Thriving Kids and the NDIS: What Families Need to Know

Published by SESI Care Services · Updated July 2026 · 2-minute summary

Quick answer: Thriving Kids is a new government program for children aged 8 and under with developmental delay and/or autism and low to moderate support needs. Services begin rolling out from 1 October 2026 and reach full scale by 1 January 2028. Children with permanent and significant disability (high support needs) stay on the NDIS. No child is removed from the NDIS today, and for most families there is nothing you need to do right now — keep using your current supports and keep your reports up to date.

Key takeaways

• Thriving Kids is the first phase of “Foundational Supports” — help delivered outside individual NDIS plans, through mainstream and community settings.
• Governments have jointly committed $4 billion over five years, at least $1.4 billion of it going directly to the states to deliver services.
• It targets children aged 8 and under with developmental delay and/or autism and low to moderate support needs.
• Services start from 1 October 2026 and are expected to be at full scale by 1 January 2028.
• NDIS access changes for children are planned from 1 January 2028 — after services are in place, and requiring changes to the NDIS Act.
• Children with high support needs remain eligible for the NDIS under the usual arrangements.
• The transition rules for children already on the NDIS are still being designed — this is the main thing to watch.
• Most families do not need to take any action now.

What is Thriving Kids?

Thriving Kids is the first phase of what the government calls “Foundational Supports” — supports for people with disability that sit outside individual NDIS plans, delivered through mainstream and community settings.

The Australian Government and all state and territory governments have jointly committed $4 billion over five years to Thriving Kids. It is designed to support children aged 8 and under with developmental delay and/or autism who have low to moderate support needs, along with their families, carers and kin.

The intent, as governments describe it, is to reach children earlier and in everyday settings — places like childcare, playgroups, maternal and child health services and schools — rather than requiring every family to enter the NDIS to get help.

When does Thriving Kids start?

The rollout is staged, and the dates matter:

Date	What happens
1 October 2026	Thriving Kids services begin rolling out for children aged 8 and under with low to moderate support needs.
1 January 2028	Thriving Kids is expected to be fully rolled out and operating at scale nationally.
From 1 January 2028	Changes to NDIS access arrangements for children are planned to take effect (requires amendments to the NDIS Act).

The stated commitment is that Thriving Kids services will be up and running before NDIS access rules for children change.

Who is affected — and who isn’t?

Likely to move to Thriving Kids: children aged 8 and under with developmental delay and/or autism who have low to moderate support needs.

Staying on the NDIS: children with permanent and significant disability, including children with developmental delay or autism who have high support needs. These children continue to be eligible for the NDIS under the usual arrangements.

If your child is currently an NDIS participant, nothing changes automatically today. There is no action you need to take right now, and no one loses funding overnight. The transition is being phased in over more than a year, and the detailed rules about how existing participants move across are still being designed in consultation with the disability community.

Why is this happening?

The NDIS Review, which heard from thousands of participants, families and providers, found that the scheme had become the only meaningful source of support for many children — not because every child needed an individualised plan, but because there was often nothing else available. The Review recommended building supports outside the scheme so that families could get help earlier, closer to home, without a diagnosis-driven application process.

Thriving Kids is the government’s response to that recommendation. Reasonable people disagree about whether it will deliver — disability advocates have raised genuine concerns about eligibility boundaries, service readiness, and how transitions will be managed for children already receiving NDIS-funded therapy. Those concerns are being put to government, and the design is still evolving.

What families are worried about — honestly addressed

“Will my child lose their therapy?” The commitment is that children with higher support needs stay on the NDIS, and that state-delivered services will be in place before access rules change. What Thriving Kids services will look like in practice, in your suburb, is still being finalised — that uncertainty is real, and it’s the main thing to watch over the next 12 months.

“Is this just a cost-cutting exercise?” The scheme’s growth was a driver of the reforms — governments have said so openly. But the reform is also built on the NDIS Review’s evidence that early, mainstream supports often serve young children better than individualised plans. Both things can be true. Judge the program on what actually gets delivered from October 2026.

“I found out from social media and I’m confused.” You’re not alone — many families first heard about these changes through Facebook groups rather than official channels. Be careful with second-hand summaries. The official sources are the NDIS website and the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing’s Thriving Kids page.

What can I do now?

For most families the honest answer is: not much yet — but a few sensible steps put you in the strongest position.

• Don’t panic, and don’t pause supports. Your child’s current plan remains valid and should be used as intended. Continuing therapy now builds the evidence record of what works for your child.
• Keep your documentation current. Up-to-date reports from your child’s therapists, paediatrician and educators will matter whichever pathway your child takes. Ask providers to describe your child’s support needs, not just their diagnosis.
• Understand your child’s support-needs level. The dividing line in these reforms is low-to-moderate versus high support needs. If you believe your child’s needs are high, discuss with your treating team how that’s evidenced in their reports.
• Watch the official channels. Sign up for the NDIS e-newsletter and check your state government’s Thriving Kids page, as each state will deliver services locally.
• Ask questions at plan reassessment time. If your child has a reassessment coming up, ask your planner directly how the transition timeline applies to your child.
• Lean on your support coordinator or early childhood partner. Their job is to help you navigate exactly this kind of change.

At SESI Care Services, we track these changes so you do not have to. If anything here raises a question about your own plan, contact your SESI Support Coordinator or Recovery Coach and we will walk through it with you.

Frequently asked questions

Does Thriving Kids start on 1 July 2026?

No. The rollout of services begins from 1 October 2026, and the program is expected to be at full scale from 1 January 2028.

My child is 9. Are they affected?

Thriving Kids is targeted at children aged 8 and under. Older children’s NDIS arrangements are not part of this program, though the broader NDIS reforms (such as new framework plans) will reach all participants over time.

Will children already on the NDIS be forced off?

No child is being removed from the NDIS today. Access changes are planned from 1 January 2028, after services are in place, and the transition rules for existing participants are still being designed. Children with permanent and significant disability remain eligible for the NDIS.

Who delivers Thriving Kids — the NDIA?

No. Thriving Kids services will largely be delivered by state and territory governments through mainstream and community settings, with at least $1.4 billion of Commonwealth funding going directly to the states.

How much is being invested in Thriving Kids?

Governments have committed $4 billion over five years to the first phase of Foundational Supports, of which at least $1.4 billion of the Commonwealth’s $2 billion share goes directly to the states for services.

Where can I get help understanding what this means for my child?

Start with your early childhood partner, support coordinator or plan manager. Community organisations and disability advocacy groups in your state can also help you have your say on the design of the program.

The bottom line

Thriving Kids is real, it’s funded, and the first services arrive from October 2026 — but the details that matter most to families, especially transition arrangements for children already on the NDIS, are still being worked through. The best position for your family is informed, documented and unhurried: keep using your current supports, keep your evidence current, and rely on official sources rather than rumour.

Every child deserves support that helps them grow with confidence — and every family deserves clear information along the way.

This guide is general information based on the Australian Government’s Thriving Kids announcement (5 February 2026) and the NDIS. It is not financial or plan-specific advice. For guidance on your individual plan, speak with your SESI Support Coordinator, your Recovery Coach, or contact the NDIA. Sources: ndis.gov.au — Thriving Kids, health.gov.au — Thriving Kids.