Thriving Kids set to begin in Canberra amid waiting-list fears

CANBERRA, 30 SEPTEMBER 2026 —

ACT’s Thriving Kids program launches amid warnings of NDIS diversion risks and service strain

While the ACT government insists current NDIS participants will retain their funding until at least 2028, disability advocates warn the shift risks longer wait times for diagnoses and care, particularly as the program expands to cover all states except Queensland.

The program’s launch follows months of debate over whether Thriving Kids—designed to address "mild to moderate" developmental delays—will adequately replace NDIS supports for thousands of families. Critics argue the new system lacks clarity on service delivery, while the ACT government frames it as a necessary expansion of early intervention services.

With full implementation targeted for January 2028, the rollout raises questions about whether the territory’s health and education sectors can absorb the demand without compromising existing NDIS commitments.

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The federal government’s Thriving Kids initiative, unveiled in February 2026 by NDIS Minister Mark Butler, represents a major restructuring of disability support for children under nine. Announced without prior consultation in August 2025, the program aims to divert children with "mild to moderate" delays—including autism, ADHD, and speech disorders—from the NDIS into a tiered system of early intervention services.

The ACT’s adoption of the model, beginning October 1, will see families directed to a single phone line for developmental concerns, regardless of whether their child has a formal diagnosis.

Under the new framework, children will be assessed and categorized into "low," "moderate," or "low to moderate" need levels. Those with "significant permanent disability" will remain eligible for NDIS funding, while current participants will stay on the scheme until 2028, subject to standard reassessments.

However, the ACT government has not specified how it will manage the transition for children whose needs fall into the new Thriving Kids categories, leaving families uncertain about access to therapies, diagnostics, and long-term support.

ACT Disability, Autism and Neurodiversity Minister Suzanne Orr emphasized that the program was not designed to "move people off the NDIS," but rather to address gaps in early support. "This is about meeting that unmet need within our community," she said in a statement. The first phase will involve scaling up existing services, including additional staffing and resources to handle inquiries through the dedicated helpline.

Orr also noted that the program would provide a "clearer pathway" for parents, though she did not detail how wait times for assessments would compare to the NDIS.

Education Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith echoed Orr’s framing, describing the helpline as a "single point of contact" for families with developmental concerns. "It’s a clearer pathway for parents, carers, and families where they do have concerns about their child’s developmental delay," she said.

However, neither minister addressed how the ACT would prevent Thriving Kids from becoming overwhelmed by demand, particularly as the program is expected to attract children with a wide range of conditions, including ADHD, behavioral issues, and undiagnosed delays.

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Disability advocates have expressed skepticism about the program’s capacity to deliver timely and specialized care. Nicole Rogerson, chief executive of Autism Awareness Australia, told 666 ABC Canberra that the lack of transparency around service delivery was a major concern. "What are the people on the phone line going to tell the parents when they ring?" she asked.

Rogerson warned that without clear guidelines, the program risked capturing children with complex needs—such as those with ADHD or severe speech delays—who might require NDIS-level support but instead face longer waits for basic interventions.

The federal government’s decision to exclude Queensland from the Thriving Kids rollout has further fueled criticism, with some states and territories questioning whether the program was adequately funded or resourced. The ACT’s early adoption places it at the forefront of a national experiment, with potential implications for how developmental delays are managed across Australia.

While Orr stressed that early intervention would "help move people through the system more seamlessly," Rogerson countered that the program’s broad eligibility criteria could strain already overburdened health services.

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The rollout’s timing coincides with growing pressure on the NDIS, which has faced criticism for its inability to meet demand, particularly for children requiring early diagnosis and therapy. The federal government has framed Thriving Kids as a solution to reduce NDIS costs by targeting "lower-need" children, though disability rights groups argue the distinction between "mild" and "significant" delays is arbitrary and risks excluding children who later develop more severe conditions.

In the ACT, the program’s launch will be closely watched as a test case for other jurisdictions. While the government has pledged to monitor wait times and service quality, the absence of a detailed implementation plan has left parents and providers in limbo. Rogerson’s call for greater clarity underscores the stakes: without defined service levels, Thriving Kids could either fill critical gaps in early support—or become another point of frustration in an already fragmented system.

As the first families contact the helpline in October, the focus will shift to whether the ACT can deliver on its promises of faster access to care. With the full rollout scheduled for 2028, the coming months will determine whether Thriving Kids can avoid the pitfalls of its predecessor—or whether it becomes another example of how disability support in Australia remains a work in progress.