Thriving Kids a result of review

An initiative that will allow children with mild to moderate autism to access government support away from the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) could assist families where kids currently fall through the gaps. The federal government will contribute $2 billion towards a program titled Thriving Kids that has the job to restore the scheme to its original purpose. It will focus on identifying developmental concerns earlier and establish a national system of supports for children aged eight and under with mild to moderate developmental delay and autism. The program will be delivered by scaling and building on existing mainstream and community services that can better support families and children in settings they are already connected to. This includes child and maternal health, GPs, playgroups, early childhood education and care and schools, as well as digital and phone-based supports. Children with permanent and significant disability will continue to be supported through the NDIS. Ruth Crawford, who now has an adult son who has been on the NDIS and attended Wangaratta District Specialist School, said the current NDIS funding includes money for early intervention for children under seven who don't have a diagnosis, including kids who don't have an autism/ADHD diagnosis, which means they can still be supported with early intervention and assessments until they are eight years old. "I hear examples of kids with mild-moderate autism who do not get a NDIS plans approved," Ms Crawford said. "I also heard from families with autistic children that when we first all transitioned to the NDIS they got less funding support through the NDIS than they used to with the schemes the NDIS replaced. "If the point of the new funding is to help the kids who currently don't get NDIS plans approved, or to ensure the correct supports are provided, that sounds like a good improvement." However, it might be a wait and see with how the new system affects children currently on the NDIS system. Ms Crawford expressed hesitation in how the new system would affect children who have autism and are currently receiving NDIS funding. The federal government needs the states and territories to jump on board the Thriving Kids proposal and the deal is linked to funding for the state and territory hospital system funding. Thriving Kids implementation is being informed by the findings of the Independent Review into the NDIS, national consultation on Foundational Supports held at the end of 2024 and continuing community consultation across multiple jurisdictions. It is expected the Thriving Kids program would rollout in phases. The first services are expected to be available from 1 July 2026 and would continue to ramp up over 12 months.

Thriving Kids a result of review

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