Thriving Kids: what it is and what it means for your family

• Aged 8 and under. From babies to the early school years.
• Developmental delay or autism. Either one is enough.
• Low to moderate support needs. Children with high support needs stay with the NDIS.
• Their families, carers and kin. Thriving Kids includes them too.

Source: Raising Children Network, Thriving Kids: FAQs about support, eligibility and access (opens in new tab), 2026.

• The Thriving Kids Information and Resources Hub. Run by the Raising Children Network, at raisingchildren.net.au/thrivingkids (opens in new tab). Information on child development, developmental delay and autism.
• The national nurse line. Child and family health nurses on 1800 882 436, or by video call. 7am to midnight (AET), seven days.
• The Thriving Kids Autism Helpline. Run by Amaze (opens in new tab), on 1300 654 789, 8am to 7pm, Monday to Friday. You can also email thrivingkids.autism@amaze.org.au or use the webchat on Amaze's website. It is free, and Amaze says you do not need “a diagnosis or referral” to get in touch. For an interpreter, call TIS National on 131 450 and ask for the helpline.

Other support will come through GPs, early childhood services and schools. Each state and territory has its own timeline. The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing lists what is happening where (opens in new tab).

• Allied health support. Speech pathology, occupational therapy and psychology are expected during 2027. They are not available through Thriving Kids yet.
• How it looks where you live. Most support will come through state and territory programs. Each one runs on its own timeline.
• Where you live. State pages are listed below. Queensland is not on RCN's list yet.
• Moving from the NDIS. Children already on the NDIS are reassessed under the new rules once they turn 9. Your NDIS planner can explain how this applies to your child.

RCN's own page says it plainly: “Thriving Kids is a new program, so some details are still being worked on.”

Source: Raising Children Network, Thriving Kids: FAQs about support, eligibility and access (opens in new tab), 2026. Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, Thriving Kids: state and territory governments (opens in new tab).

You will tell your child's story many times: to the nurse line, the autism helpline, your GP, a child health check, an early learning centre or a school. Each of them sees one part of your child. You are the one who sees all of it.

Most parents already know their child well. That knowledge is just scattered. A note on your phone after a hard morning. A therapy report in your inbox. What the teacher said at pick-up. The thing that finally worked at bedtime. Bringing it together before you call makes it easier to say what you came to say. Amaze says you do not need documents ready to call the helpline. It also says details of your child's assessments, services or supports can be helpful to have nearby.

In 2025 we asked 1,091 Australian families about caregiving. Parents of neurodivergent children spend around 30 hours a week on it. Nearly ten of those hours are work nobody sees: emotional regulation, advocacy and admin.

Source: Understanding Zoe, Making the Invisible Visible, 2025.

Pip* is your pocket coach inside the Understanding Zoe app. You tell it about your child's day, by voice or text. It writes the day down, and can suggest an everyday idea to try.

Pip draws on more than 1,200 parenting resources licensed from the Raising Children Network (opens in new tab).

Reports, letters and appointments live in one place. Pip reads each one and writes a short summary. It helps you draft a summary for the GP, a brief for a new teacher, or the questions you want to ask the nurse line or the helpline. You can edit every draft.

You can invite the people around your child: a grandparent, an educator, an OT. You choose what each person sees.

* Pip has nothing to do with the UK benefit called PIP, the Personal Independence Payment.