Thriving Kids is here. What does it mean for your child in childcare?

If your child needs extra support at childcare or kinder, you've probably heard a lot about Thriving Kids lately. The new program for children with developmental delay and autism officially started on 1 October 2026, yet many parents, and the professionals who work with their kids, are still waiting to hear how it will work day to day.

On the latest episode of Between Us Mums, host Anika sat down with Jackie Sikic, occupational therapist and Director of Kid Link, and Caitlyn Cowie, Kid Link's Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist. They spend their days supporting inclusion in childcare and kinder, and say that while the details are still being worked out, there's plenty you can ask your service for now without waiting on the new system.

What is the Thriving Kids program and who is it for?

Thriving Kids is a new approach for children aged eight and under with developmental delay or autism who have low to moderate support needs. It exists separately from the NDIS and is designed to make developmental support more accessible in the places children already spend their days, like childcare, kinder, playgroups and the wider community. Children with permanent and significant disabilities will continue to be eligible for the NDIS if they meet its access requirements.

Your child won't need a diagnosis to get help, as Jackie explains. "Thriving Kids is a framework… you don't need a diagnosis because it's not really a specific thing that you're accessing in the same way that the NDIS, for example, might be."

Thriving Kids support comes in two layers:

• General supports such as information, parenting programs and peer support, which come first.
• Targeted supports delivered by trained workers, which focus on building a child's functional skills and independence.

The aim, Jackie says, is that “there'll be more people to ask questions and point you in the right direction, and see kids where they are learning and playing and engaging in the community.”

Why is the Thriving Kids rollout worrying families?

Thriving Kids began on 1 October 2026, but full rollout of services isn't due until 1 January 2028. From that date, children aged eight and under with low to moderate support needs will access these supports instead of the NDIS, and children already on the NDIS will continue to be reassessed.

That leaves a gap of more than two years where families know change is coming but not what it’ll look like. Educators and allied health professionals are working with the same lack of detail.

How is Thriving Kids different in each state?

Thriving Kids looks different depending on where you live. Each one is moving at its own pace, which is a big part of the uncertainty.

• Each state designs its own model. Thriving Kids is jointly funded by the federal, state and territory governments, and each state decides how to spend its share and what services to set up. The NDIS, by comparison, runs as one national scheme.
• Queensland hasn't signed on. It's the only state that hasn't, so families there won't receive the first phase of general support from 1 October while the state continues negotiating with the federal government.
• Victoria is taking a state-led approach. Targeted support will be delivered through a government-led workforce, with some involvement from community providers. This raises questions about whether families will be able to choose their own therapist or continue seeing a clinician they already know and trust.

Kid Link is part of the Victorian Allied Health Provider Group, which is advocating for families to retain their choice of clinician under Thriving Kids, something that isn't currently guaranteed under Victoria's proposed model. "And that's what we're really advocating for, is that families can still access support with a preferred and well-trained clinician that can help them," Jackie explains.

Will my child have a developmental check before kinder or school?

If you're in Victoria, yes. The state is introducing two new developmental checks for all children, one as they start kinder and one before school, carried out by allied health professionals and trained clinicians. The first sites open in January 2027 in Bendigo, Hobsons Bay, Hume, Loddon, Maribyrnong and Melton, with statewide availability planned for January 2028.

These checks look at how your child is developing and help connect your family with support sooner. As Jackie reminds everyone, "It's not a diagnostic thing". The finer details, like what the check involves and where it happens, are still to come, and it's a change worth watching in other states too.

Done well, earlier checks could mean less time stuck on waitlists, with more support happening in the room. Take toileting challenges as an example. Instead of waiting for a specialist appointment, your child's educators would know how to help. Jackie confirmed there would be more training for childhood educators on how to respond to that. 

But on the flip side, if these checks aren’t done well, some children could slip straight through the screening, especially those who ‘mask’. Many neurodivergent kids work incredibly hard to mask or “hold it together” in front of unfamiliar adults, and a quick observation in a room with someone they don’t know may not reveal the support they actually need. 

That’s why the design of these screenings will be crucial: understanding who does the check, how long it takes, how well they know the child, and how educators’ insights are included. Done poorly, it risks missing the very children the system is meant to help. 

How to get your child extra support in childcare while you wait for Thriving Kids

The best thing you can do right now is pull every lever available to you. You don't need a diagnosis, a new program, or a funding plan to ask your service for changes that help your child. Caitlyn is clear on this: "I don't think you need a diagnosis to advocate for your child's needs. You know your child best."

Jackie and Caitlyn shared six practical ways to get support in place now.

• Look at the environment first. Changes to the room are usually the quickest to put in place. Think visual schedules, a quiet cubby your child can use without leaving the group, or sensory tools that are offered to every child.
• Bring what works at home into the room. If something already helps at home, share it with your child's educators.
• Lean on the professionals you already have. If your child sees an OT, speech pathologist or psychologist, ask whether they can observe at childcare or have a telehealth chat with the lead educator.
• Name your non-negotiables early. Pick the few things that matter most and raise them during your childcare tour or before your child starts.
• Agree on when you want a call. Let educators know your threshold for being contacted, whether it's a skipped nap, an uneaten lunch or a tough morning.
• Take your time with orientation. Some kids need more settling-in sessions than others to feel safe with new educators, so it's fine to ask for orientation to be extended.

Educators are often stretched for time and resources, so context matters. Sharing what you know about your child, and how autism can show up in early learning, helps them understand what they're seeing.

Find a childcare service that's ready to support your child

Thriving Kids will take time to settle, and the details will keep changing state by state. In the meantime, the adjustments you ask for now can change how your child copes at care day to day. If you're still deciding on a service, knowing what to look for when choosing the right childcare will help you find one that's ready to partner with you. 

You can hear Jackie and Caitlyn's full conversation with Anika on episode 8 of Between Us Mums.

FAQs

Do I need to apply for Thriving Kids?

No, you don't need to apply for Thriving Kids. Families can access some Thriving Kids support directly, such as information resources and phone advice, while other supports are offered through GPs, early childhood services and schools.

Is there a Thriving Kids autism helpline?

Yes, the Thriving Kids Autism Helpline is 1300 654 789. It offers information and advice about autism for families with children aged 0 to 8, Monday to Friday, 8 am to 7 pm, Australia wide.

What are foundational supports for children?

Foundational supports are supports designed to give children the best start in life by building skills and knowledge in the early years. They sit outside the NDIS, and Thriving Kids is the foundational support program for young children with developmental delay or autism.

When does Thriving Kids start in NSW?

Thriving Kids is being introduced across NSW in stages from October 2026, with more services becoming available through 2027. NSW services include supported playgroups, parenting programs, peer support and help connecting with services, plus short-term allied health support for some children.