Thriving Kids

Thriving Kids

What is the policy issue?

Children aged 0-8 years old, with mild to moderate developmental delay and/or autism, are being transitioned away from the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and will be supported by a program called Thriving Kids.

Children with permanent and significant disabilities will continue to receive support through the NDIS.

Overall funding for this cohort will be less in Thriving Kids than what is currently spent in the NDIS. Program funding is expected to prioritise a limited range of commonly accessed services, particularly speech therapy and occupational therapy.

Thriving Kids is to be delivered by State and Territory Governments rather than through a nationally consistent scheme. As a result, there may be an inconsistency in service delivery.

Although podiatry is included as one of the allied health professions in Targeted Supports within Thriving Kids, early exposure models have not included podiatry. Details are yet to be confirmed; however, early indications are that children with mild to moderate developmental delay may be required to access podiatry services through the public health system.

Thriving Kids is scheduled to commence from 1 October 2026, with full implementation planned for 1 January 2028.

There is ongoing uncertainty regarding transition arrangements and support pathways for children once they turn 9 years old, raising concerns about continuity of care and long‑term developmental outcomes.

Further information about what is happening regarding the implementation of Thriving Kids, including specific state-based information can be found here >>

What is the APodA advocating for?

APodA is actively advocating for:

  • Access for podiatry: Establish pathways to enable children with developmental delay and/or autism to access podiatry services, including assessment, treatment, and case conferencing
  • Multidisciplinary care: Podiatry to be included within multidisciplinary and collaborative care teams to ensure comprehensive, coordinated care tailored to individual clinical needs
  • Awareness, education and referral pathways: The development of education resources for families, GPs, and services such as Maternal and Child Health Services to increase awareness of allied health services, including podiatry, and the establishment of clear referral pathways into these services.

What has the APodA been doing?

  • Actively engaged with the Allied Health Professions Australia (AHPA) Disability working group.
  • Provided representation at advocacy events such as the Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA) Thriving Kids event at Parliament House
  • Made a formal submission to the Federal Senate Inquiry into the Thriving Kids Initiative (APodA members must log in to access the submission)

Additional information can be found here >>

 How can you get involved?

As the peak professional body, the APodA is uniquely positioned to influence policy. To ensure our advocacy reflects the profession, we actively engage members through surveys, special interest groups, and consultation with key opinion leaders. You can act by:

Australian Paediatric Podiatry  (APP) community

We encourage podiatrists who treat children’s foot and lower limb conditions to join the Australian Paediatric Podiatry (APP) special interest group (SIG).

Joining the APP SIG connects you with peers who share insights, support and expertise that help you deliver the best possible outcomes for children and families.

As an APP member, you’ll also benefit from:

  • An engaged professional community focused on paediatric practice.
  • Dedicated resources tailored to best practice child-centred care.
  • Discounted professional development opportunities.
  • Access to our library of APP-focused webinar recordings covering best practice in paediatric assessment and intervention.

Learn more about joining the APP SIG here >>