A major new Australian Government program designed to support young children with developmental delay and autism is set to begin rolling out later this year, with the aim of providing earlier intervention and reducing reliance on the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
Known as Thriving Kids, the initiative represents one of the biggest reforms to Australia's early childhood disability support system in decades.
For many Hawkesbury families, however, the changes have raised an important question: What exactly is Thriving Kids, and how will it affect my child?
Earlier support for young children
The Australian Government says Thriving Kids is designed to ensure children receive help as early as possible, when intervention can have the greatest impact on learning, communication, behaviour and development.
The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing says the program will "help give children the best start in life by identifying children with additional developmental needs as early as possible, when timely, evidence-based supports can make the greatest impact."
The program is aimed at children from birth to eight years of age who have developmental delay or autism and low to moderate support needs.
Rather than families having to navigate lengthy assessment processes before receiving help, the Government says children will be able to access support earlier through community-based services.
What support will be available?
Depending on a child's needs, Thriving Kids is expected to provide access to services such as:
- Speech pathology
- Occupational therapy
- Physiotherapy
- Psychology
- Developmental assessments
- Parent coaching and education
- Family support
- Assistance navigating health, education and community services.
The program is intended to work alongside existing early childhood education and health services to create a more coordinated approach to supporting young children.
What happens to the NDIS?
One of the biggest changes is how young children will access disability supports in the future.
Children with higher or more complex disability support needs will continue to receive assistance through the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
However, children with developmental delay or autism who have low to moderate support needs are expected to receive support through Thriving Kids rather than entering the NDIS.
The Government says this will allow the NDIS to focus on Australians with permanent and significant disabilities while ensuring younger children receive timely intervention through a dedicated early childhood support system.
A $4 billion investment
The initiative will be jointly funded by the Australian Government and state and territory governments.
The Commonwealth has committed $2 billion, with states and territories matching that investment to create a $4 billion national program over the first five years.
Services are expected to begin rolling out from 1 October 2026, with the new arrangements becoming fully operational by 1 January 2028.
Why early intervention matters
Health professionals have long argued that identifying developmental concerns during the early years can significantly improve a child's long-term outcomes.
Early support can help children develop communication, social and learning skills before they begin school and may reduce the need for more intensive support later in life.
The Government says providing evidence-based intervention during a child's first eight years can improve educational participation, family wellbeing and long-term independence.
Questions still being asked
While many disability organisations have welcomed the focus on earlier intervention, several groups have called for more detail about how the program will operate.
Questions remain about how children will transition between Thriving Kids and the NDIS, how services will be delivered in regional communities, and whether there will be enough allied health professionals to meet demand.
The peak body representing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, SNAICC – National Voice for our Children, has welcomed the initiative but says it will only succeed if Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations are genuine partners in designing and delivering services.
Disability advocacy organisations have also stressed the importance of ensuring no child loses access to support during the transition to the new system.
What it could mean for Hawkesbury families
For families across the Hawkesbury, where access to speech pathologists, occupational therapists and other allied health professionals can already involve lengthy waiting lists, the success of Thriving Kids will depend on whether the program delivers additional local services.
Parents of young children with developmental concerns may benefit from earlier access to assessments and therapies without needing to enter the NDIS, but many will be watching closely to see how the reforms are implemented in practice.
Have Your Say
The Hawkesbury Gazette would like to hear from local families, educators, allied health professionals and disability support organisations about the challenges of accessing early intervention services in our region.
Have you experienced long waiting lists for speech therapy, occupational therapy or developmental assessments? Has your family navigated the NDIS, or are you concerned about the upcoming changes under Thriving Kids?
We are also interested in hearing from childcare centres, preschools, schools, health professionals and community organisations working with children who have developmental delay or disability.
Your experiences will help inform future coverage of how these national reforms are affecting families in the Hawkesbury.
If you would like to share your story, email editor@hawkesburygazette.com with the subject line "Thriving Kids". Personal stories can be published anonymously where appropriate.
