TL;DR (Helpful Content first)

– Government announced a $2b ‘Thriving Kids’ foundational supports program, with phased transitions from 1 July 2026 and full settings targeted by mid‑2027.

– Goal: keep the NDIS focused on significant, permanent disability while providing community-based supports for others.

– Families should document functional needs now, map both NDIS and community options, and watch for consultation updates.

Why this matters now

Children’s participation in the NDIS has surged, prompting reforms so the scheme remains targeted to permanent and significant disability.

Thriving Kids is designed to give families earlier and simpler access to supports in health, education and community settings—without needing an individual NDIS plan.

What will change (and when)

Scope: children with mild–moderate autism/developmental delay will increasingly be supported via foundational programs (not an individual NDIS package).

Timeline: transition window opens from 1 July 2026; full eligibility settings are expected to apply by mid‑2027 (subject to final design and state agreements).

Relationship to Foundational Supports: Thriving Kids sits within the broader foundational supports agenda being co‑designed by governments.

Step‑by‑step: how to prepare (parents’ checklist)

Audit your current plan: note start/end dates, goals, therapies; collect diagnostic and functional reports; ask therapists for plain‑English progress measures.

Map two pathways: (a) NDIS pathway if needs are substantial and ongoing, with evidence of functional impact; (b) Thriving Kids/community pathway—school adjustments, parent coaching, community groups, short courses.

Talk to providers: align goals with function and participation (communication, learning, safety, independence).

Watch for consultations: subscribe to federal/state updates as program design finalises; note any local pilots.

If you receive a review notice: respond quickly with recent assessments, weekly routines, and risk‑reduction evidence.

Mini case example

Noah (7) with mild support needs: current plan funds parent coaching and social skills once a fortnight. Transition plan keeps parent coaching, adds a school‑based program and a community social group under Thriving Kids, with telehealth check‑ins each term. Pre‑agreed escalation criteria trigger reassessment if school distress rises.

FAQs

1) Will my child be removed from the NDIS?

Not automatically. The transition targets children with mild–moderate needs as Thriving Kids rolls out. High or complex needs remain within the NDIS, guided by reviews and evidence.

2) When will Thriving Kids start?

A transition period is reported from 1 July 2026, with full eligibility settings by mid‑2027 for new entrants, subject to program design and state agreements.

3) What supports count as ‘foundational’?

Parent coaching, peer groups, short courses, navigation/key‑worker, and low‑intensity allied health delivered in community and education settings (details will vary by location).

4) How do I strengthen my case if my child needs the NDIS?

Provide functional evidence (participation, safety, behaviour, communication), link therapies to outcomes, and maintain home/school progress logs.

About Careable (Author/Publisher)

Careable is an NDIS-registered provider in Melbourne specialising in psychosocial disability supports, including Supported Independent Living (SIL), in-home supports, community access, and hospital-to-home. Our C.A.R.E. values—Compassion, Accountability, Respect, Empowerment—guide every interaction.

Contact: 1300 DECIDE · cx@careable.com.au

Additional insights & practical tips

Create a one-page handout for participants/families that summarises key changes and what to do next. Attach it to service agreements and review packs.

Standardise progress notes with an outcomes mini-template: goal, activity delivered, measurable indicator, and next-step. Consistency improves review outcomes and internal quality audits.

Implement a monthly utilisation check: planned hours vs delivered hours vs outcomes achieved. Escalate early if variance exceeds 15%.

Build local partnerships (schools, PHNs, councils, community orgs) to offer non‑NDIS options that protect continuity of support when plans are tight.

Maintain a living register of evidence (assessments, letters, logs). Time-stamp entries and summarise changes since the last review to help decision-makers.

How Thriving Kids fits with schools, GPs and community

Thriving Kids aims to reduce fragmentation by funding evidence-based, lower-intensity supports where families already are: schools, GP clinics, and community centres.

Co-location and shared care plans matter: a term-by-term plan that all adults can see (parents, teachers, therapists) improves carryover and generalisation of skills.

Key-worker/navigation roles help families decide when to escalate to NDIS—or when community options are sufficient.

Evidence families can collect at home

Daily or weekly logs of routines (morning/evening), communication attempts, meltdowns or dysregulation episodes, and triggers that helped.

Short videos (where appropriate and consented) illustrating progress or barriers can assist clinicians to tailor interventions.

For clinicians: writing review-ready reports

Use functional language tied to participation (school, community, safety, independence).

Summarise baseline, intervention, response, and next steps; propose a measurable indicator for the next term.

More FAQs

How should we communicate changes with participants/families?

Use plain language summaries, give real examples of what stays the same vs what changes, and provide contact points for follow-up. Offer both a short one-pager and a longer web article for those who want detail.

What data should we track monthly to stay review-ready?

Plan utilisation %, cancellations/no-shows, first-time-right claims %, incidents and follow-ups, and two or three outcome indicators per funded goal.

What’s the safest way to experiment with new service mixes?

Pilot with a small cohort, define success metrics in advance, and run a 6–8 week review cycle before wider rollout.

Resources & further reading

• NDIS (official) – Pricing arrangements, provider news, quarterly reports
• NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission – Practice standards and provider guidance
• State health/education portals – local foundational supports and child development services
• Careable blog – guides on plan reviews, billing & claims, and outcomes note templates