The Australian Government has announced a new program called Thriving Kids, which will start rolling out from July 2026. It’s designed to support children with mild–moderate developmental delay or autism outside of the NDIS.
This has raised lots of questions for families. Below is a simple explainer of how Thriving Kids will be funded and how it compares to the NDIS.
How the NDIS is Funded
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Funded jointly by the federal government and state/territory governments.
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Works as an insurance-style entitlement scheme – if your child meets the criteria, they are guaranteed supports.
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Funding is demand-driven, meaning the budget grows as more people join.
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Families receive individualised plans and choose their own providers.
How Thriving Kids Will Be Funded
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$2 billion committed by the federal government, with states and territories matching that funding.
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Works as a national program, not an entitlement.
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Funding is capped – the total amount is fixed, regardless of how many children need support.
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Services will be delivered mainly through schools, GPs, health clinics, and community hubs, not through individual packages.
What This Means for Families
| Aspect | NDIS | Thriving Kids |
|---|---|---|
| Choice | You choose providers and services | Services provided through schools, GPs, clinics |
| Funding | Guaranteed if eligible, demand-driven | Fixed budget; may be waitlists or rationing |
| Supports | Individualised therapy packages | General or group supports in mainstream settings |
| Fairness | Open to all who meet criteria, but advantaged families may get more | Universal aim, but capped funding may limit support |
Does This Affect VALID’s Clients?
No. VALID provides support to adults aged 18 and over.
Thriving Kids is focused on children, so it will not change the services that VALID clients currently receive.
However, VALID is watching this program closely because:
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Many of our clients’ families may also have younger children navigating Thriving Kids.
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It’s important that children who use Thriving Kids have a clear pathway into adult supports (including the NDIS).
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Policy changes in children’s services can have flow-on effects to the whole disability system.
Why It Matters
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The NDIS will remain for children and adults with significant and permanent disability.
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Thriving Kids is designed for children who need support but don’t meet the NDIS threshold.
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Families will notice differences in choice, reliability, and intensity of support.