Thriving Kids: a new chapter in early childhood support
On 20 August 2025, Minister Mark Butler announced Thriving Kids, a $2 billion early intervention initiative aimed at supporting children aged 0 to 8 with mild to moderate developmental delay or autism, outside the formal NDIS system.
This initiative represents a significant shift in how Australia supports early childhood development, with a focus on foundational services delivered through mainstream systems such as health, education, and community care.
What is Thriving Kids?
Thriving Kids is designed to:
Redirect children with less severe needs away from the NDIS and towards more appropriate early supports
Preserve the NDIS for its original purpose, supporting people with permanent and significant disabilities
Address the rapid growth of the NDIS, which currently includes 1 in 10 Australian children, and 1 in 6 boys
While this change may raise concerns for some providers, the government has emphasised that the program is about building capacity in the broader system, not reducing care.
Why’s it being introduced?
The government has identified several challenges:
Over-servicing of children with moderate needs, with some receiving up to 70 hours of therapy annually
A lack of alternative pathways, leaving families with no option but the NDIS
The need for national consistency in early childhood support
Thriving Kids aims to fill this gap by offering foundational supports through mainstream services, ensuring children receive the help they need without relying solely on the NDIS.
Key features of the Program
Rolling out nationally from 1 July 2026, Thriving Kids will include:
A national expansion of the Inklings program, which helps parents engage with their baby’s communication style (currently piloted in Western Australia)
Workforce training for GPs, along with new Medicare items for developmental assessments and allied health supports
Community drop-in centres for families to access guidance and services
Online resources and integration with early childhood education centres
The initiative will be co-designed with the disability community and led by paediatrician Professor Frank Oberklaid, who will co-chair the Thriving Kids Advisory Group.
A sensitive transition
While the intent is to strengthen early supports, it is understandable that some providers may feel uncertain about what this means for their roles and the families they serve. The government has committed to consultation and co-design, ensuring that lived experience and professional expertise shape the rollout.
Thriving Kids is not about reducing care. It is about delivering the right support, at the right time, in the right setting.
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