The Australian Government has reached a landmark agreement with state and territory governments to reform Australia’s health and disability systems.
As part of this agreement, governments have agreed to put new investment into supports outside the NDIS, known as ‘Foundational Supports’.
Governments have committed to jointly contribute $4 billion over 5 years to implement the first phase of Foundational Supports, known as ‘Thriving Kids’.
This investment will support children aged 8 and under with developmental delay and/or autism with low to moderate support needs, and their families, carers and kin.
At least $1.4 billion of the Australian Government’s $2 billion contribution will be provided as direct funding to states for Thriving Kids services.
From 1 October 2026, children aged 8 and under with developmental delay and/or autism with low to moderate support needs will start to access support through Thriving Kids.
Thriving Kids will be fully rolled out by 1 January 2028. The Commonwealth, states and territories will continue to finalise the national and local services to be delivered to support children and their families in each jurisdiction.
Children with permanent and significant disability, including those with developmental delay and/or autism with high support needs, will continue to be eligible for the NDIS, subject to usual arrangements.
Thriving Kids will commence rollout of state services no later than 1 October 2026 and is expected to be at scale from 1 January 2028.
This will ensure national services are in place ahead of changes to NDIS access arrangements from 1 January 2028.
To support the rollout of Thriving Kids, the Australian Government and all state and territory governments have agreed in principle to change NDIS access arrangements for children.
These access changes will require amendments to the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 (NDIS Act).
The Australian Government will continue to engage state and territory governments, people with disability and the disability sector to inform the design and implementation of these important reforms.
To learn more, visit the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing’s Thriving Kids webpage .