What is Thriving Kids?

Thriving Kids: What families need to know - Understanding the changes to early childhood supports and the NDIS

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At ODEEP, we believe every child deserves the opportunity to learn, develop and participate in the world around them, with their family supported every step of the way.

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You may have heard about Thriving Kids, a new Australian Government initiative that will change how some young children and families access early intervention and developmental supports.

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We understand that changes to support systems can bring questions and uncertainty, particularly for families who already rely on NDIS-funded services.

We've put together this information to help families in Orange, Blayney, Cabonne and surrounding communities understand what Thriving Kids is, what's changing and what it may mean for their children.

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As the program develops, we'll continue to share updates to help families stay informed.

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What is Thriving Kids?

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Thriving Kids is a new national approach to early childhood developmental support.

It is designed to help children aged 8 and under with developmental delay and/or autism who have low to moderate support needs, together with their families.

The aim is to make developmental support easier to access, with more opportunities for families to receive help earlier and within their local communities.

Thriving Kids aims to:

• Help families recognise and understand their child's developmental needs.

• Provide reliable information and practical advice.

• Make certain supports available without requiring a formal diagnosis.

• Help families develop the skills and confidence to support their children.

• Improve connections between health professionals, early childhood educators and community services.

• Provide early intervention opportunities in familiar, everyday environments.

The approach recognises that children develop at different rates and that families benefit from having appropriate support available when concerns first arise.

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What types of support will be available?

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Thriving Kids is expected to offer a range of supports depending on each child's developmental needs.

These include:

• Information and guidance

• Accessible information about child development, developmental delay and autism, along with advice about where to find help.

• Early identification

• Developmental checks and opportunities to recognise additional support needs early.

• Family and community programs

• Parenting programs, supported playgroups, peer connections and practical strategies that families can use in everyday life.

• Targeted developmental support

• More focused, goal-oriented assistance for children and families who need additional support. This may include allied health services.

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Unlike the NDIS, Thriving Kids will not provide individualised funding packages. Instead, services and community-based supports will receive funding to assist eligible children and families.

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The availability and delivery of services will vary between communities as the program develops.

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When will Thriving Kids begin?

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Thriving Kids is being introduced progressively across Australia.

October 2026

The rollout begins, with general information, advice and family supports becoming available.

Throughout 2027

Additional services, including targeted developmental supports, are expected to become available progressively.

1 January 2028

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The full rollout is planned to be completed, and changes to NDIS access arrangements for certain children will commence.

The exact services available in NSW, including regional communities such as Orange, will become clearer as the NSW Government provides further information.

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How will Thriving Kids affect the NDIS?

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This is understandably one of the biggest questions for families. There are no changes to how children access the NDIS before 1 January 2028.

Until that date, families can continue to apply for the NDIS through existing pathways, and children who are already NDIS participants can continue accessing their supports under current arrangements.

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From 1 January 2028, the eligibility framework will change. 

Children aged 8 and under with developmental delay and/or autism who have low to moderate support needs will generally be directed to Thriving Kids rather than the NDIS under the new eligibility arrangements.

Children with permanent and significant disability, including children with developmental delay and/or autism who have substantially reduced functional capacity and high support needs, will continue to be eligible for the NDIS if they meet the relevant criteria.

Governments are still finalising important details about how eligibility and access will work.

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What if my child already has an NDIS plan?

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If your child is already receiving NDIS support, the new eligibility rules will not automatically take effect when Thriving Kids begins rolling out.

Children aged 8 and under who become NDIS participants before 1 January 2028 will continue to be reassessed under the eligibility criteria in place before that date while they remain in that age group.

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Once these children turn 9, reassessment will be based on the new eligibility framework, which places greater emphasis on functional capacity.

This means considering how a child's disability affects their ability to participate in everyday activities and daily life.

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The Australian Government has indicated that families will receive information about changes and reassessments before they occur.

For now, families should continue with their child's existing NDIS arrangements and supports.

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If you have questions about your child's individual NDIS circumstances, your Early Childhood Partner or the NDIA can provide guidance.

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Frequently asked questions

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Will my child need an autism diagnosis to receive Thriving Kids support?

No. Thriving Kids is designed so children can access appropriate developmental support without necessarily needing a formal diagnosis.

The type of support offered will depend on the child's developmental needs and the services available.

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Is my child going to lose their NDIS funding?

There are no immediate changes to NDIS access arrangements. ​From January 2028, different eligibility requirements will apply to some children. The impact on an individual child will depend on their circumstances, including their age, support needs and whether they are already an NDIS participant.

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Will children with high support needs still be eligible for the NDIS?

Yes. Children who meet the NDIS eligibility criteria for permanent and significant disability, including those with substantially reduced functional capacity and high support needs, will continue to be eligible.

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What does 'functional capacity' mean?

Functional capacity refers to a person's ability to manage and participate in everyday activities. For children, this may involve areas such as communication, mobility, learning, self-care and social interaction. Under the new NDIS eligibility framework, functional capacity will play a greater role in determining access to the scheme.

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Will Thriving Kids include therapy services?

Targeted developmental supports, potentially including allied health, form part of the planned approach. However, exactly what services will be available locally, how they will be delivered and how families will access them is still being determined.

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What if I am worried about my child's development right now?

You don't need to wait until 2028 to seek advice or support. If you have concerns about how your child communicates, moves, plays, learns, eats or interacts with others, speak with your GP, child and family health nurse or an early childhood professional.

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You can also contact ODEEP to discuss our existing services and referral pathways.

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What does Thriving Kids mean for ODEEP families?

For many years, ODEEP has worked alongside children and families across Orange, Blayney, Cabonne and surrounding communities. Our approach to early childhood intervention focuses on recognising each child's individual strengths, supporting their development and helping families build the knowledge and confidence to support their children.

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We believe that children learn best when their families, educators, therapists and communities work together. While the detailed arrangements for Thriving Kids in NSW are still being developed, many of the principles behind the initiative reflect approaches already central to ODEEP's work, including early intervention, family-centred practice and supporting children's participation in everyday life. Our commitment to children and families remains unchanged.

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We'll continue to follow developments and share information as the new arrangements become clearer.

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How ODEEP can support families now

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ODEEP is an established early childhood intervention provider supporting children with disability and developmental delay.

Our existing services and programs include:

• Speech Pathology

• Occupational Therapy

• Physiotherapy

• Dietetics

• Early Childhood Education and Special Education

• Individual and group therapy

• Home, preschool, school and community-based support

• Supported Palygroups

• MyTime parent and carer support groups

• Support with transitions, inclusion and connecting with community services

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The availability of individual services depends on eligibility, funding arrangements and current capacity.

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Whether you're concerned about your child's development, looking for early intervention information or seeking to understand available supports, our team can help you explore your options.

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Please note: ODEEP's existing services should not be confused with future Thriving Kids-funded services. Details about local Thriving Kids providers and service delivery are yet to be confirmed.

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Where can families find reliable information?

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For the latest official updates, we recommend the following resources:

Australian Government – Thriving Kids. 

https://www.health.gov.au/thrivingkids

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Official information on the national program, rollout and NDIS changes.

Thriving Kids Information and Resources Hub

https://raisingchildren.net.au/thrivingkids

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Practical, evidence-based advice about childhood development, autism and developmental differences.

National Child Health Advice Line - ​1800 882 436

Information and advice from maternal and child health nurses.

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Thriving Kids Autism Helpline

1300 654 789

Autism-specific information and guidance for families with young children.

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We're here for our community

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At ODEEP, we know that every child and every family is different. We also know how important it is for families to feel informed, listened to and supported.

As Thriving Kids takes shape, we will continue sharing reliable information and helping families understand developments relevant to our local community.

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Have questions about ODEEP's current services?

Contact our friendly team.

ODEEP – Orange and District Early Education Program

2 Yarrawong Place, Orange NSW 2800

02 6361 4093

admin@odeep.com.au

 www.odeep.com.au

Information current as at October 2026. Thriving Kids and NDIS arrangements are subject to further government implementation details. Families should refer to official government information for individual eligibility and funding decisions.