Thriving Kids 2026: What Perth Families Need to Know About the New Early Intervention Program

# Thriving Kids 2026: What Perth Families Need to Know About the New Early Intervention Program **Published by Happiness Crew Disability Support Service Perth** For families of young children with developmental concerns, the early years are critical. The right support at the right time can make an extraordinary difference to a child's development, confidence, and long-term outcomes. Recognising this, the Australian Government is introducing a major new program called **Thriving Kids**, set to begin its national rollout in October 2026. --- ## What is Thriving Kids? Thriving Kids is a new, federally funded early intervention program with a total investment of **$4 billion over five years** — $2 billion from the Commonwealth Government, matched by State and Territory governments. It is designed to provide timely, evidence-based support for children aged 8 and under who have developmental delays or autism with **low to moderate support needs**. The program will operate primarily outside of the NDIS, delivering therapies and supports in familiar, everyday settings — schools, childcare centres, community health hubs, and family homes. --- ## The Timeline for Rollout | Date | Milestone | |---|---| | **1 October 2026** | Thriving Kids begins rolling out in initial locations | | **1 January 2028** | Full national coverage expected | | **1 January 2028** | Changes to NDIS access arrangements for children commence | --- ## Who Does Thriving Kids Affect? ### Children Who Will Remain on the NDIS Children with a **significant and permanent disability** — including those with developmental delay or autism who have **substantially reduced functional capacity (high support needs)** — will remain eligible for the NDIS. The key factor is the level of support the child needs, not the diagnosis itself. ### Children Who Will Move to Thriving Kids Children aged 8 and under with developmental delay and/or autism who have **low to moderate support needs** will be directed to the Thriving Kids program rather than the NDIS from 1 January 2028. ### What About Children Already on the NDIS? Children who are already enrolled in the NDIS **before 1 January 2028** will continue to receive support under the scheme. They will not be automatically removed from the NDIS when the new access arrangements commence. --- ## How Thriving Kids Will Work in Practice **Universal supports** are available to all families and include online resources, information, and guidance for parents and educators. **Targeted supports** are for children with identified developmental concerns who need some additional help, delivered by Thriving Kids-aligned health professionals. **Intensive supports** are for children with more significant needs who require ongoing, coordinated intervention. --- ## How to Prepare Right Now **Continue to seek early diagnosis and support.** Do not wait for the Thriving Kids program to start. Early intervention is most effective when it begins as early as possible. **Understand your child's current NDIS eligibility.** If your child is already on the NDIS, speak with your support coordinator about how the upcoming changes might affect their plan. **Keep detailed records.** Document all of your child's assessments, reports, therapy notes, and the supports they receive. **Talk to us.** The team at Happiness Crew is here to help Perth families navigate these changes. --- The Thriving Kids program has the potential to create a more accessible and responsive system of early intervention for children with developmental needs. If you have questions about how Thriving Kids might affect your family, please reach out to Happiness Crew. *This article is intended for informational purposes only. Information is current as at March 2026.*