Breaking news: “Thriving Kids” – more than just a new name for Foundational Supports for children?

“Thriving Kids”, announced by Minister Mark Butler on 20 August 2025, is the snappy new name for Foundational Supports for children.

But is it more than that?

We don’t have a lot of details right now. But it sounds different from the original proposal for Targeted Foundational supports (discussed in 2024), and a lot more like what the Grattan Institute recommended (back in June 2025 – see below):

• The Federal Government to take leadership of the new national system (to avoid eight different State systems).
• Limiting NDIS access for children to only those children with significant and permanent disability (i.e. children who are likely to need lifelong support).
• Funded programs, like Inklings, MHiPS and Positive Partnerships for children with mild and moderate developmental delay or autism to be delivered in mainstream settings, like community health centres, supported playgroups, and schools. 
• Increased scrutiny over consistent pricing and value for money of allied health and other services across disability, health and aged-care sectors.

If this is right, the new system may mean:

• the end of the early intervention NDIS pathway and individualised supports for most children who would otherwise qualify for the NDIS under current rules; and 
• the creation of new (block-funded?) programmed services to be delivered in mainstream settings, like early community childcare settings and schools.

There was also talk of creating a new Medicare bulk-billed item for GPs to check 3-year-olds for developmental issues, and providing access to new Medicare allied health items.

Of course, we’re yet to hear from the States, who will be paying for half of it. (Some States like NSW have been working and consulting on the earlier Foundational Supports proposal.)

This new system is due to start rolling out from 1 July 2026, with major NDIS access changes flagged for sometime in 2027.

We await more details! 

But, in the meantime, there is already a lot for us all to work through as we think about choice and control and service delivery models for children with developmental delay or disability and their families. 

Related reading:

In deep water: paediatric allied health NDIS providers should read the Grattan Report

Targeted Foundational Supports consultations: an “idea salad” with more questions than answers for allied health providers?

Speech from Minister Butler, National Press Club – 20 August 2025