Thriving Kids rollout starts in October 2026 test three

Thriving Kids is being introduced to make it easier for families to get support earlier when they are concerned about a child’s development.

You do not need to have all the answers, a diagnosis, or a paediatrician appointment before asking what support may be available. You also do not need to understand the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) to start the conversation.

What is Thriving Kids?

Thriving Kids is a new Australian system of support for children aged 8 and under who have:

• developmental delay and/or autism
• low to moderate support needs

It also supports parents, carers and families. The aim is to help children earlier, without making families wait for a diagnosis before they can get support.

Support is intended to happen in the places children already live, learn and play, such as home, childcare, kindergarten, school and community settings.

When does it start?

The national rollout starts on 1 October 2026, but this is not the day when every service across Australia suddenly switches on. Services will be introduced gradually.

You do not need to wait until 2028 to get help. The start of the rollout on 1 October 2026 does not mean your child’s existing support suddenly stops.

Does my child need a diagnosis?

No. Your child does not need an autism diagnosis to access Thriving Kids. You can ask for help because you are concerned about your child’s development.

You might be concerned because your child:

• isn’t talking as expected or doesn’t seem to understand language
• finds social situations difficult or has trouble playing with other children
• struggles with transitions or has sensory differences
• has difficulty eating or with everyday activities
• has motor difficulties
• has other developmental differences that concern you

You do not have to know the diagnosis before asking what support your child needs. All states and territories are working towards this approach.

Who can I talk to?

There isn’t one person you have to see first. You can start with someone who already knows your child.

• Your GP, who can look at your child’s overall health and development and refer you where appropriate.
• Child and Family Health, particularly for younger children.
• Your child’s childcare educator, kindergarten or school, who may help identify concerns and connect you with services.
• A speech pathologist, if communication or language is your main concern.
• An occupational therapist, for everyday activities, sensory needs, fine motor skills and participation.
• A physiotherapist, for movement and gross motor development.
• A psychologist or other developmental professional, where appropriate.
• A paediatrician, when your child needs specialist medical or developmental assessment.

You do not automatically need a paediatrician before getting developmental support.

What if I don’t know where to start?

You can say: “I’m worried about my child’s development and I don’t know what to do next.”

Say this to your GP, child and family health nurse, or childcare, kindergarten or school, and ask them to help you work out the next step. You don’t need to arrive with a diagnosis.

Is Thriving Kids free?

Thriving Kids is government funded. However, not every private therapist or paediatrician will automatically be free.

Thriving Kids services are being funded and commissioned by governments and delivered through participating services. If you choose a private practitioner outside the Thriving Kids system, their normal fees may still apply.

The exact arrangements for families—including what is free, what may involve a contribution, and which providers are funded—are being established by each state and territory. Don’t assume a private therapy appointment is free just because your child may be eligible for Thriving Kids.

Where will support happen?

The aim is to make support fit into family life. Depending on where you live and what your child needs, support may happen:

• at home, childcare, kindergarten or school
• in a community centre or playgroup
• in a clinic or another local setting
• online, or through a combination of approaches

Governments have agreed that support should be available in the places where children live, learn and play.

What sort of help might be available?

Support will not be the same for every child. Thriving Kids is designed to provide a range of supports, which may include:

• information and advice to help you understand your child’s development and what you can do at home
• parent support programs and groups where parents can learn strategies and connect with other families
• supported playgroups and opportunities for children and parents to connect
• allied health, including speech pathology, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, psychology and other developmental supports
• individual support or small-group programs

Where appropriate, support is intended to be goal-focused and time-limited rather than automatically providing years of weekly therapy.

What if my child is already getting help?

Keep going. Don’t stop an existing service simply because Thriving Kids is starting. The transition is happening over time.

If your child is already receiving support through the NDIS, Medicare, public health, private therapy, childcare, kindergarten, school or community programs, continue to use the supports that are appropriate for your child.

The NDIS changes associated with Thriving Kids do not begin on 1 October 2026.

What happens to the NDIS?

Right now

Children can continue to access the NDIS if they meet the current eligibility requirements.

Before 1 January 2028

Children who are already on the NDIS can continue under the existing transition arrangements. The Australian Government says children aged 8 and under with developmental delay/autism who enter the NDIS before 1 January 2028 will be reassessed under the eligibility arrangements that apply before that date.

From 1 January 2028

New applicants aged 8 and under with developmental delay/autism and low to moderate support needs are intended to receive support through Thriving Kids and other mainstream or foundational supports rather than the NDIS.

Children with permanent and significant disability, including children with developmental delay/autism who have high support needs, will continue to be eligible for the NDIS, subject to the usual arrangements.

How is each state rolling it out?

The national program has a shared aim, but each state and territory is responsible for delivering services locally. Do not assume that a service available in another state will also be available where you live.

New South Wales

NSW has published the most detailed rollout information so far.

From October 2026, general supports begin becoming available, including:

• parent and carer peer support
• supported playgroups for children aged 5 and under
• information and advice

From January 2027, targeted supports begin. These can include allied health, individual support, small-group support and play-based therapy.

NSW says access to targeted supports will be through a central intake managed by the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ). More services will be added throughout 2027.

If you are concerned about your child, talk to your GP, child and family health service, childcare, kindergarten or school. NSW will publish information about available Thriving Kids services and how to access them as services start from October.

Victoria

Victoria is introducing Thriving Kids in stages from October 2026. The program is being built around the existing Maternal and Child Health system, early childhood services and kindergarten system.

Victoria is also introducing additional developmental assessments to help identify concerns before kindergarten and before school. New allied health and support services will be developed to operate where children live, learn and play. The full range of services is expected to be in place by 1 January 2028.

You can continue using your Maternal and Child Health service, GP, kindergarten or early childhood service, or school for developmental concerns.

Queensland

As of 25 September 2026, Queensland had not formally signed up to the Thriving Kids arrangement. Parents in Queensland should not assume that the same services available in NSW or Victoria will be available in Queensland from 1 October.

The Queensland Government has raised concerns about the design, funding and implementation arrangements, and discussions with the Commonwealth are continuing.

Continue using your GP, Queensland Health child development services, early childhood services, school or kindergarten supports, existing NDIS supports where eligible, and existing allied health services. The national 1 October date does not itself provide Queensland parents with a published local service pathway.

South Australia

South Australia is introducing Thriving Kids progressively from October 2026. The SA model will include:

• early identification of developmental concerns
• information and advice
• family support and connection with other families
• targeted supports for children and families with higher needs

Services will be provided in everyday settings where children live, learn and play. More details about the exact service model and access arrangements are still being developed. Full rollout is planned by 1 January 2028.

Continue using your GP, child and family services, kindergarten, school and other health or development services.

Western Australia

Western Australia is rolling Thriving Kids out progressively from 1 October 2026 through to January 2028. WA says families will not need a diagnosis to access Thriving Kids.

The WA approach will focus on building family skills and confidence, community connections, child development, participation in everyday life, information and navigation, parenting and family programs, and targeted individual and small-group allied health.

Support may be delivered in community centres, local hubs, libraries, some education settings, homes, online or through hybrid arrangements. The first stage is intended to test and learn what works best for families before the wider rollout.

Tasmania

Tasmania will begin its staged rollout from October 2026. The program is for children aged 8 and under with developmental delay or autism and low to moderate support needs.

Tasmania is continuing to develop its service model with families, providers and the community. Services will be progressively introduced, with the rollout expected to be completed by January 2028.

Your child does not need a diagnosis to access Thriving Kids. For questions about the Tasmanian rollout, contact thriving.kids@dpac.tas.gov.au.

Australian Capital Territory

The ACT will begin providing Thriving Kids services from 1 October 2026. The program is for children aged 0–8 with developmental delay or autism and low to moderate support needs.

The first focus will be on government-run services, with additional services added over time. Full availability is expected by 1 January 2028.

Families can speak with their GP, Maternal, Child and Family Health services, or ACT Child Development Service drop-in clinics. These services can provide developmental monitoring, assessment and help with referrals.

Northern Territory

The Northern Territory will begin its first Thriving Kids supports from 1 October 2026, with full rollout expected by 1 January 2028.

The NT model includes information, navigation, parenting support and targeted developmental assistance. The NT describes its approach as “no wrong door”, meaning families should be able to ask for help wherever they first seek it and be connected with the appropriate support. The NT is also emphasising culturally responsive services.

How do I get started?

1. Talk to someone who knows your child, such as your GP, Child and Family Health, childcare or kindergarten, or school.
2. Explain what you are seeing. You do not need to say, “I think my child has autism.” You can say, “I’m worried about my child’s development and I’d like someone to help me work out what support they need.”
3. Ask what support is available now. Don’t wait months for a diagnosis if your child needs help today.
4. Check your state’s Thriving Kids rollout. Services are coming online at different times.
5. Keep your existing supports while the new system is being established.

Do I need a referral?

There is no single Australia-wide answer yet. States and territories are setting up their own local delivery and access arrangements. The national model is shared, but the way to access it can look different in different states.

Do not assume that every child needs a GP referral or that you can self-refer everywhere. Check your state government’s current instructions.

Do I need a paediatrician?

No, not automatically. A paediatrician is a medical specialist and can help when a child needs a specialist developmental or medical assessment. But early support does not have to wait for a paediatrician appointment.

If you are worried about speech, communication, development, behaviour, movement or everyday functioning, ask your GP, child health professional or early childhood or school service what support can start now.

Does my child have to be on the NDIS?

No. Thriving Kids is designed to provide support outside the NDIS for children in the Thriving Kids group. The NDIS continues to support children who meet its eligibility requirements, including children with permanent and significant disability and high support needs.

Will therapy be the same as NDIS therapy?

Not necessarily. Thriving Kids is designed differently, with likely greater emphasis on:

• family involvement
• everyday activities and community settings
• group programs
• building parents’ and carers’ skills
• short-term, goal-focused support

The exact service mix will vary between states and individual children.

Five things to remember

1. Thriving Kids starts rolling out from 1 October 2026.
2. Your child does not need an autism diagnosis to access Thriving Kids.
3. You do not automatically need a paediatrician before seeking support.
4. The exact pathway is different in each state and territory.
5. Do not stop existing supports just because Thriving Kids is starting.

The reform timeline

The changes are not happening all at once. The dates below are a practical map of the transition. A date tells you when a change is intended to begin; it does not mean every participant will experience it that day.

A reform date is not automatically a personal plan decision. The NDIA should tell you when a change affects you and what you need to do.

Further information

The program is changing quickly. Use government sources rather than relying on social media or private providers for the latest rules.

• National: Australian Government — Thriving Kids
• NSW: NSW Government — Thriving Kids
• Victoria: Victorian Government — Thriving Kids
• Western Australia: WA Government — Thriving Kids
• ACT: ACT Government — Thriving Kids
• Northern Territory: NT Government — Thriving Kids
• Tasmania: The Tasmanian Government’s Thriving Kids information is being updated as the rollout progresses. Contact thriving.kids@dpac.tas.gov.au.
• South Australia: The SA Government has published its current Thriving Kids fact sheet and will provide further information as the local service model is established.
• Queensland: As at 25 September 2026, Queensland had not formally signed the Thriving Kids arrangement, so families should not assume that a local service pathway will be operating. (opens in a new tab)