If your young child needs a bit of extra help with talking, moving, learning, behaviour or getting along with others, there's a new place to start. Thriving Kids is a joint Australian, state and territory government initiative for children aged 8 and under and their families. It started in October 2026, and supports are being added over time, with everything due to be rolled out by 1 January 2028.
This guide covers what Thriving Kids is, who it's for, how it fits with the NDIS, and where families in Victoria can start. For the latest official details, see About Thriving Kids on health.gov.au.
What is Thriving Kids?
The Australian Government describes Thriving Kids as an improved approach to early intervention for children with extra developmental needs. It helps families learn about child development, notice concerns earlier, build their confidence in supporting their child, and find the right support.
Thriving Kids is the first phase of Foundational Supports, which are services for people with disability and developmental delay that sit outside the NDIS. Supports are designed to be child and family-centred, strengths-based, culturally appropriate and mostly available in everyday places like home and the community.
Who is it for?
Thriving Kids is for children aged 8 and under with developmental delay and/or autism who have low to moderate support needs, and for their families. "Families" includes parents, carers, siblings and kin, so grandparents and kinship carers are included too.
According to the official families fact sheet, you don't need a diagnosis to access Thriving Kids support.
What support will be available?
The fact sheet lists the kinds of support families can expect as the program grows:
- online information and resources
- trusted advice about child development and autism
- health and development checks
- peer support, parenting groups, facilitated playgroups and family programs
- specialised assistance from healthcare professionals.
State and territory governments deliver a mix of new and existing services, so exactly what's on offer, and when, depends on where you live. Because supports are still being rolled out, it's worth checking back on the official page every few months.
How does Thriving Kids fit with the NDIS?
The government has said there are no changes to how people access the NDIS until 1 January 2028. Children with permanent and significant disability, including children with developmental delay and/or autism with high support needs, will continue to be eligible for the NDIS.
If your child already has an NDIS plan, keep using it as normal. If you're not sure which pathway suits your child, your early childhood partner, GP or the NDIA (1800 800 110) can talk it through with you.
Where to start in Victoria
- Your GP or Maternal and Child Health nurse. They can check your child's development and point you to local supports.
- Your child's kindergarten, early learning centre or school. Educators often notice things early and know what help is available locally.
- The official Thriving Kids pages. health.gov.au has the latest on what's available and when.
You know your child best. If something doesn't feel right, it's okay to ask early, even if it turns out to be nothing.
How Nhanya Foundation can help
Nhanya Foundation doesn't decide eligibility for Thriving Kids or the NDIS, but our advocacy and service navigation team can help families make sense of their options, prepare for appointments and connect with services. Call us on 03 8595 9012 or make a referral.
Not sure where to start with your child's development? Talk to Nhanya Foundation on 03 8595 9012 or make a referral and we'll help you work through your options.