From 1 October 2026, the way young children access support for autism and developmental delay through the NDIS starts to change, as the Australian Government rolls out its new Thriving Kids program. If you have a child with autism, or you support someone who does, here's what's actually changing, when, and, importantly, who isn't affected.
What's Actually Changing, and When
Thriving Kids is a new program for children aged 8 and under with developmental delay and/or autism at low to moderate support needs. From October 2026, general supports for families with concerns about their child's development begin rolling out, followed by more targeted supports from January 2027. Changes to how new NDIS access requests are assessed for this group aren't expected to take effect until January 2028, and the rollout is likely to be refined as it goes.
Who Isn't Affected
If your child already receives NDIS support, these changes aren't designed to remove them from the Scheme. Children with higher support needs continue to be supported through the NDIS as before. Thriving Kids is aimed at how new access requests are handled going forward for children with low to moderate support needs, not at removing existing participants.
What This Means for Families of Younger Children
If your child is under 8 and you have concerns about their development, or you're partway through seeking a diagnosis, it's worth talking to your GP, paediatrician, or early childhood partner about which pathway, Thriving Kids or an NDIS access request, is the right fit for your child's level of need. This is still evolving, so details are likely to be refined as the rollout continues.
What About Older Children, Teens, and Adults?
Thriving Kids is specifically for children 8 and under. If you or your child are older and have an existing NDIS plan, or are applying for one, these particular changes don't apply directly to you, though it's worth staying across the broader reform conversation, since further changes to how access and eligibility are assessed have also been flagged for coming years.
How to Prepare
If your NDIS plan is coming up for review, check in with your support coordinator or plan manager about how any changes might apply to your specific circumstances. Keep your functional capacity evidence current and detailed regardless of which pathway you're on. Don't rely on secondhand reports of these reforms; confirm details relevant to your situation directly with the NDIA or a registered provider.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my child lose their NDIS funding because of Thriving Kids?
Not automatically. Thriving Kids is intended for new access requests from children 8 and under with low to moderate support needs, and existing participants aren't automatically removed from the Scheme because of this change.
When do these changes actually start?
General supports begin rolling out from October 2026, with more targeted supports following from January 2027. Changes to how new access requests are assessed aren't expected until January 2028, and the government has said the rollout will continue to be refined.
Does this affect adults or older children with autism?
Thriving Kids is specifically for children aged 8 and under. If you're an adult or supporting an older child, these particular changes don't change how your existing plan or access request is assessed.
These reforms are still rolling out, and how they apply can depend on your specific circumstances. Tenax's support coordination team can help you make sense of what's relevant to your plan and prepare for your next review with confidence.
For related reading, see our guides to the NDIS Thriving Kids program, NDIS early intervention for children, and autism without intellectual disability.