Summary
From July 2026, the Australian Government will launch the Thriving Kids program – a $2 billion initiative to support children aged 0–8 with mild-to-moderate developmental delay or autism who don’t qualify for the NDIS.
Key differences:
Eligibility: NDIS supports people with significant, permanent disability; Thriving Kids supports children with lower needs.
Delivery: NDIS offers individual plans and provider choice; Thriving Kids will run through schools, GPs, clinics and community hubs.
Funding: NDIS is demand-driven; Thriving Kids has a fixed budget and is not an entitlement scheme.
For families:
Children already in the NDIS will stay supported. Those not eligible may access Thriving Kids once it begins in 2026.
The Australian Government will launch Thriving Kids in July 2026. The program supports children with mild to moderate developmental delay or autism who don’t qualify for the NDIS.
Families have many questions, so this guide explains how Thriving Kids works and how it differs from the NDIS.
How the NDIS Works
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The federal and state governments fund the NDIS together.
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The NDIS operates as an insurance-style entitlement scheme. When a child meets the criteria, they receive guaranteed supports.
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The budget grows as more people join.
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Families create individualised plans and choose their own providers.
How Thriving Kids Works
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The federal government committed $2 billion, with states and territories matching the funding.
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The program runs nationally but is not an entitlement.
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Funding remains capped, no matter how many children need support.
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Schools, GPs, health clinics and community hubs deliver most services instead of individual packages.
What This Means for VALID’s Community
VALID supports adults aged 18 and over, so Thriving Kids won’t change existing VALID services.
However, VALID will monitor the rollout closely because:
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Many clients’ families include younger children who may enter the program.
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Children in Thriving Kids need a clear pathway into adult supports, including the NDIS.
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Policy shifts in children’s services often affect the broader disability system.
Why It Matters
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The NDIS continues for people with significant, permanent disability.
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Thriving Kids helps children who need extra support but don’t meet the NDIS threshold.
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Families will notice differences in choice, reliability and support intensity between the two systems.
Further Reading
If you’d like to explore this topic more deeply, here are some articles and resources: