The Australian federal government has announced a major overhaul of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), unveiling a $2 billion program designed to divert children with mild to moderate developmental delays or autism from the NDIS by mid-2027. Health Minister Mark Butler stated that the NDIS has become the “only port in the storm” for families seeking support, and the scheme’s model doesn’t suit the needs of these children, contributing to the program’s unsustainable cost growth.
The new initiative, tentatively called the “Thriving Kids” program, aims to provide targeted early intervention and foundational support through state-based health clinics and community facilities, rather than through individual NDIS packages. However, the announcement has been met with “grave concerns” from state disability ministers and advocacy groups, who fear that shifting these children off the NDIS will result in a loss of crucial, life-changing therapy services and create significant gaps in support. The changes will not affect children already enrolled in the NDIS before the program’s rollout.