TL;DR: The community-led 'Thriving and On Track' (TOTs) program in South Brisbane is designed as an alternative early intervention model that is expected to replace NDIS funding for young children with mild to moderate developmental delays and autism.
Rethinking Funding Models for Early Intervention
As the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) undergoes administrative changes under federal directives, policymakers and health networks are exploring alternative funding and service delivery pathways. A primary objective of these reforms is to ensure that early childhood supports are highly targeted, sustainable, and delivered in cost-effective, non-clinical environments.
In Brisbane’s south, the Primary Health Network (PHN) has partnered with local groups to run the "Thriving and On Track" (TOTs) program. This program represents a major shift in how developmental support is funded and accessed, serving as a blueprint for non-NDIS early childhood intervention.
The Strategic Goals of the TOTs Program
The TOTs program is specifically designed to address the needs of children with "mild to moderate" developmental delays and autism.
- Replacing NDIS Funding for Mild-to-Moderate Cases: Over time, the TOTs program is expected to serve as the primary support pathway for young children with mild to moderate developmental delays, replacing the need for these families to access individual NDIS funding packages.
- Targeted Intervention Window: By focusing on early childhood, the program aims to address developmental delays before children start primary school, reducing the long-term demand on both state educational support systems and federal disability funding.
- First Phase Implementation: The first phase of this programmatic transition is scheduled to begin on Monday 27 July 2026, marking a concrete step toward diverting mild-to-moderate developmental support away from the NDIS framework.
Regional Needs and Collaborative Funding
The deployment of the TOTs program in South Brisbane is driven directly by regional demographics. Census data analysed by the local Primary Health Network indicates that children in this area are highly vulnerable to developmental delays, presenting at rates higher than the Queensland average of approximately one in four children.
To address this challenge without relying solely on individual NDIS packages, the PHN coordinates a collaborative funding and delivery model. By pooling resources across community health networks, local daycares, kindergartens, and playgroups, the program funds child health nurses and speech therapists to deliver services directly in these existing community hubs. This model reduces overhead costs and administrative barriers, ensuring that funding is spent directly on frontline clinical interventions rather than complex registration and planning processes.
Key Takeaways
- A Non-NDIS Alternative: The TOTs program is expected to replace NDIS funding and support pathways for young children with mild to moderate developmental delays and autism.
- Targeted Regional Implementation: Driven by census data showing elevated developmental delays in South Brisbane, the program focuses on early, preventative care.
- Phase One Timeline: The initial phase of this alternative early intervention rollout is scheduled to commence on Monday 27 July 2026.
- Collaborative Resource Model: Coordinated by the Brisbane South Primary Health Network, the program pools resources across multiple local groups to fund direct services in community spaces.
- Long-Term Sustainability: Diverting mild-to-moderate developmental support to community-based programs allows federal NDIS funding to remain focused on individuals with complex, permanent disabilities.