ACT launches Thriving Kids program amid concerns over waiting times

The Australian Capital Territory has begun the first phase of Thriving Kids, a program designed to help children under nine experiencing developmental delays access support. ACT Disability, Autism and Neurodiversity Minister Suzanne Orr said the program would begin operating on October 1, ahead of its planned full implementation in January 2028. All Australian states and territories have opted in except Queensland, according to the supplied material.

Orr said children already accessing the National Disability Insurance Scheme would not immediately lose that support. Those on the NDIS before 2028 will remain on it, subject to the usual reassessment criteria. Thriving Kids was announced as part of a federal overhaul of disability support.

It is intended to divert children with mild to moderate developmental delays and autism away from the NDIS, while children with significant permanent disability will remain eligible. The program’s first stage focuses on identifying support needs. Families, schools and health professionals may raise concerns, including where a child does not yet have a diagnosis.

A phone line will provide a point of contact for parents and guardians. Education Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said the funding would create a single, clearer pathway for families. Orr said the program was intended to address unmet need rather than move people off the NDIS.

However, Autism Awareness Australia chief executive Nicole Rogerson said too little was known about what the phone service would provide. She warned that demand could overwhelm the program and lead to longer waiting times.