Australia launches Thriving Kids program for early childhood support

Australia is launching ‘Thriving Kids’, a new national program designed to provide foundational supports for children aged eight and under with autism or developmental delays and low to moderate support needs. As part of broader NDIS reforms, the initiative aims to provide assistance in everyday settings like homes and communities. A significant feature of the program is that children can access support without a formal diagnosis, a move intended to reduce waiting times and facilitate earlier intervention.

The government has committed $4 billion over five years to the first phase of the rollout, which is expected to reach full national coverage by January 1, 2028. While the program will eventually replace certain NDIS pathways for this specific demographic, children with permanent and significant disabilities will remain under existing NDIS arrangements.

In response to the launch, peak psychology bodies, including the Australian Psychological Society and the Australian Association of Psychologists Inc, have called for closer collaboration with the program. They warned that children could risk ‘falling through the cracks’ if psychologists are not integrated into the design. These organizations emphasized the need for psychologists to provide referral pathways and cautioned against general practitioners acting as gatekeepers for assessments and referrals.