Thriving Kids and NDIS Changes
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What we know:
What families need to know about support for their children
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The Australian Government is changing who can join the NDIS and introducing a new program called Thriving Kids. This guide explains what is changing, what we know so far and what families in Sunbury, Sydenham, the Macedon Ranges and surrounding areas can do to prepare.
We understand that changes to funding can create uncertainty. This is general information, not advice about your child's eligibility. Individual NDIS decisions are made by the NDIA.
Key Things To Know
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Your child’s NDIS funding does not automatically end because Thriving Kids is starting or because they turn 9.
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New NDIS eligibility rules begin in January 2028. Some children may be assessed differently when their eligibility is next reviewed.
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You do not need to change your child’s therapy because of these announcements. If you are concerned, talk with your child’s treating professional or NDIS contact.
Two terms that are easy to mix up
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Plan review: a regular check of your child's NDIS plan and funding (the NDIS sometimes calls this a plan reassessment). These keep happening as usual.
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Eligibility reassessment: a check of whether your child can stay on the NDIS at all. This is where the new rules come in from 2028.
Key dates at a glance
Who can join the NDIS does not change until 1 January 2028. Other NDIS changes are already under way. Since 1 October 2026, some plan budgets are being reduced as plans are renewed or reassessed, including capacity building daily activities, where most therapy is funded. Further planning changes begin in 2027. The NDIA will tell families about changes that affect their plan.
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October 2026
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> First Thriving Kids supports started: helplines, parent support, information sessions and extra autism assessments
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> Some NDIS plan budgets start to be reduced as plans are renewed or reassessed, including capacity building daily activities (therapy)
1 November 2026
> Medicare Healthy Kids Check for 3-year-olds became available via GPs
January 2027
> Allied health support and developmental checks are due to start rolling out in Hume (including Sunbury) and Melton
July–September 2027
> The same services start in Brimbank (including Sydenham) and the Macedon Ranges
1 January 2028
> New NDIS access rules begin; Thriving Kids fully available across Victoria
2028 to about 2030
>Existing NDIS participants have their eligibility reassessed, progressively over about 3 years
1. How does NDIS access work now?
Until 1 January 2028, children can join the NDIS in two main ways:
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Early intervention: for children who need support early to build skills and reduce future support needs. Children under 6 with substantial developmental delay can qualify without a formal diagnosis. Autistic children can also qualify this way.
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Disability: for people with a permanent, or likely permanent, disability that significantly affects everyday life. Autism Level 2 or 3 is on the NDIS list of conditions likely to meet these requirements, with appropriate assessment evidence. This is not a guarantee of NDIS access.
A child can meet both, and their eligibility can be looked at again as they grow. The NDIS Early Childhood Approach helps families of children under 9 find early supports, community services and, where eligible, an NDIS plan.
2. What is Thriving Kids?
Thriving Kids is a new government program for children aged 8 and under who are autistic and/or have developmental delays and have low to moderate support needs.
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It brings support into local communities without every family needing an NDIS plan.
The Victorian Government says its Thriving Kids supports will be child- and family-centred, focused on strengths and neuro-affirming, evidence-based and culturally appropriate. The first supports, such as parent groups, information sessions and the helplines, do not need a diagnosis.
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What might Thriving Kids support look like?
Depending on your child's needs and what is available locally, services may include:
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Parent support: groups, workshops, advice and opportunities to connect with other families.
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Help with everyday challenges: support with communication, routines, emotional regulation, participation and daily activities.
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Allied health: time-limited support from professionals such as speech pathologists, occupational therapists or psychologists, individually or in groups.
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Developmental checks: Victoria is introducing 2 new developmental checks that all Victorian children can access.
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Support in everyday settings: strategies and help so children can take part at home, kindergarten, school and in the community.
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How is it different from the NDIS?
Thriving Kids is not one clinic that families enrol in. It is a network of government-funded supports, delivered through local programs, community organisations, allied health teams, online services and places children already go.
Families will not receive an individual budget to spend with providers of their choice. Services are funded or delivered directly by the Commonwealth and Victorian governments. In Victoria, the Department of Education manages intake and triage for targeted supports, and a local Thriving Kids team decides what support each child can access.
We do not yet know whether Thriving Kids will offer the same type, amount or frequency of therapy that some children currently receive through the NDIS.
3. What changes from January 2028?
The new rules are now law. Parliament passed them in August 2026, and they start on 1 January 2028:
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Children aged 8 and under with developmental delay or autism and low to moderate support needs will be supported by Thriving Kids instead of joining the NDIS.
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Children with permanent and significant disability, including children with high support needs, can still join the NDIS.
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Eligibility will be based on functional capacity: how disability affects everyday life, not diagnosis alone. This approach is now law, but the assessment tools and the threshold for "low to moderate" support needs are still being developed.
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Existing participants will have their eligibility reassessed progressively over about 3 years, with special arrangements for younger children (see Section 4).
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An Autism Level 1, 2 or 3 diagnosis will not by itself decide which group a child falls into.
4. My child is already on the NDIS. What happens?
Your child's NDIS plan does not end because Thriving Kids starts. They keep using it, with the usual plan reviews.
For children who joined the NDIS before 1 January 2028:
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While aged 8 and under: any eligibility reassessment uses the current (pre-2028) rules.
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From age 9: the new rules apply when the NDIA next reassesses their eligibility. We do not yet know when that will happen for individual children.
Turning 9 does not automatically end funding or mean an immediate reassessment. The government says participants will be told well in advance of any reassessment. If the NDIA decides a child no longer qualifies, families can ask for the decision to be reviewed.
The biggest uncertainty: a child who does not meet the new rules at 9 is also too old for Thriving Kids. Families may need to explore other supports, including Medicare, school and community services.
5. When will Thriving Kids be available near us?
Some supports are already available across Victoria. Since October 2026, families can access free information and advice, parent support programs and, for eligible families, additional publicly funded autism assessments through the Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre (OTARC).
Victoria is rolling out allied health support and developmental checks in 3 stages during 2027, by council area:
Sunbury and the rest of Hume > From January 2027
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Caroline Springs, Hillside and the rest of Melton > From January 2027
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Sydenham, Taylors Lakes, Keilor and the rest of Brimbank > July–September 2027
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Macedon Ranges Shire > July–September 2027​​
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Hume and Melton are among Victoria's first 6 sites. These dates are the start of a staged rollout, not a guarantee that every service will be available straight away. Exact locations, referral pathways and appointment types have not yet been fully announced.
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All Thriving Kids supports are due to be available across Victoria by January 2028.
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6. What might these changes mean for my child?
These examples show how the changes could affect different families. They are not predictions about any individual child's funding.
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Example 1: My child is 7, has just been identified as autistic (Level 2) and is not on the NDIS.​
What happens now? Under the current rules, Autism Level 2 with appropriate assessment evidence is generally accepted as meeting the disability requirements. Your child may qualify now. You do not need to wait for Thriving Kids.
What changes from 2028? If your child joins before 2028, the current rules decide whether they get in. Once your child turns 9, the new rules may apply at a future eligibility reassessment. We do not yet know when individual children will be reassessed.
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What can we do? Contact an NDIS early childhood partner to discuss an application, or ACD (see below) for independent advice. Your child's assessment report and information about their everyday support needs will help.
If your child needs significant support, applying now means they can get appropriate support as early as possible, while the current rules apply.
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Example 2: My child is 5, is autistic (Level 2) and already receives NDIS funding.​
What happens now? your child keeps using their NDIS plan, with the usual plan reviews.
What changes from 2028? In January 2028: your child will be 6 or 7. While they are 8 and under, their eligibility will be reassessed under the current rules.
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From age 9 (around 2029–2030, depending on their birthday): the new rules may apply at a future eligibility reassessment. If your child no longer meets them, Thriving Kids will not be an option, because it is for children aged 8 and under. Families may need to explore other supports, such as Medicare-supported therapy, school-based support and community services.
What can we do? There is no need to change your child's therapy because of these announcements. Keep information about their everyday needs, including the help and accommodations they rely on. As your child approaches 9, their treating professionals can help review their needs and funding options.
A child's progress does not necessarily mean they no longer need support. Children often develop skills and take part successfully because the right supports are in place.
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Example 3: My child is 8, is autistic (Level 3) and already receives NDIS funding.
What happens now? Your child keeps using their NDIS plan. They will turn 9 before 2028, which does not by itself change anything.
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What changes from 2028? Because your child will already be 9, the arrangement for children aged 8 and under will not apply. Their eligibility will be reassessed under the new rules some time in the 2028–2030 period. For children with substantial ongoing support needs, the NDIS is intended to remain the main funding pathway.
What can we do? Continue current supports and keep information about your child's everyday support needs up to date.
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Example 4: My child is 10, is autistic (Level 2) and currently receives NDIS funding.
What happens now? Your child keeps using their NDIS plan, with the usual plan reviews.
What changes from 2028? like other existing participants, your child will have their eligibility reassessed under the new rules some time in the 2028–2030 period. An Autism Level 2 diagnosis alone may no longer be enough. The assessment will focus on how disability affects everyday life and the support your child needs. Some children who qualify now may not meet the new requirements. Thriving Kids is not an alternative at this age.
What can we do?
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Keep accessing the supports your child needs.
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Make sure future reports describe their everyday functioning, the help they need, and what happens when that help is not there.
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If the NDIA decides your child no longer qualifies, ask for an explanation and seek a review if you disagree. ACD can help.
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Your GP, treating professionals and school can help identify other supports.
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Example 5: My child is 16, is autistic (Level 3) and currently receives NDIS funding.
What happens now? Your teenager keeps using their NDIS plan. Thriving Kids does not apply to this age group.
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What changes from 2028? existing participants will be reassessed under the new rules over about 3 years. People with permanent and significant disability will continue to qualify when they meet the requirements.
What can we do? Keep planning for your teenager's needs and goals, including education, independence, relationships, daily living and community participation. Make sure their ongoing support needs are accurately documented.
7. Will Medicare Provide More Support?
Medicare Healthy Kids Check (available now). Since 1 November 2026, every Medicare-eligible child can have one Medicare-funded health and development check with a doctor, any time from their 3rd birthday until their 4th. It can lead to a referral to Thriving Kids or other supports. It also meets the Healthy Start for School requirement for Family Tax Benefit Part A.
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New Medicare therapy items (not yet confirmed). When Thriving Kids was announced in 2025, the government said it would consider new Medicare items for therapies such as occupational therapy, speech pathology and psychosocial therapy. No extra Medicare-funded therapy sessions have been confirmed yet.
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Existing Medicare options. Ask your GP about current pathways, including mental health treatment plans and Medicare items for eligible developmental assessment and treatment. Eligibility rules and session limits vary.
8. What should families do now?
If your child already receives NDIS funding: Keep using their current plan and attending scheduled plan reviews. There is no need to stop therapy or make changes because of Thriving Kids.
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If your child has recently been identified as autistic or has substantial developmental support needs: Consider getting advice about NDIS eligibility now, from an NDIS early childhood partner or independently from ACD. The current access rules stay in place until 1 January 2028.
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If your child may be affected by future eligibility changes: Keep collecting information about their everyday needs and the support they require. You do not need to arrange new assessments just because changes have been announced.
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If you are worried about ongoing therapy or funding: Speak with your child's treating psychologist, GP or NDIS contact. They can help you understand the options available now.
9. Where can families get help?
Click the links below.
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Victorian services, rollout dates and updates
thriving.kids@education.vic.gov.au
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Thriving Kids Autism Helpline (Amaze)
Free autism information and advice for families of children 0–8, including those waiting for assessment
1300 654 789, Monday–Friday 8am–7pm
Talk to a maternal and child health nurse by phone or video
1800 882 436, 7am–midnight, 7 days
ACD – Advocating for Children with Disability
Free, independent information and advocacy for Victorian families
03 9880 7000 or 1800 654 013 (regional), Monday–Friday 9am–5pm
Strengthening Parent Support Program
Free peer support groups, information sessions and individual support for parents of children 0–18 with disability or developmental delay
Contact your local provider via the link
Raising Children Network: Thriving Kids hub
National information on child development and Thriving Kids
Online
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NDIS enquiries
1800 800 110
A message from Family Minded
We know that changes to funding and services can feel uncertain, particularly when children and families have worked hard to put supports in place that are helping.
Every child is different. Their needs may change over time and can vary with the environment, the demands placed on them and the help available.
Our role at Family Minded remains the same: to understand each child's strengths and needs, provide individualised, neurodiversity-affirming support, and work collaboratively with families. We will keep monitoring these changes and share clear, practical information as more details become available.
Information current at 11 November 2026. The NDIS changes are now law, but the eligibility threshold and assessment details, Medicare proposals and local Thriving Kids service details are still being finalised. This is general information, not advice about your child's eligibility. Individual NDIS eligibility decisions are made by the NDIA.