Thriving Kids Australia is a new national system of supports designed to help children aged 8 and under with developmental delay and/or autism who have low to moderate support needs, and the families and carers who support them. It aims to make it easier to get the right help earlier, using local services, when early support can make the greatest difference. The Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing says the rollout of services, in collaboration with state and territory governments, will commence no later than 1 October 2026, with a phased implementation of national services expected to be at scale from 1 January 2028. The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) will continue to provide support for children with higher support needs. Community hubs will play a key role in delivering targeted supports such as speech, occupational, and physiotherapies for families.
Governments have committed funding over five years to ensure sustained, high-quality support as Thriving Kids Australia is rolled out.
This article explains what Thriving Kids is, who it is for, what the timeline looks like, what is still being finalised, and what families can do now.
General information only. If you need advice about your specific circumstances, please speak with your child’s GP or treating team.
What Thriving Kids Australia is (and what it is not)
What it is
Thriving Kids is part of the first phase of “Foundational Supports” agreed by governments. It is designed to identify developmental needs early and connect children and families to timely, evidence-based supports in everyday settings.
Governments have committed to jointly contribute $4 billion over 5 years to implement this first phase, and the Department notes that at least $1.4 billion of the Australian Government’s contribution will be provided as direct funding to states for Thriving Kids services.
The Fact Sheet also outlines the types of supports governments have agreed states and territories will deliver under Thriving Kids:
- Glocal information, advice and navigation
- Targeted allied health supports
In plain terms, Thriving Kids is intended to make it easier for families to access practical supports for development without feeling like they need to manage the system on their own.
What it is not
Thriving Kids is not an NDIS plan, and it is not intended to operate like an individualised funding package. The NDIS is designed to support children with a permanent disability, while Thriving Kids supports those with developmental delays or autism who do not meet the criteria for permanent disability support under the NDIS.
It is also not a single “one size fits all” program. Delivery will be shaped through agreements between the Australian Government and each state and territory, and details about specific services and how to access them will be made available closer to commencement.
Who Thriving Kids is designed to support
The Department describes Thriving Kids as supporting:
- Children aged 8 and under
- With developmental delay and/or autism
- With low to moderate support needs
- And their families, carers and kin
The program is designed to support young people with a range of developmental differences. Many children can benefit from early intervention and community-based supports, which are crucial for their ongoing development and well-being.
What “low to moderate support needs” can look like day to day
Every child is different, but families often describe concerns like:
- Your child understands a lot but struggles to be understood
- Your child is finding it hard to join in play, routines, or group settings
- Your child has big reactions to change, noise, transitions, or uncertainty
- Your child struggles with daily living skills like dressing, toileting, feeding, or sleep routines
- Your child’s motor skills, coordination, or confidence in movement seem behind their peers
If you are unsure whether your child’s needs fall into “low”, “moderate”, or “high”, a functional assessment (what your child can do in everyday life and what makes it harder) is often the most helpful starting point.
What about children with higher support needs?
The Department states that children with permanent and significant disability, and children aged 8 and under with developmental delay and/or autism who have substantially reduced functional capacity (high support needs), will remain eligible for the NDIS (subject to usual arrangements).
Timeline: what begins 1 October 2026, and what changes 1 January 2028
From 1 October 2026: rollout of state services
The Department’s Thriving Kids page says rollout of state services will commence no later than 1 October 2026.
The Thriving Kids Fact Sheet adds that the “first state services will be available from 1 October 2026” and that services will be progressively scaled and established.
What families can realistically expect from a rollout phase:
- Services may become available at different times depending on where you live
- Access pathways may differ by state and territory
- There may be a mix of expanded existing services and new services
By 1 January 2028: “at scale” and planned NDIS access changes for some children
The Department says Thriving Kids is expected to be at scale from 1 January 2028, and that NDIS access changes will commence from 1 January 2028, limited to children aged 8 and under with developmental delay and/or autism with low to moderate support needs.
The Minister’s media release also states the rollout will commence on 1 October 2026, with full implementation by 1 January 2028.
Important note for families already in the NDIS:
The Department indicates children aged 8 and under enrolled in the NDIS prior to 1 January 2028 with developmental delay and/or autism with low to moderate support needs will continue to be subject to reassessment under the eligibility criteria in place prior to 1 January 2028.
What we know now, and what is still being finalised
What we know now (high confidence)
Based on current Department materials:
- Who it is for (0 to 8, developmental delay and/or autism, low to moderate support needs)
- Rollout timing (no later than 1 October 2026) and scaling (at scale by 1 January 2028)
- The broad support “shape” (parenting supports, navigation, targeted allied health)
- Children with high support needs continue to access the NDIS (subject to usual arrangements)
What is still being finalised (and why that is normal)
Some of the details families care about most will be confirmed closer to commencement, including:
- The exact local access pathway in your area
- The specific service menu and eligibility steps by state or territory
- How navigation support will work day to day
- How targeted supports will be commissioned and scaled in the workforce
You may also hear sector groups emphasising certain design principles, such as access not depending on diagnosis, having multiple entry pathways, offering supports in everyday settings, and considering a Key Worker role to reduce family burden when multiple supports are involved.
What families can do now to feel prepared
You do not need to wait until 2026 to start supporting your child’s development. The best preparation is clarity about your child’s functional needs and goals. Many parents may feel uncertain about upcoming changes and should seek support and information as needed.
Here is a practical way to start.
1) Capture a simple “day in the life” snapshot
Write down:
- What is hard at home (mornings, meals, sleep, transitions)
- What is hard in early childhood settings or school prep (group time, instructions, friendships)
- What is hard in the community (shops, noisy spaces, appointments)
Keep it simple. Real examples matter more than perfect wording.
2) Collect observations from other settings
If your child attends childcare, preschool, or school transition programs, ask for:
- A short written observation
- Examples of what helps
- Examples of what triggers difficulty
3) Turn concerns into goals
Try goal language like:
- “We want our child to be able to express needs in a way others understand.”
- “We want our child to cope with transitions with fewer tears and less distress.”
- “We want our child to participate in group routines more comfortably.”
This goal language is useful across any system.
4) Get a functional assessment when it is needed
A functional assessment can help clarify:
- Strengths to build on
- Barriers in everyday routines
- The most useful next supports
- How to track change over time
If you already have a diagnosis, that can be useful. If you do not, you can still start with function and development.
What Thriving Kids supports may include
The Thriving Kids Fact Sheet describes a range of supports, including:
- information, advice and navigation to help families connect with the right supports
- Parenting supports and programs to build skills, confidence, and connection
- Targeted Supports for children and families who need more than parenting supports alone. For example, allied health services
Early childhood education plays a crucial role in supporting children’s development, providing a foundation for learning and access to resources that improve developmental outcomes.
For Targeted Supports, the Fact Sheet gives examples such as developmental supports focused on functional skills and independence delivered by trained workers, including allied health professionals such as occupational therapists, speech pathologists, physiotherapists, audiologists, and psychologists.
These supports are specifically designed to support children in their everyday environments, such as schools, clinics, and community settings, ensuring they receive the help they need where it matters most.
The sector has also highlighted design expectations such as supports being outcomes-focused, offered in formats that fit families (one-on-one, group, in person or online), and delivered in everyday settings where children spend most of their time.
How Bloom Healthcare can help families navigate Thriving Kids
Bloom’s role is simple: translate system change into practical next steps for your child. Bloom assists families in accessing support services for children with additional needs, ensuring they receive the right help at the right time.
Below is how Bloom services map to the types of challenges families most often raise in early childhood, school transition, and beyond, including support services for children with additional needs.
Paediatrics (0-9 and 10-17)
Best for: overall developmental support planning, school transition goals, and coordinating care across settings, including paediatric NDIS services for young people aged 10–17.
What it looks like at Bloom: a clear plan built around functional goals, with progress tracked over time and strategies that fit daily routines.
Speech Pathology
Best for: speech clarity, language development, social communication, literacy foundations, stuttering, and feeding and swallowing.
What it looks like at Bloom: practical communication strategies for home and educators, with goals tied to real situations (mealtimes, play, group routines).
Occupational Therapy
Best for: emotional regulation, sensory processing, fine motor skills, handwriting readiness, daily living skills, play, and independence.
What it looks like at Bloom: routines that reduce stress, environmental supports, and skill-building plans that work at home and in learning settings.
Psychology/Counselling
Best for: anxiety, emotional regulation, behaviour support, family stress, and confidence building.
What it looks like at Bloom: evidence-informed tools for the child and family, with a strong focus on capacity building.
Physiotherapy
Best for: gross motor development, balance, coordination, strength, and confidence in movement.
What it looks like at Bloom: movement goals that translate into play, sport, and participation.
Exercise Physiology
Best for: building routine, fitness, and participation, particularly for older children and teens.
What it looks like at Bloom: safe, structured plans linked to everyday goals and community participation.
Positive Behaviour Support (PBS)
Best for: complex behaviour, safety concerns, school or home breakdown, and multi-setting behaviour plans that may benefit from specialist Positive Behaviour Support services.
What it looks like at Bloom: functional behaviour assessment and tailored NDIS Positive Behaviour Support plans, practical strategies, and coaching for caregivers and educators.
Dietitian
Best for: restrictive eating, nutritional adequacy concerns, growth support, and nutrition planning alongside feeding support.
What it looks like at Bloom: realistic family-led plans and collaboration with Speech Pathology and Occupational Therapy when needed.
Make a Referral
Who can refer
Parents and carers, GPs, Paediatricians, Child and Family Health Nurses, early childhood educators, schools, Plan Managers, and Support Coordinators.
What to include in a referral
Child’s age, primary concerns, any existing reports (childcare, preschool, school, previous therapy), relevant medical history, and your top 3 goals.
What Bloom will do next
Bloom will triage to the most appropriate clinician, confirm priorities, recommend the right service mix, and provide clear first-step actions.
FAQs
What is Thriving Kids Australia?
Thriving Kids is a national system of supports aimed at helping children aged 8 and under with developmental delay and/or autism with low to moderate support needs access support earlier through local services.
When does Thriving Kids start?
The Department indicates rollout of state services will commence no later than 1 October 2026, with services expected to be at scale from 1 January 2028.
Will children with high support needs still be eligible for the NDIS?
Yes. The Department states children with permanent and significant disability, and children aged 8 and under with developmental delay and/or autism with substantially reduced functional capacity (high support needs) will remain eligible for the NDIS, subject to usual arrangements.
What changes on 1 January 2028?
The Department indicates changes to NDIS access arrangements will commence from 1 January 2028 and will be limited to children aged 8 and under with developmental delay and/or autism with low to moderate support needs.
Do I need a diagnosis to access Thriving Kids supports?
Current sector summaries of the Advisory Group recommendations emphasise access should not depend on a diagnosis and that there should be a range of entry pathways. Local requirements will be confirmed closer to rollout.
What should I do if I am worried about my child right now?
Start with a developmental check-in (often via your GP) and consider a functional assessment with allied health. Do not wait for a future system change to begin supporting development.
How can Bloom help?
Bloom can assess functional needs, clarify goals, provide practical strategies for home and learning settings, and support families to navigate the evolving pathway with confidence.
Next step: Make a Referral
If you want help translating Thriving Kids into a practical plan for your child, Bloom can support you.
If you are a GP, educator, or referrer, you can include a short observation and the family’s top three concerns. Bloom will respond with recommended next steps and the most relevant service pathway.
