Thriving Kids: the first state rollout begins
Update — May 2026 federal budget: The 2026-27 federal budget confirmed $4 billion for Thriving Kids nationally, with a confirmed start date of October 2026. What SA piloted from September 2025 is now confirmed as the national model. All states are expected to have programs operational by October 2026.
In September 2025, South Australia became the first state to formally launch its Thriving Kids early-intervention program. It is now confirmed as the template for the national rollout starting October 2026.
What Thriving Kids actually is
Thriving Kids is a state-delivered, federally-co-funded program for children under nine with developmental delay or disability. It exists alongside — not inside — the NDIS. The model is family-centred and capacity-focused: short-term clinical assessments, parenting and family support, group programs, and early-childhood educator training.
Unlike NDIS funding, Thriving Kids does not give families an individualised plan with allocated funds. The supports are delivered through a combination of community health, early childhood services, and partnered NGOs.
Why it matters
The model has been signposted as the template for the broader foundational-supports tier. If you want a sense of what foundational supports for adults might look like once each state designs its own version, Thriving Kids is the cleanest available reference point.
What’s gone well so far:
- Take-up has been higher than projected — most SA early-childhood centres are now referring families directly into the program
- Wait times for initial assessments are tracking around three weeks
- Cross-agency coordination (health, education, NDIA) has been smoother than during the previous Early Childhood Approach
What’s worth watching:
- Families with more complex needs have reported difficulty navigating the lighter-touch model
- The transition out of Thriving Kids at age nine is still being designed
- NDIS-registered allied health providers are reporting reduced referral volumes for under-9s
What this means for you
If you have a child under nine in South Australia, contacting your local community health centre or paediatrician is the entry point. In other states, similar programs are at various stages of design — check your state page for current detail.
For families with children currently on individual NDIS plans, the announcement does not change your plan. Plans continue to operate under existing rules until they come up for review.
Sources
- SA Department of Human Services — Thriving Kids program documents
- Foundational Supports Framework (Department of Social Services)
- NDIA Quarterly Report Q3 2025
Information current as of 10 September 2025. State program details vary — verify with your state government.
This article is based on publicly announced information and is for general information only — not official guidance. NDIS reform rules are still being finalised and are subject to change. For advice specific to your situation, speak with your plan manager, support coordinator, or a free NDIS advocate. Full disclaimer
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