A note on language: At Mable, we use 'identity-first' language when referring to autism and autistic people. We've made this decision based on feedback from our community. We understand different people have different preferences, and we recognise and respect every individual's right to choose how their identity is described.
On 20 August 2025, a new government program called 'Thriving Kids' was announced. It will support children with 'mild to moderate' developmental delays and autism.
The announcement
Disability and NDIS Minister Mark Butler made the announcement of the program, which will sit outside of the NDIS and is hoped to moderate the growth of the scheme. "Diverting this group of kids over time
from the NDIS is an important element of making the scheme sustainable and returning it to its original intent," he said at the National Press Club.
When will it happen?
The minister said he hopes Thriving Kids will launch by 1 July 2026 and then roll out in phases over the following 12 months.
"Over the coming months, we'll work with the community to design a system to support Thriving Kids and how best to invest the Commonwealth's $2 billion provision."
He added that the program will be designed with "the deepest collaboration with the disability community" as well as the state governments.
"States will obviously be key partners, having committed to share funding equally. But so will service providers and - importantly - parents themselves. I intend to work with those groups directly over the coming months to design Thriving Kids in more detail."
Who will transition onto the program?
From July 2026, children who meet the Thriving Kids criteria will receive support under the Thriving Kids program instead of the NDIS.
Children who become NDIS participants before 1 July 2026 will remain part of the NDIS, and so will children with needs that are not considered 'mild to moderate' by the NDIA.
Why the shift to Thriving Kids?
Thriving Kids aims to provide support for children aged zero to eight with what the government calls "mild to moderate developmental delays and autism". This will mean shifting them from the NDIS to a more community-based system.
The minister identified two reasons for doing this:
- The need to return the NDIS to its original purpose. That is, support for "people with significant and permanent care and support needs."
- Ensuring the scheme becomes sustainable from a Budget perspective.
Mr Butler said Thriving Kids was a "refocusing", not a complete replacement, of what the NDIS Review called "foundational supports".
Foundational supports are a proposed tier of services run outside the scheme for children with disabilities that are less profound.
The hope is that with the Thriving Kids program, children with lower support needs can receive targeted support outside of the NDIS and early on.
A new Medicare item for bulk-billed three-year-old health checks to pick up any developmental concerns will also be considered.
How will the program be funded?
Thriving Kids will be jointly funded by the federal government and states and territories, with an initial $2 billion committed from the Commonwealth.
Creating a sustainable NDIS
Mr Butler has said the program is aimed at making the $48 billion NDIS more sustainable.
It has set a target to reduce its annual growth from 22 per cent to 8 per cent by next year.
Transitioning autistic children from the NDIS and onto the Thriving Kids program is a part of this, as they make up a large proportion of NDIS participants.
How many autistic children are on the NDIS?
According to the latest NDIS quarterly report, approximately 11 per cent of all kids between ages five to seven were on the scheme (as of end of June 2025). This equates to 13.7 per cent of boys and 6.4 per cent of girls, of which 40 percent have a primary diagnosis of autism.
"Overall, the rate of participation in the NDIS rises steeply from birth, peaking at approximately 12 per cent at age six. The rate then declines steadily to around 1 per cent in the age band 35 to 40, before rising gradually to 2.5 per cent by age 65," the quarterly report said.
Mr Butler said some kids were not getting the best support and others were being "overserviced".
The government hopes by transitioning them to Thriving Kids the NDIS will be more sustainable and kids with mild to moderate support needs will be given targeted early intervention.
Mr Butler said he was confident that the level of funding would "build a robust system for Thriving Kids" as well as deliver budget savings.
Questions from the community
Since the announcement there has been much debate and uncertainty about if the new program can be developed within the timeframe announced.
"Parents will rightly want to know what Thriving Kids will look like before they steer away from the NDIS. Which is why I'm determined to start that work right now." Mr Butler has said in media interviews.
Peak autism body, ASPECT, made the following statement:
"Autism is a lifelong developmental condition, and it's vital that Autistic children get the right support as early as possible. Early support builds strong foundations for learning, wellbeing, and lifelong opportunities.
That's why we welcome the government's new Thriving Kids initiative to be rolled out from July 2026. For many children, being supported in their local community - where they live, learn and play - is the best way to grow and thrive."
Support workers and clients on Mable
At Mable, we are committed to working with the government and the NDIS to enable those in the community to receive the support they need.
Independent support workers on Mable can continue to provide support services to their clients as per usual. There are no changes that impact support services on Mable at the present, and none are planned until July 2026.
We will keep everyone updated on developments and provide further information on the Thriving Kids program as we receive it.
The information in this article is general information only. Individuals should verify their own eligibility requirements for the NDIS, Thriving Kids program, and Mable services before making any decisions.
