What We Know About 'Thriving Kids' And The Announced NDIS Changes From 2026

Yesterday, a major update was announced about the future of the NDIS and if you’re a parent of a young child on a current plan (or trying to access one), this one’s worth paying attention to.

From July 2026, children under 9 with mild to moderate developmental delays or autism will no longer enter the NDIS. Instead, they’ll access support through a new federally funded program called Thriving Kids, designed to meet their needs without requiring a full NDIS plan.

Why the change?

Health Minister Mark Butler said the "NDIS was never intended to be the primary pathway for young children with early developmental needs," but without other systems in place, families have had no choice.

Currently, almost 1 in 10 six-year-olds is on the NDIS, with nearly half of all participants being under 15. It’s clear the current system is under pressure.

Thriving Kids aims to:

• Provide foundational supports outside of the NDIS

• Deliver help earlier and more accessibly

• Integrate into systems families are already using (like MCH nurses, GPs, kinders and schools)

• Take pressure off the NDIS so it can focus on those with high and permanent needs
  

Mark Buter, Minister for the NDIS, addressing the National Press Club. Image credit: ABC

What else do we know?

The program is being pitched as more universal and streamlined, but we need to be clear: it hasn’t launched yet, and many of the finer details are still unknown.

Here’s what’s been shared so far:

• New Medicare items will be introduced to allow families to access services like OT, speech and psychosocial therapy. But at this stage, we don’t know if there will be out-of-pocket costs or how service caps might work.
  

• There’s a risk that families may be financially incentivised to pursue one pathway over another (e.g. NDIS vs. Thriving Kids), especially if pricing and availability aren’t harmonised between systems. For this to be truly fair, Thriving Kids needs to be cost-free and equitable.
  

• Particular attention will be needed to reach marginalised communities, including culturally and linguistically diverse families and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, who already face higher barriers to access. Universal doesn’t mean equal without intentional design.
  

• The rollout is set to begin in July 2026, with full transition by mid-2027. But families are already being reassessed and deemed ineligible for the NDIS now — without clarity on what happens next. That’s a gap that can’t be ignored.
  

Why families are nervous

Many families are already stretched thin, not just financially, but emotionally and logistically. Finding a neuroaffirming provider is hard. Fighting for inclusion in mainstream systems is harder. And for those navigating multiple diagnoses, therapies and transitions, the idea of another shift feels… overwhelming. While Thriving Kids promises earlier, more integrated support, the success of this plan hinges on thoughtful design, and lived experience needs to be part of that process.

Because support that looks good on paper isn’t always support that works in practice.

Quick FAQs about Thriving Kids

1. What is Thriving Kids? A new program replacing the NDIS for under-9s with mild to moderate delays or autism. It aims to deliver foundational supports through existing systems (like MCH, GPs, and schools).

2. When does it start? Launches July 2026, with full rollout by mid-2027.

3. Will NDIS access change before then? It’s not supposed to, but many families report being reassessed and removed from the scheme now.

4. Will allied health still be covered? Yes, via new Medicare items, but it’s unclear whether out-of-pocket costs will apply.

5. Will families have a say? The hope is yes. But transparency, equity, and community input will be key to making this work.

Our take

At The Giggle Garden, we support initiatives that make help more accessible and earlier to reach, without compromising personalisation, cultural safety, or the autonomy families need to advocate for their children.

We’ll keep sharing what we know as we know it because our community deserves clarity, respect, and most of all, real support, not just buzzwords and promises.