Thriving Kids: What Families Need to Know
The Thriving Kids program is planned support outside the NDIS for children with developmental needs. What we know, what's uncertain, and what to do now.
What is the Thriving Kids program?
How much funding has been committed?
Why is this changing now?
Which children is Thriving Kids for?
What is NOT changing for children right now
When will Thriving Kids actually start?
The honest concern: will the services exist in time?
How Thriving Kids compares with the NDIS
What families can do right now
If you disagree with an NDIS decision
Where to get help and find support
Frequently asked questions
Is Thriving Kids replacing the NDIS for my child?
Not directly. Thriving Kids is designed to add a new option outside the NDIS, mainly for children with milder or emerging developmental needs, so families aren't pushed toward a full NDIS plan just to get help. Children with significant, ongoing disability are expected to keep being supported through the NDIS. No one can promise which system your individual child will use — check with the NDIA about your child's situation.
When can we access Thriving Kids?
There isn't one confirmed national start date, and services are likely to roll out in stages that vary by state and territory. Consultation and design work is underway during 2026. Because dates in these reforms have already shifted once, confirm the current position with the NDIA at ndis.gov.au or the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing at health.gov.au before making decisions.
Will my child lose their current NDIS plan?
If your child has an NDIS plan now, it continues under its existing terms until it is reassessed or renewed — nothing is removed overnight. Children under 18 are also not part of the new NDIS planning framework in its first stages. If a future reassessment changes your child's supports and you disagree, you can request an internal review and, if needed, go to the Administrative Review Tribunal.
What if Thriving Kids services aren't available where we live yet?
This is a fair concern, and the risk of a gap is real. The government's stated intent is to build Foundational Supports before relying on them, but rollout may be uneven. Keep detailed records of your child's needs, keep using current supports, and if a plan decision leaves your child without adequate support, use your review rights rather than accepting a gap.
Who can help us understand our options?
Start with your child's GP, paediatrician and child health nurse, plus your NDIS Early Childhood partner or Local Area Coordinator. A disability advocate can help for free, especially if you want to challenge a decision. For provider searches, you can compare verified children's support providers and coordinators on Novida.