACT | Some services start from October 2026, with government-run services the initial focus and further services added over time. | Read the ACT roadmap and existing support options, including its contact details. |
| Northern Territory | National information and phone supports are available. NT Health allied-health teams manage referrals, intake and prioritisation for targeted supports. | Start with your child health nurse, GP or educator, and check the NT support pathways. A diagnosis is not needed before asking for help. |
If you need an interpreter, culturally appropriate support or an accessible format, ask the local service what it offers. The ACT and NT pages above include accessibility or culturally responsive information. The national Thriving Kids resource page also links to Easy Read and Auslan material.
What will Thriving Kids cost families?
Do not assume either that every service is free or that every family must contribute. The Health Minister described a largely free program in February 2026; April commentary left aspects of targeted delivery to state implementation. These statements do not establish the charge for every local service.
We have not verified a single national fee schedule covering all services. Before agreeing to support, ask whether it is government-funded Thriving Kids provision or a separate private service, whether there is any family contribution, and whether referral or eligibility conditions apply. Ask for any charges in writing.
What is confirmed, and what still needs to be finalised?
The broad national model is agreed. Detailed assessment thresholds, local capacity, referral processes and the mix of services available to an individual child still need checking as implementation progresses.
It is inaccurate to say all NDIS reform legislation is still waiting to pass. Broader legislation received Royal Assent in August 2026, while the government continues developing the children’s arrangements and implementation detail. Keep the current reform guidance separate from older announcements.
Questions to ask a service before you enrol
- Is this service part of the government Thriving Kids program?
- Can my child access it, and do we need a referral or supporting information?
- When can support start, and is there a waiting list?
- Is support individual, in a group, online or in person?
- Are there any charges, and what is included?
- How will you review progress and help us find another pathway if needs increase?
Common questions about the Thriving Kids program
Do we need to stop seeking help while we wait for Thriving Kids?
No. You can discuss concerns with a health or education professional now and explore existing early childhood, community and NDIS pathways. You do not need to wait for every local Thriving Kids service to become available before asking for support.
Can I apply through DisabilityChoice?
No. DisabilityChoice’s enquiry service matches families with NDIS plan managers. It is not a Thriving Kids enrolment service. Use the official state and territory links above to check access.
Will my child get the same therapy hours as an NDIS plan?
Do not assume this. The published model describes types of support, not a guaranteed allocation of therapy hours for each child. Ask the local service what it can offer and how support is reviewed.
Does turning nine automatically make my child eligible for the NDIS?
No. Turning nine does not itself establish NDIS eligibility. Ask your support contact about the appropriate pathway and assessment requirements, including the changes applying from January 2028.
Need help managing an existing NDIS plan?
If your child’s NDIS plan includes plan-management funding, a plan manager can help pay eligible invoices and track spending. For more detail, read what plan management does or our guide to NDIS funding for autism.
Want to compare NDIS plan managers?
Our comparison can help you consider communication, invoice handling and budget visibility.
This is optional help with an NDIS plan. It is not an application for Thriving Kids and does not determine your child’s eligibility.
About this guide: Prepared by DisabilityChoice using the official sources linked beside each topic. It explains published information rather than assessing individual eligibility.
Review note — 8 October 2026: Rechecked commencement, national help options, NDIS access timing and state rollout routes. Earlier eligibility and cost research remains dated 26 September 2026. Service availability can change; follow the current official information for your area.
Found a change we should check? Contact DisabilityChoice.