The Federal government wants to remove children with so-called ‘mild to moderate’ developmental delay and autism from the NDIS.
In a speech to the National Press Club on Wednesday, Federal Minister for Disability and the NDIS Mark Butler announced the introduction of new supports for autistic children, called Thriving Kids.
Thriving Kids is a proposed new scheme which would run alongside the NDIS, providing early intervention and therapies for these children. States will share the cost with the national government. The Federal government has committed $2 billion to its establishment and it’s expected to launch in July 2026.
According to the Minister, access and eligibility changes for the NDIS will be made in 2027, once the Thriving Kids program is rolled out. Children currently on the NDIS or who join it before Thriving Kids is up and running will remain on the original scheme and be subject to its rules.
The Minister says the introduction of Thriving Kids is in response to calls for foundational supports in the NDIS Review.
“The NDIS has grown incredibly fast – and well beyond projections,” the Minister said in his speech.
“Originally intended to support around 410,000 people with disability, the Scheme now supports just under 740,000 and is projected to grow to a million by 2034.”
He pledged to “[return] the scheme to its original purpose… the provision of support to people with significant and permanent care and support needs”.
Butler said most of the new NDIS entrants are under nine years old, have developmental delay or autism, and enter the scheme for early intervention.
“It’s all they’ve had available – the only port in the storm,” Butler said of the families joining the NDIS.
“Families looking for additional supports in mainstream services can’t find them, because they largely don’t exist anymore. And, in that, governments have failed them. The NDIS model just doesn’t suit their needs.”
It’s estimated almost 300,000 Australians are on the autism spectrum, including 4.3 per cent of people aged between five and 14 years old.
What does the sector think of Thriving Kids?
The proposal to establish Thriving Kids has been met with apprehension from people with autism and peak bodies.
A Link reader from New South Wales warned the government not to throw the NDIS baby out with the bathwater.
“Blanket, nationalised access to quality autism therapies and supports are needed throughout the preschool years, the education system and medicine,” the reader told Link.
“I live with ASD, as do my offspring. Despite investing around $150,000 in early intervention for more than a decade before NDIS came into existence … and despite great supports and outcomes … it is clear to me that even mild autism is a lifelong challenge.
“Taxpayers are saved money down the track by addressing it swiftly and efficiently. The NDIS has normalised obtaining timely help. Every dollar spent early saves society hundreds in adulthood.”
Children and Young People with Disability Australia (CYDA) responded similarly, warning the government not to rush the introduction of Thriving Kids.
“Thriving Kids has huge potential, but the government can’t seriously expect to set up a fully functional system to replace NDIS supports in under a year,” said CYDA CEO Skye Kakoschke-Moore.
“To truly honour the principle of ‘nothing about us, without us’, the governments needs to provide adequate time for genuine co-design and community consultation, especially when changes are this significant.”
Australian Federation of Disability Organisations (AFDO) said it is concerned about the government’s “ongoing emphasis on reducing supports for people with disability within the [NDIS], particularly… young people.”
It noted the sector is still waiting for Foundational Supports, and asked the government to guarantee that no NDIS participant would lose support during the transition to Thriving Kids.
It also called for the new program to be co-designed with people with disability and their representatives.
“Reforms must protect the rights of people with disability, not reduce the supports they depend on,” CEO Ross Joyce said.