TL;DR: The upcoming "Thriving Kids" program, designed by pediatric experts to support children under nine with developmental delays outside of the NDIS, is facing significant operational hurdles. While the program is set to launch in October, Queensland remains the only state holding out from signing the intergovernmental agreement, leaving local early intervention providers in a state of nervous uncertainty.
The Philosophy of the Thriving Kids Program
The "Thriving Kids" program represents a major structural shift in how early childhood developmental support is delivered in Australia. First announced in 2023 by Health Minister Mark Butler, the program is intended to support children under the age of nine who present with mild to moderate developmental delays or autism. The initiative was championed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as a critical step to improve participant experience while restoring the original, high-needs focus of the NDIS, which successive governments have warned is unsustainable.
According to Dr. Frank Oberklaid, a pediatrician and co-chair of the Thriving Kids Advisory Committee, the program addresses a fundamental flaw in the NDIS model. Under the NDIS, families have been forced into a deficit-focused process where obtaining support requires a formal clinical diagnosis, such as autism. Dr. Oberklaid argues that this has created an environment where parents are sidelined and forced to wait for expensive clinical assessments before receiving help.
In contrast, the Thriving Kids program operates on a needs-based model where a formal autism diagnosis is not required. Instead, doctors, early childhood educators, and teachers will be trained to identify developmental delays in daily environments. Support will be integrated directly into child care centers and schools through group therapies and online courses for parents, while specialist services will be reserved for children with high-intensity needs.
Practical Tensions: The Case of 'Little Souls' on the Gold Coast
While the program's framework has been praised by pediatric experts, the practical reality of its impending October launch has created immense anxiety for service providers and families. A primary example is the Little Souls early intervention centre on Queensland's Gold Coast. Little Souls has operated for 19 years, providing intensive one-to-one therapy and daily support to children aged two to six with autism.
Parents like Savanna Boyer and Benson Willemse, whose twin sons Reilly and Jonesy attend the center, describe the intensive early intervention as "life-changing" and "night and day" for their children's ability to participate in basic daily activities. However, because Little Souls operates as an approved NDIS provider, the center's director, Aileen Morgan, reports having received zero clear information about how they will transition into the new system.
The Intergovernmental Funding Pivot and the QLD Holdout
At the heart of this operational uncertainty is a major shift in how funding flows. Under the current NDIS model, families receive individual support plans and use their budget to directly purchase early intervention services. Under the Thriving Kids program, state and territory governments are required to foot a much larger portion of the bill and directly fund service providers instead.
Since January, five of the six states and both territories have agreed to these terms and adjusted their funding arrangements. However, Queensland is currently the only state that has not signed on to the new program. Queensland Premier David Crisafulli has indicated a willingness to work collaboratively with the Commonwealth on common issues, but the lack of a finalized agreement just eight weeks prior to the scheduled October launch has left local providers and families without a clear path forward.
Key Takeaways
- Diagnosis-Free Access: The Thriving Kids program eliminates the requirement for a formal autism diagnosis, replacing it with early identification by educators and doctors.
- Needs-Based Support: The program focuses on embedding group therapy and parental online courses directly into childcare and school environments.
- New Funding Mechanism: Funding will transition from individual NDIS packages to direct state and territory funding of service providers.
- Queensland Holdout: Queensland is the sole state that has not signed on to the Thriving Kids program, creating severe planning challenges for local Gold Coast providers like Little Souls.
