The model for a new national program that will support children with mild developmental delay and autism in Australia has been released.

Thriving Kids, announced by Federal Health Minister Mark Butler in 2025 and co-chaired by Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) Professor Frank Oberklaid will focus on identifying and addressing developmental concerns earlier among children eight and under.

The $2 billion program, starting in October, will provide online and over the phone support and build on existing services including in GP clinics, child and maternal health appointments, playgroups, early childhood education centres and schools.

Image: Professor Frank Oberklaid

The Thriving Kids Advisory Group final report explained a tiered model across multiple stages including:

• An identification stage, where a child’s specific needs can be flagged by a health professional, school or family member
• A second stage, where families are provided with appropriate support and connected to the appropriate support within a community, school or clinical setting via an online directory. Health professionals and educators will also be provided new resource materials
• A third stage, which provides more detail on the supports, ranging from parenting resources and access to allied health services through to co-ordinated help for children with more complex needs

Watch Professor Oberklaid explain the Thriving Kids approach on ABC’s Insiders on Background

In this video, Professor Oberklaid details how the scheme aims to support children and their parents, provide appropriate treatments pathways earlier and reduce wait times for specialist care.

Children with permanent and significant disability will continue to be supported through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

Professor Oberklaid said the NDIS was not designed for children with mild ­developmental delays who instead should be offered tailored support in mainstream care and community-facing services.

“We shouldn’t be waiting until children get a diagnosis and then start treating them but looking for opportunities to pick up them as soon as they start to struggle,” he said.

Professor Oberklaid said MCRI-led programs such as the National Child and Family Hubs Network and the Mental Health in Schools Initiative (MHiPS) were examples of successful initiatives the new program could build on.

“Our Mental health program expands to every government primary school in Victoria, with programs benefitting a number of regional, outer suburban and disadvantaged communities already,” he said.

“Thriving Kids will amplify this by enabling tailored, community-led support for children with mild to moderate developmental delays, while those who have more significant disabilities may remain on the NDIS long-term. This will also help to ensure that the NDIS remains sustainable.”

Professor Oberklaid said the Thriving Kids model had been designed by an expert advisory group, including people with lived experience, alongside extensive consultation with families and service providers.

Read more about MCRI’s Policy and Equity research.