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Photo credit: Noah Secomb
Many families within the disability community will be interested to know what key components have been included in the Thriving Kids Advisory Group’s report, which the Federal Government released yesterday morning.
The Advisory Group, which includes experts from multiple disciplines, as well as state and territory government representatives, believes Thriving Kids will better support children aged under 9 with developmental delay and/or autism, through a more appropriate national model of supports, outside the NDIS.
Co-Chair of the Thriving Kids Advisory Group, Professor Frank Oberklaid AM, claims the process for developing the revised Thriving Kids model was very comprehensive.
The advisory group has reviewed the evidence for what constitutes best practice, broadly consulted on strategy with professionals across the whole range of disciplines, as well as families with lived experience.
Professor Frank Oberklaid AM
The recommendations outlined in the Thriving Kids Advisory Group’s report includes connecting children and families with supports matched to their level of need, and offering supports that are child and family centred, informed by evidence and focused on outcomes, ensuring that supports are empowering, and connected to service systems families already trust.
The group also recommended acknowledging that children’s needs are not linear and can change over time.
“The report has been informed by the large number of submissions and presentations to the House Standing Committee on Health, chaired by two paediatricians - Dr. Mike Freelander and Dr. Monique Ryan,” Mr Oberklaid explains.
National Cabinet has agreed to the final design of Thriving Kids, according to Minister for the NDIS, Mark Butler.
The advice of the Thriving Kids Advisory Group reinforces the opportunity we have as a nation to deliver better outcomes for children…Thriving Kids will empower and support families early in a child’s developmental journey with tailored supports in community settings.
Mark Butler
To ensure states and territories have enough time to implement Thriving Kids, the national rollout will now commence on 1 October 2026, with full implementation expected by 1 January 2028.
According to Mr Butler, governments have agreed to invest $4 billion to deliver Thriving Kids. The Commonwealth is providing $2 billion, with $2 billion matched by states and territories. $1.4 billion of the Commonwealth’s contribution will go directly to support states and territories.
As for the Co-Chair of the Thriving Kids Advisory Group, Mr Oberklaid believes the recommendations for the proposed national model will provide the youngest members of the disability community with a brighter future.
“I am confident that the Thriving Kids model provides a sound framework for how best to support children and their families to achieve the best possible opportunities for children to thrive,” Mr Oberklaid says.
If you would like to know more about the report, click here.