Shaping Thriving Kids in Victoria
Thriving Kids aims to build capacity and supports around children and families so that children with developmental delay and autism get the support they need to thrive.
There are many professionals who play an important role in a family’s network. These include:
- allied health providers
- early intervention practitioners
- general practitioners and paediatricians
- maternal and child health nurses
- schools and early childhood educators.
These professionals play an important role in recognising developmental delay and connecting families and children to appropriate support.
Thriving Kids will be rolled out progressively, with all supports and services available across Victoria by 2028.
We will continue to work with professional groups and representative organisations to build and deliver Thriving Kids in Victoria.
This page will be updated as services and supports roll out.
Allied health support and developmental checks
Victoria will deliver a range of targeted allied health and other support services through Thriving Kids from 2027 in a number of regional and metropolitan locations 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 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 two 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 kids are set up for success at kinder and school.
Thriving Kids will deliver services in, or alongside, places families already use, such as:
- kindergartens
- childcare centres
- community centres.
More information about the roll out of allied health supports will be available soon.
Advice and connection with other professionals
Early Childhood Intervention Australia Victoria/Tasmania (ECIA VIC/TAS) provides advice and support to parents, carers, early childhood intervention professionals and providers who deliver services to children with developmental concerns and/or disabilities and families.
Contact ECIA VIC/TAS for support and information about Thriving Kids and how it might affect your work.
Early Childhood Intervention Australia Victoria / Tasmania | ECIA
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