NDIS or Thriving Kids: which one, and what changes in 2028

Thriving Kids and the NDIS are two different programs. Thriving Kids is for children aged 8 and under with developmental delay and/or autism with low to moderate support needs. Before access changes to the NDIS, the NDIS will continue to support children under the early childhood approach.

This page explains how the two differ and what is planned for 2027 and 2028. It does not decide whether your child is eligible for either one. For advice about your child, talk to your GP, your child health nurse or an NDIS early childhood partner.

Thriving Kids: support for children aged 8 and under, no diagnosis needed

Thriving Kids started in October 2026. Thriving Kids is an improved approach to early intervention for children with extra developmental needs.

It is for children aged 8 and under with developmental delay and/or autism with low to moderate support needs. Your child does not need a diagnosis.

Supports are growing over time. State and territory governments will deliver a mix of new and existing services, depending on what is already available in their jurisdiction.

Visit the Thriving Kids Information Resources Hub (opens in a new tab) for reliable information, practical resources and guidance to help families understand and support their child's development.

How Thriving Kids and the NDIS compare

Thriving Kids is the first phase of Foundational Supports. Foundational Supports are services available outside the NDIS for people with disability and developmental delay.

Who each one is for

The table uses the wording for the early childhood approach. These are the ages for early childhood partners:

Early childhood partners can help if you have a child younger than 9 with delays in their development or disability. They can also provide a period of early supports for children younger than 6 with developmental concerns.

When Thriving Kids starts, and what changes in 2028

Thriving Kids will roll out in stages. The Australian Government's implementation plan, published on 1 October 2026, sets out these steps:

• October 2026. Families can access the Thriving Kids website, the Thriving Kids Information Resources Hub, a national phone line and the Thriving Kids Autism Helpline.
• November 2026. A Medicare Healthy Kids Check will be added to the Medicare Benefits Schedule for 3-year-olds.
• Early 2027. New online peer support for Autistic children and their families will become available.
• Mid 2027. Medicare Thriving Kids will be available. It will offer families and professionals with development and behavioural concerns access to information, advice and navigation through phone and video call.
• 1 January 2028. Thriving Kids supports will be rolled out by 1 January 2028 when the NDIS access changes take place.

The Victorian Government says it will deliver targeted allied health and other support services through Thriving Kids from 2027 as part of a staged roll out. According to the Victorian Government, the first 6 sites offering allied health supports are expected to open from January 2027 at Bendigo, Hobsons Bay, Hume, Loddon, Maribyrnong and Melton. State and territory governments will share more information about local supports over time.

What this means for the NDIS:

• There are no changes to how people access the NDIS until 1 January 2028.
• People will continue applying to the NDIS in the same way until then.
• Children can still apply to the NDIS.
• From 1 January 2028, children who are aged 8 and under and applying for NDIS support will be assessed against the new criteria.
• The NDIS Minister said on 1 October 2026 that children with permanent and significant disability or high support needs will continue to access the NDIS.

What to do this month

Your child is on an NDIS plan

The Victorian Government says that if your child has an NDIS plan now, it will continue unless a planned reassessment changes it. Children aged 8 and under who are accessing the NDIS before 1 January 2028 will continue to be reassessed under the eligibility criteria in place prior to 1 January 2028. Once they turn 9, they will be reassessed under the new eligibility criteria based on functional capacity (from 1 January 2028).

Your early childhood partner can help you work out what supports your child might connect to.

You are waiting, or have not applied yet

Start by talking to your child's health or education professional if you have a concern about your child's development. They might also suggest contacting an early childhood partner.

You can connect with an early childhood partner directly by using the office finder on the NDIS website (opens in a new tab). If you live in an area that doesn't have an early childhood partner you can call the National Disability Insurance Agency for more information on 1800 800 110.

Your child has no diagnosis and you are worried

You don't need to have a diagnosis to reach out to the Autism Helpline. You can also discuss options with your child's GP or local maternal and child health nurse.

If your child is 3 and has Medicare, ask your GP about the Medicare Healthy Kids Check. From 1 November 2026, a new MBS health assessment service called the Medicare Healthy Kids Check will be introduced for 3-year-old children. This service is available once per child per lifetime.

You live in Queensland

As at October 2026, the Queensland Government has not yet signed onto Thriving Kids, according to Occupational Therapy Australia. The Australian Government delivers national Thriving Kids supports: the Thriving Kids Information Resources Hub, a national phone line and the Thriving Kids Autism Helpline. The NDIS lists early childhood partners in Queensland.

Phone lines for questions about your child's development

Call a maternal and child health nurse on 1800 882 436, 7am to midnight (AEST), 7 days a week (including public holidays). Both phone and video call are free services from within Australia.

The Thriving Kids Autism Helpline is 1300 654 789, Monday to Friday from 8.00 am to 7.00 pm. It provides autism-specific information, guidance and connections to relevant supports and services.

Check the Health website (opens in a new tab) for current hours. These phone services are also accessible via the National Relay Service for families who are d/Deaf or hard of hearing.

To see who to contact first in your state, use Where to start.

If you'd like a personalised starting point for your child's situation, take the 2-minute quiz or search for providers near you.

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Sources: Department of Health, Disability and Ageing: About Thriving Kids (opens in a new tab); Implementation of Australian Government Thriving Kids supports (opens in a new tab); About the changes to the NDIS (opens in a new tab); NDIS: what is an early childhood partner (opens in a new tab); Health: family support for Thriving Kids (opens in a new tab); Health: Thriving Kids (opens in a new tab); Minister's media release, 1 October 2026 (opens in a new tab); Medicare Healthy Kids Check fact sheet (opens in a new tab); NDIS: how to check your eligibility (opens in a new tab); Victorian Government: Thriving Kids (opens in a new tab); Occupational Therapy Australia: national Thriving Kids update (opens in a new tab).

General information, current as of October 2026. Always confirm details at health.gov.au/thrivingkids (opens in a new tab) and ndis.gov.au (opens in a new tab).