The Challenges of NDIS and the Future of Thriving Kids
When Christian and Nik Tran joined the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), their mother, Alice, felt a sense of relief. She knew that with the support provided by the NDIS, her sons would have the opportunity to live a life like any other child.
Nik, who is 8 years old, has been diagnosed with level two autism, while Christian, aged 5, has developmental delay and is awaiting confirmation of his own level two autism diagnosis. Ms. Tran explained that both boys require assistance with tasks such as fastening buttons, tying shoelaces, regulating emotions, and managing complex behaviors that can escalate quickly if not addressed. She emphasized the need for constant supervision.
“I always try to make sure I’ve eliminated everything that could trigger them … but the world is a trigger,” Ms. Tran said.
Christian and Nik receive NDIS funding for psychology, as well as occupational and speech therapy, all of which have made a significant difference in their lives. Ms. Tran shared how she has already seen positive changes in Christian, particularly in his ability to express and articulate his emotions.
To support her children, Ms. Tran has quit her job and now dedicates herself full-time to caring for them. This includes attending school with Christian to provide support in class. She is grateful for the assistance from the NDIS, but she is also aware of the changes coming ahead.
In the future, children like Christian and Nik may no longer be supported by the NDIS, but instead by Thriving Kids — a $4 billion initiative part of the federal government’s plan to manage the growth of the NDIS. This program is expected to replace the NDIS for children under nine with “mild to moderate” developmental delays and autism. Children with “severe, permanent disability” will still be eligible for the NDIS, subject to reassessment.
The first phase of Thriving Kids is set to begin in October, with a full rollout expected by January 2028. However, with the details of the program still being finalized, experts are raising concerns about potential gaps in support for children with “moderate needs.”
Concerns About Implementation
David Trembath, head of autism research at the Kids Research Institute Australia, expressed concerns about the practical implementation of Thriving Kids. While he acknowledged the program’s potential on paper, he warned that it might not address the real-world needs of some children.
“My main concern is that there might be a group of children who are somewhere between Thriving Kids and the NDIS who have the potential to miss out on the supports and services that they need,” Professor Trembath said. He emphasized that it is challenging to define “low, moderate or high” support needs, as these can fluctuate based on environment and context.
“When they’re in a context such as home where parents have put in place strategies to make life easier, simpler and more predictable, they can look like they’re doing really well,” he said. “But then jump into the community, go to a playground … and suddenly the needs can be much more obvious because those strategies and the supports aren’t in place.”
Ms. Tran echoed these concerns, stating that no two days are ever the same for her sons. “On paper, they look like they’re in that moderate level … but there’s just so much you can’t see on paper with autism and disability,” she said. “They’re with me being supported and supervised 24/7 … I’m not sure I would call that moderate.”
Professor Trembath highlighted the importance of providing the right support at the right time. He stressed that early intervention can significantly reduce long-term support needs, and if children do not receive adequate support through Thriving Kids, their needs may escalate over time, making the cost-saving goals of the program counterproductive.
The Issue of Masking and Labels
Autistic advocate Clare Gibellini raised another concern: the potential for masking to lead to underestimation of support requirements. She explained that when autistic individuals hide their natural traits to fit in, assessors may not recognize their true needs.
“If kids are meeting with assessors who don’t know them … it’s going to be a stressful situation. They’re highly likely to be masking,” she said. “The real concern for me is that [assessors] … could turn around and say, ‘actually, you don’t have any support needs’, and meanwhile, this kid is masking for their life.”
Gibellini also criticized the use of labels such as “mild,” “moderate,” and “severe” in defining autism. She argued that autism is too complex to fit into such categories, as it is influenced by various factors including different days, environments, and people.
“We have to be really, really conscious of that and make sure that people are not left out because we’re putting people into these boxes that don’t necessarily fit,” she said.
Parental Perspectives and the Need for Support
NDIS Minister Mark Butler did not directly address whether the government was confident that “moderate” children would be properly serviced by Thriving Kids. A government spokesperson stated that state and territory governments will deliver routine child development and health assessments, general parenting supports, and targeted services.
However, Ms. Tran said she had stopped reading about Thriving Kids due to stress. She believes that children like her sons will not be adequately supported without the tailored assistance currently provided by the NDIS. She also questioned the effectiveness of group therapies proposed for Thriving Kids, explaining that even simple activities like group swimming lessons would be challenging for her children.
“We can’t even do group swimming lessons. I cannot imagine group therapy … I wouldn’t even be able to get them in the room,” she said.
Despite her concerns, Ms. Tran remains committed to supporting her children. She emphasized that what matters most is that the support provided is right for them, regardless of where it comes from.
“[Parents are] already pushed to the point of burnout,” she said. “We’re not experts … we’re just parents giving it a go and trying to raise great kids, but we need support.”
