One of the biggest structural reforms to early childhood support in Australia is less than three months away. If you deliver supports to children under the NDIS, or you are considering registering as a provider who works with kids, Thriving Kids is something you need to understand now, not in October.

What Is Thriving Kids?

Thriving Kids is a new $4 billion federal government program designed to support children under 8 with low-to-moderate support needs outside the NDIS. Instead of entering the National Disability Insurance Scheme, these children will access community-based services managed through a new framework.

Services are set to begin rolling out from 1 October 2026, with the program fully operational by 1 January 2028.

The key dividing line is this: children with high support needs, specifically those with a permanent and significant disability that substantially reduces their functional capacity, will continue to access the NDIS as normal. Children who do not meet that threshold, and who have low-to-moderate support needs, will instead be directed to Thriving Kids.

What Changes for Providers

If you currently deliver early childhood supports under the NDIS, the landscape is shifting. Here is what it means in practical terms:

• Some children who would previously have entered the NDIS through the Early Childhood Approach will now be redirected to Thriving Kids services
• The pool of NDIS-funded early childhood clients may narrow from October 2026 onwards
• Delivering under the Thriving Kids framework may require different registration pathways or service qualifications
• Each state and territory will determine how Thriving Kids services are designed and implemented locally, so requirements will vary by location

Children with high support needs are not going anywhere. The NDIS is not being wound back for this cohort. But the middle group, children who previously entered the NDIS and received Early Childhood Approach funding, will increasingly be directed elsewhere from October this year.

The Honest Assessment

There are real concerns in the sector about the readiness of this program. The community infrastructure that Thriving Kids depends on, particularly in regional and rural areas, is not fully built yet. Services are being stood up in stages, which means the support available to families will vary significantly depending on where they live.

There is also broader debate about whether the driving force behind Thriving Kids is genuine early intervention philosophy or a mechanism to reduce NDIS participant numbers. Parliamentary submissions from families, advocates, and service providers have raised serious questions, and the sector is watching the October rollout closely.

What this means practically: the transition will be uneven. Providers who understand the framework early and position themselves to operate in both systems will have a significant advantage.

What Aspiring Providers Should Know Right Now

If you are planning to register as an NDIS provider and you want to work with children, the window before October matters.

The NDIS is not disappearing for children. Children with high support needs will continue to access the scheme. Demand for registered providers who work with this cohort remains strong, and it is not going away.

Getting registered now puts you ahead of the curve. Providers who are operational before October 2026 will have time to build their practice, understand their client base, and figure out how Thriving Kids affects their specific service mix before the pressure of transition hits.

Dual capability will be increasingly valuable. As Thriving Kids matures, providers who can deliver under both the NDIS and the Thriving Kids framework will be in a strong position. That starts with understanding both systems now.

What Existing Providers Should Do

Start mapping your current client base now. If a significant portion of the children you support are under 8 with low-to-moderate support needs, some of those clients will eventually move into Thriving Kids funding. That shift may take until 2028 to fully materialise, but planning for it now is far better than reacting to it later.

Talk to your state or territory health department about the local Thriving Kids service design, because implementation will differ depending on where you operate. And keep your documentation current, particularly for clients in the 7 to 9 age bracket where the line between NDIS eligibility and Thriving Kids will be most contested.

Navigate the Transition with Confidence

Regulatory change in the disability sector is not new, but Thriving Kids is one of the most significant structural shifts in years. Knowing what it means for your business, and acting on that knowledge early, is what separates providers who thrive through transitions from those who scramble.

Health Provider Assist specialises in helping aspiring and existing providers navigate exactly this kind of change. Whether you are registering for the first time or looking to expand your registration, our team works through the full process with you, with our approval guarantee behind every application.

Book a free consultation today to find out how to position your business ahead of Thriving Kids.