What Is Thriving Kids in Victoria? What Parents Need to Know From October 2026
What is Thriving Kids?
Thriving Kids is the first phase of Foundational Supports — a new system of disability and developmental supports being developed outside the NDIS.
It is intended for:
Importantly, a formal diagnosis is not required to access Thriving Kids support. The program is designed around a child's developmental needs rather than simply whether they have a particular diagnosis. Health, Disability and Ageing Australia
The national model is designed to help families:
Identify concerns early → understand what their child needs → find the right support → build skills and confidence.
When does Thriving Kids start?
Thriving Kids starts rolling out from October 2026.
However, it is important to understand that October 2026 is the beginning of the rollout, not the date when every service suddenly becomes available everywhere.
Supports will grow progressively, with the full range of services expected to be rolled out by 1 January 2028. Health, Disability and Ageing Australia
This staged approach is particularly important in Victoria.
What is happening with Thriving Kids in Victoria?
Victoria is developing Thriving Kids services around its existing early childhood and family support systems.
The Victorian Government says the program will bring together:
Victoria will also introduce two developmental assessments/checks, including one around the time a child starts kindergarten and another when they start school.
The aim is to identify developmental concerns earlier and help families access appropriate support.
What makes the Victorian approach interesting?
Victoria plans to deliver services where children live, learn and play, rather than expecting every family to travel to a specialist service.
This could mean support being connected with the child's:
🏠 Home
🎓 Kindergarten
🏫 School
👨👩👧 Family environment
🌳 Community
What support will Thriving Kids provide?
Thriving Kids is broader than simply providing therapy.
The national model includes several different types of support.
1. Information and guidance
Families will be able to access information about:
There will also be national information and advice services. Health, Disability and Ageing Australia
2. Parenting and family support
Parents and carers are an important part of a child's development.
Thriving Kids may provide:
The purpose is not simply to "fix" a child, but to help families understand development and build confidence in supporting their child. Health, Disability and Ageing Australia
3. Allied health and targeted support
For children who need more targeted assistance, Thriving Kids may include supports such as:
The type, frequency and duration of support will depend on the child's needs. Health, Disability and Ageing Australia
4. Social and developmental opportunities
Thriving Kids is also designed around everyday participation.
This can include opportunities that help children develop:
This is one reason purposeful play and social programs may become increasingly relevant within the broader early childhood support environment.
Is Thriving Kids the same as the NDIS?
No.
This is one of the most important things parents need to understand.
Thriving Kids is a system of supports outside the NDIS.
Unlike an NDIS plan, Thriving Kids does not provide families with an individual NDIS-style budget to spend on services.
The Victorian Government explains that Thriving Kids supports will be funded or delivered directly by governments.
The two systems are intended to work as part of a broader support environment rather than being completely separate worlds.
Will children still be able to access the NDIS?
This is where parents need to pay attention.
There is no change to NDIS access for children until 1 January 2028.
From 1 January 2028, children aged 8 and under with developmental delay or autism and low to moderate support needs will no longer access the NDIS under the future arrangements and will instead be supported through Thriving Kids.
Children with permanent and significant disability, including children with developmental delay or autism who have high support needs, will continue to be eligible for the NDIS subject to the usual arrangements.
What does that mean for families?
If your child currently has an NDIS plan, don't assume that the plan suddenly ends because Thriving Kids has started.
The Victorian Government states that eligible children and families currently accessing existing supports will continue to receive support under the existing systems.
What is different about Thriving Kids in Victoria?
Victoria is taking a staged approach.
The Victorian Government has announced that targeted allied health and other support services will be introduced from 2027 in selected metropolitan and regional locations.
The initial Victorian sites announced are:
These sites are expected to open from January 2027 as part of the staged rollout.
This is particularly relevant for Melbourne families because Hume, Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong and Melton are among the initial Victorian locations.
However, this does not mean families outside those locations will receive no support. Victoria is continuing to develop and expand the system, with the full range of services planned by January 2028.
What does Thriving Kids mean for parents?
For parents, the biggest change is potentially the way families access support.
Instead of thinking only:
"Does my child have an NDIS plan?"
families may increasingly need to ask:
"What does my child need, and which part of the support system can provide it?"
That could include:
This means navigation and understanding the different systems may become increasingly important.
Why group and play programs may become important
Thriving Kids has a strong focus on children developing skills in everyday environments.
The national model includes supported playgroups, family programs, peer support and targeted supports.
This creates an opportunity for programs that are more purposeful than a traditional playgroup.
For example, a well-designed children's program could incorporate opportunities to develop:
Social skills
→ taking turns, sharing, joining activities
Communication
→ expressing needs, asking for help, interacting with peers
Emotional regulation
→ recognising emotions, coping with transitions and managing feelings
Sensory development
→ structured sensory experiences and participation
Gross motor skills
→ movement, coordination and physical play
Independence
→ following routines, completing activities and developing everyday skills.
The important distinction is that a group program should not automatically be described as therapy simply because an allied health professional is involved.
The purpose, funding arrangement, qualifications and way the service is delivered all matter.
Where does Openhearted Support fit?
At Openhearted Support, we believe children should have opportunities to participate, connect and build skills in environments that feel natural and enjoyable.
Our team is interested in creating purposeful social and play opportunities where children can learn through participation rather than simply sitting in a clinical environment.
Our approach can incorporate areas such as:
Openhearted Support is based in Craigieburn, Melbourne, and supports participants and families across Melbourne and surrounding areas.
As Thriving Kids continues to develop, we are closely following the Victorian model and the opportunities for children and families.
What should parents do now?
If you have concerns about your child's development, you don't necessarily need to wait for a diagnosis before asking for help.
Consider:
✅ Talk to your child's professionals
This might include your:
✅ Understand your child's needs
Think about areas such as:
✅ Keep useful reports and information
If your child has existing assessments or reports, keep them organised.
✅ Learn about the new system
Thriving Kids is still being rolled out, and Victorian services will continue to develop.
✅ Don't assume that NDIS and Thriving Kids are interchangeable
They are different systems with different funding and access arrangements.
Frequently Asked Questions About Thriving Kids
What age is Thriving Kids for?
Thriving Kids is designed for children aged 8 and under who need extra developmental support, including children with developmental delay and/or autism with low to moderate support needs.
Does my child need an autism diagnosis?
No. Children do not need a diagnosis to access Thriving Kids support.
Does Thriving Kids replace the NDIS?
Not completely. Thriving Kids is a separate system of foundational supports outside the NDIS. Children with permanent and significant disability and higher support needs will continue to be supported through the NDIS subject to usual arrangements.
When does Thriving Kids start in Victoria?
The first supports are being introduced from October 2026, with services expanding over time and the full range planned by 1 January 2028.
Is Thriving Kids available across Victoria immediately?
No. Implementation is staged. Victoria has announced initial targeted allied health and support locations from January 2027, including Hume, Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong and Melton, with broader rollout over time.
Does Thriving Kids give families an individual budget?
No. Unlike the NDIS, Thriving Kids does not provide an individual budget for families to spend on services. Supports are funded or delivered by governments.
Will my child's current NDIS support stop immediately?
No. There is no change to how people access the NDIS until 1 January 2028, and children currently accessing existing supports will continue under the existing arrangements.
The Bigger Picture
Thriving Kids represents an important change in how Australia approaches support for young children with developmental differences.
The idea is not simply to wait until a child reaches a point where they need significant disability support.
Instead, the new system is designed to:
Identify → Understand → Connect → Support → Build skills
For Victorian families, the next few years will involve a gradual transition, rather than one single change happening overnight.
And because the Victorian system is still being rolled out, families should continue checking official information as new services, locations and access pathways become available.
💜 Supporting Children and Families Across Melbourne
Openhearted Support is based in Craigieburn, Melbourne, and supports participants and families across Melbourne and surrounding areas.
We are committed to creating opportunities where children can connect, participate, build confidence and develop everyday skills in supportive environments.
If you would like to discuss children's group programs, social participation or disability support options, contact our team.
📞 1800 976 186
✉️ admin@ohsupport.com.au
🌐 Openhearted Support