If youโre a parent or carer of a young child with developmental delay or autism, youโve probably heard about a new program called Thriving Kids, and maybe wondered: will my child lose their NDIS support? Youโre not alone, and itโs natural to have questions.
Here is the short version. Thriving Kids starts from October 2026 for children aged 8 and under with developmental delay and/or autism who have low to moderate support needs. Children with permanent and significant disability, including those with high support needs, stay eligible for the NDIS. Nothing changes about how children access the NDIS until 1 January 2028. This guide explains the Thriving Kids NDIS changes in plain language, from government sources, including what is happening in NSW.
Thriving Kids NDIS Changes: Quick Summary
- Who: children aged 8 and under with developmental delay and/or autism with low to moderate support needs, and their families, carers and kin
- No diagnosis needed: the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing says children will not need a diagnosis to get support
- When: from October 2026, growing over time, with all supports rolled out by 1 January 2028
- Funding: $4 billion over 5 years, with the Australian Government and the states and territories each contributing $2 billion
- NDIS access: no changes until 1 January 2028. Children with permanent and significant disability, and those with high support needs, remain eligible
- Children already on the NDIS: children aged 8 and under accessing the NDIS before 1 January 2028 continue to be reassessed under the criteria in place before that date
What Is the Thriving Kids Program?
Thriving Kids is a program being set up by the Australian Government with state and territory governments, outside the NDIS. It is the first phase of Foundational Supports: services available outside the NDIS for people with disability and developmental delay. According to the departmentโs About Thriving Kids page (updated 13 August 2026), all governments have agreed to $10 billion in joint funding for Foundational Supports over 5 years, of which $4 billion is committed to Thriving Kids.
According to the NDIAโs news item of 5 February 2026, at least $1.4 billion of the Australian Governmentโs $2 billion contribution will be provided as direct funding to states for Thriving Kids services.
The department says Thriving Kids will help families learn about child development and identify concerns earlier, build their confidence and skills in supporting their childโs development, and find and connect with the right support. Supports are meant to be child and family-centred, strengths-based and neuro-affirming, evidence-based, culturally appropriate, and mostly available in everyday places, like at home or in the community.
Who Is Thriving Kids For?
- Children aged 8 and under
- With developmental delay and/or autism
- Who have low to moderate support needs
- And their families, carers and kin
Thriving Kids is not for every child with disability. It is aimed at children whose needs can be met with the kinds of supports below, without an ongoing NDIS plan.
Thriving Kids NDIS Eligibility: Who Stays on the NDIS?
This is the question most families ask. The governmentโs answer, on the departmentโs page About the changes to the NDIS (updated 24 September 2026):
- 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), remain eligible for the NDIS.
- From 1 January 2028, children aged 8 and under with developmental delay and/or autism and low to moderate support needs will no longer be eligible for the NDIS, and will be supported by Thriving Kids.
- Children already on the NDIS: children aged 8 and under who are accessing the NDIS before 1 January 2028 continue to be reassessed under the eligibility criteria in place before that date. Once they turn 9, they are reassessed under the new eligibility criteria based on functional capacity.
The focus is on the level of support your child needs, not the diagnosis alone.
What Supports Will Thriving Kids Provide?
Governments have agreed a national model, which each state and territory adapts to local needs. The departmentโs page on the supports being planned describes four kinds of help:
1. Information About Child Development
A national Digital Hub with information and resources, and national phone supports, including Medicare Thriving Kids for families with questions about a childโs development or behaviour, and an Autism Helpline.
2. Help to Identify When a Child Needs Extra Support
Routine child development and health assessments, including a new Medicare Healthy Kids Check that supports GPs to assess a childโs health and development at age 3, and a National Digital Child Health Record.
3. Supports for Families
Evidence-based and culturally safe programs such as peer support groups, supported playgroups, family programs, online training and courses, and practical resources to use at home. State and territory governments deliver most of these.
4. Targeted Supports
For children and families who need more help: allied health such as speech pathology, occupational therapy, physiotherapy or psychology; low-cost assistive technology like communication aids and sensory tools; and more intensive capacity building for families, including around transitions like starting school. These can be one-on-one or in groups, in person or online, and are delivered by state and territory governments.
Thriving Kids in NSW
According to the NSW Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) Thriving Kids page:
- From October 2026: services for families with concerns about their childโs development, including peer support programs for parents and supported playgroups for children aged 5 and under, provided by non-government organisations in local communities.
- From January 2027: supports for children who need extra help, including short-term, goal-focused allied health therapies, individual or in small play-based groups, delivered by organisations commissioned by DCJ and by NSW Government agencies in some locations. Access to these targeted supports will be through a central intake process managed by DCJ.
- Through 2027: more services become available across NSW.
DCJ says a diagnosis will not be required, and that more information about eligibility, intake and referral pathways will be published as services become available. Families can join DCJโs Thriving Kids mailing list for updates.
When Does Thriving Kids Start?
The Thriving Kids NDIS timeline is staged:
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| From October 2026 | Thriving Kids starts, with supports growing over time |
| January 2027 (NSW) | Targeted supports begin in NSW, through DCJโs central intake |
| By 1 January 2028 | All Thriving Kids supports rolled out |
| From 1 January 2028 | Changes to NDIS access begin, including for children aged 8 and under with low to moderate support needs |
The department says Thriving Kids supports will be available before changes to NDIS access begin on 1 January 2028. The new NDIS laws that enable the access changes, the Securing the NDIS for Future Generations Act 2026, passed Parliament on 19 August 2026.
How Is This Different from the NDIS Early Childhood Approach?
Today, the NDIAโs early childhood approach helps children younger than 6 with developmental delay, or younger than 9 with disability, and their families. Thriving Kids differs in a few ways:
- Funding: Thriving Kids is funded jointly by the Australian Government and the states and territories, outside the NDIS
- No individual NDIS plan: families use supports delivered through the program, mostly by state and territory governments
- Everyday settings: supports are mostly delivered where children live, learn and play
- Short-term, goal-focused help for children who need extra support, according to the NSW model
For children with high support needs, the NDIS pathway continues.
What Families Are Worried About
We want to be upfront: families have real questions about Thriving Kids, and some answers arenโt published yet.
Will the supports be enough?
The national model and the NSW rollout describe the types of support, but details such as how many sessions a child can receive, and any costs to families, are not set out on the government pages we checked. DCJ says more information will be published as services become available.
What if my childโs needs change?
If your child has permanent and significant disability or high support needs, the NDIS remains available, subject to the usual requirements. You can apply at any time if your child meets them.
Will there be gaps?
Governments have committed to Thriving Kids supports being available before NDIS access changes begin on 1 January 2028. Services are being rolled out in stages, so what is available will vary by area in the early months.
How Thriving Kids Connects to the Broader NDIS Changes
- Eligibility: from 1 January 2028, access is based on a standardised assessment of functional capacity, with existing participants reassessed progressively over 3 years (children aged 8 and under already on the NDIS follow the rule above)
- Planning: the NDIA will begin introducing a new way of planning from April 2027. The NDIA said in February 2026 that children under 18 wonโt be part of the initial changes. See NDIS planning changes
- Access for young children: see our guide to NDIS access changes for children under 8
5 Things You Can Do Right Now
1. Understand your childโs support needs
The key question is whether your childโs needs are low to moderate, or high. Talk to your childโs paediatrician, therapists or GP.
2. Keep records
Keep notes on your childโs daily support needs, therapy and development. Good records help with any future NDIS reassessment or Thriving Kids referral.
3. Ask for progress reports
Ask your childโs therapists for progress reports and functional assessments that describe your childโs current abilities and needs.
4. Talk to your support coordinator
If your child has support coordination, ask how the changes may affect your family and your childโs next plan reassessment.
5. Follow official updates
The departmentโs Thriving Kids page has the latest resources, including Easy Read and Auslan versions. In NSW, join the DCJ Thriving Kids mailing list.
How a Support Coordinator Helps Your Family
If your childโs NDIS plan includes support coordination, a support coordinator can:
- Explain the changes in plain language and how they apply to your child
- Help you gather evidence of your childโs support needs
- Help you prepare for plan reassessments
- Help you find and connect with services as Thriving Kids rolls out in your area
If you are a carer managing your own mental health through a stressful time, our guide to psychosocial recovery coaching explains the support available.
Thriving Kids NDIS FAQs
Will my child be removed from the NDIS?
Not because of Thriving Kids alone. Children aged 8 and under who are on the NDIS before 1 January 2028 continue to be reassessed under the criteria in place before that date. Once they turn 9, they are reassessed under the new criteria. Children with permanent and significant disability, including those with high support needs, remain eligible.
My child has autism. Do they stay on the NDIS?
It depends on the level of support your child needs, not the diagnosis alone. From 1 January 2028, children aged 8 and under with autism and low to moderate support needs who apply will be supported by Thriving Kids, while those with substantially reduced functional capacity (high support needs) remain eligible for the NDIS.
Does my child need a diagnosis for Thriving Kids?
No. The department and NSW DCJ both say a diagnosis will not be required.
Is Thriving Kids free?
The government pages we checked donโt set out any costs to families. Some parts, such as the Healthy Kids Check at age 3, are delivered through Medicare. Check your stateโs service information as it is published.
What happens when my child turns 9?
Thriving Kids is for children aged 8 and under. A child already on the NDIS is reassessed under the new eligibility criteria once they turn 9. Children 9 and older can apply to the NDIS under the usual requirements.
When will Thriving Kids be available in NSW?
From October 2026 for family supports such as peer support and supported playgroups, and from January 2027 for targeted supports like short-term allied health, with more services through 2027.
Can I still apply for the NDIS for my child?
Yes. There are no changes to how people access the NDIS until 1 January 2028, and children with permanent and significant disability will still be able to access it after that date.
Your Family Doesnโt Have to Navigate This Alone
Change involving your childโs support can feel overwhelming. Centre of Hope is a registered NDIS provider working with families across NSW. Whether you need help understanding what the transition means for your child, preparing for a reassessment, or finding services as Thriving Kids rolls out, weโre here to walk beside you.
Your goals. Your plan. Our support.
๐ Call us: 0432 250 900
๐ Visit: centreofhope.com.au
๐ Refer: Submit a referral
Disclaimer: This article is general information only and is not legal, financial or professional advice. It is current as at 25 September 2026, and reflects NDIA news of 5 February 2026, the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing pages on Thriving Kids (updated 13 and 31 August 2026) and on the changes to the NDIS (updated 24 September 2026), the NSW Department of Communities and Justice Thriving Kids page (read 25 September 2026), and the NDIAโs new NDIS laws page (current as of 23 September 2026). Thriving Kids is being rolled out in stages and details will change, so confirm with the department, DCJ or the NDIA on 1800 800 110.
