New Thriving Kids supports will start to roll out this month. They will provide trusted advice and support to families of children with developmental delay or autism.
About Thriving Kids
Thriving Kids is a new system of disability supports for children aged 8 and under with developmental delay or autism with low to moderate support needs. It also supports their families.
Thriving Kids supports started rolling out on 1 October 2026. The full range of services will be in place from 1 January 2028. This is to align with changes to National Disability Insurance Scheme access.
Early childhood education and care (ECEC) services will not be responsible for delivering Thriving Kids supports, but will continue to play an important role in helping identify developmental concerns and supporting children and families to get the information and help they need.
ECEC services should continue to:
- identify and respond to children’s educational and developmental needs through existing processes and supports
- connect families with existing services and supports, where appropriate.
New supports available from October 2026 include:
- Expanded training to help early childhood teachers and educators identify and work with other professionals and families to respond effectively to developmental concerns for children and deliver inclusive early learning experiences. This will strengthen inclusion capability and capacity in kindergartens.
- Practical information, guidance and help to navigate supports for families. This will help them understand what support is available, identify next steps and know where to get help if they have concerns about their child’s development. The ACD – Advocating for Children with Disability Support Line can be accessed on 03 9880 7000 or 1800 654 013 (regional).
- More publicly funded autism assessments for children aged 8 and under. These will focus on families that might need more support.
- More places in the Strengthening Parent Support Program. This will help parents build skills, confidence and stronger relationships. Support can include peer support groups, information sessions and tailored advice.
From 2027, Victoria will also deliver a range of targeted allied health and other support services through Thriving Kids as part of a staged roll out. The first 6 sites will be located at Bendigo, Hobsons Bay, Hume, Loddon, Maribyrnong and Melton. They will open from January 2027.
This time-limited allied health support to children and their families will help children build everyday skills and independence. It will also help families understand how to support their child’s development.
How often a child receives allied health support and for how long will depend on their needs.
Starting in the initial delivery sites, Victorian families will also have access to 2 new developmental checks – one as each child starts kinder, and one as they start school.
Victoria is taking a state-led and coordinated approach to delivering these supports, with the Department of Education leading the delivery of targeted supports and development checks, as well as managing triaging and intake.
In some cases, delivery of targeted allied health will be supported by community partner organisations where this best meets the needs of the community.
Developmental checks will be undertaken by allied health professionals and trained clinicians, and mean children and families can be connected with the right supports sooner – so children are set up for success at kinder and school.
More information about the roll out of allied health supports will be available soon.
New online training
Online training on inclusion will be provided for early childhood educators from October 2026 through the Early Childhood Hub. More information on this training will be available soon.
This training will help teachers, educators and service leaders build their capacity to deliver inclusive early learning experiences to children, strengthening the supports you already provide to children and their families.
Working with early childhood education and care services
In line with the Thriving Kids roll out, the department will provide professionals and early childhood services more information and supports to guide and refer families.
Please note that Thriving Kids will complement existing disability and inclusion supports in kindergartens. This includes supports provided through the Kindergarten Inclusion Support and Preschool Field Officer programs. Existing programs that support inclusion in kindergarten services, include:
These programs will continue to work with services and professionals, including Thriving Kids, to help children and families access timely and co-ordinated support.
Find out more
For more information about Thriving Kids, visit Thriving Kids Victoria.
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