Everything Australian parents need to know about the new national support program for children aged 0–8 with developmental delay or autism — eligibility, services, timeline, costs, and what to do right now.
Thriving Kids is a $4 billion national program launching 1 October 2026 for children aged 0–8 with low-to-moderate developmental needs. No diagnosis required. Most therapy will come through Thriving Kids by 2028; the NDIS stays for kids with high support needs. Picolo Bloom is registering as a Melbourne-wide provider — join our launch list →
Thriving Kids is a new national support system from the Australian Government for children aged 0–8 with developmental delay or autism, and their families. It launches 1 October 2026 and reaches full national scale by 1 January 2028.
It’s the first phase of a broader reform called Foundational Supports — the government’s way of rebuilding how families with young children access early intervention, without the wait, paperwork or diagnosis hurdles the NDIS currently requires.
The federal government is investing $2 billion over five years, matched by another $2 billion from state and territory governments — making Thriving Kids a $4 billion total commitment to early childhood developmental support across Australia.
Children do not need a formal diagnosis to access support through Thriving Kids — a functional needs assessment is enough.
Thriving Kids supports families of children who are:
“Low-to-moderate” is the critical phrase. Thriving Kids is designed for children whose developmental needs can be supported through targeted, community-based therapies and family coaching — without requiring the intensive, long-term funding the NDIS provides for children with permanent and significant disability.
Developmental delay is when a child is significantly behind in one or more areas of development — speech, motor skills, social interaction, cognition, or self-care. It’s not a medical diagnosis on its own; it’s an observation that a child may need extra support to catch up to their peers.
Common examples Melbourne families come to us with:
Under the diagnostic framework used in Australia (DSM-5), autism is rated by support level — Level 1 (requires support), Level 2 (requires substantial support), Level 3 (requires very substantial support). Thriving Kids will primarily serve children at Level 1 and some at Level 2. Level 3 children — and many at Level 2 — will continue to be supported through the NDIS.
But importantly: a child does not need to have a Level rating, or even an autism diagnosis, to access Thriving Kids. The program is built around what a child can do day-to-day, not what label they carry.
12-page PDF: every step Melbourne families should take before 1 October.
Thriving Kids includes five main categories of support, all designed to be delivered where your child lives and learns — at home, in kinder, at school, or in community settings. This is a deliberate shift away from the clinic-based, appointment-only model that dominates traditional therapy.
Speech pathology, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, audiology, psychology
Education, coaching, online learning programs
Supported playgroups, peer support groups, sibling programs
Helping you find and connect to the right supports
Communication aids, sensory tools, adaptive equipment (typically under $1,500)
Targeted programs for ATSI, CALD and rural/remote families
Services are delivered by registered providers commissioned by each state and territory government. To be a Thriving Kids provider, an organisation needs to meet quality and safety standards (similar to but slightly lighter than NDIS Quality and Safeguards) and demonstrate the ability to deliver in community settings — not just clinic rooms.
Picolo Bloom is registering as a Melbourne-wide Thriving Kids provider, bringing years of experience supporting hundreds of NDIS participants into this new program.
Service design and provider commissioning. State governments finalising their delivery models. Families enrol on provider launch lists. Picolo Bloom is welcoming families now.
First Thriving Kids services delivered. Most state services begin in a staged way, with some regions and service categories first and others following over the next 15 months. NDIS continues unchanged during this period for existing participants.
NDIS access narrows for children aged 0 to 8 with low-to-moderate developmental delay or autism, who move to Thriving Kids. Children with high support needs continue on the NDIS.
This is the question Melbourne families ask us most. Here’s the plain-English answer.
The NDIS will still exist after Thriving Kids launches. What changes is who it serves. Today, the NDIS supports about 700,000 Australians including over 100,000 young children with autism and developmental delay. After the reforms:
The key practical differences:
Access points are still being finalised by each state, but the broad model is clear:
Thriving Kids is funded by federal and state governments. Most services are free at the point of access for eligible families. You won’t be asked to manage a budget, submit invoices, or chase reimbursements the way NDIS often requires.
Providers are funded directly by state governments based on the services they deliver. Picolo Bloom, like every Thriving Kids provider, will be paid through these arrangements — meaning families get supports at no cost.
Some specialised services or top-up supports may sit outside Thriving Kids and require Medicare (Chronic Disease Management plans cover up to 5 allied health sessions per year), private health insurance, or out-of-pocket payment. We’ll always tell you upfront if anything we recommend isn’t covered.
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If you’re a Melbourne parent and you suspect your child could benefit from Thriving Kids supports, here’s what to do in the next 90 days:
No. A functional needs assessment is enough — you don't need a formal autism or developmental delay diagnosis to be eligible. This is one of the biggest improvements over the NDIS for early intervention.
Existing NDIS plans continue. From 1 January 2028, the NDIS will be limited to children with high support needs; low-to-moderate needs move to Thriving Kids. We'll help you understand which path applies to your child.
You can join our launch list today. We expect to begin Thriving Kids bookings from 1 October 2026 in line with the national rollout. Families on the list get first access.
Thriving Kids is funded by federal and state governments. Most services are free at the point of access for eligible families. We'll always tell you upfront if any add-on service has a cost.
Thriving Kids is for children aged 0–8. Older children with developmental needs continue to access NDIS, Medicare (CDM plans, 5 sessions/year), or private therapy. Once a child turns 9, they age out of Thriving Kids.
We bring years of experience supporting hundreds of NDIS participants into a fresh, community-based model. We're Melbourne-wide, multicultural, mobile, and built around your family — not a clinic room.
Book a free 15-minute chat. No pressure, no commitment.