Support for kids with autism delayed after pushback
State and territory leaders have agreed to help rein in the costs of the National Disability Insurance Program, but a key early intervention program has been delayed by several months.
The national cabinet has agreed to cap annual growth of the NDIS at six per cent a year in exchange for an extra $25 billion in public hospital funding from the Commonwealth over the next five years.
However, a program to move children with mild to moderate autism from the NDIS to state-based programs has been delayed by several months to give jurisdictions more time to adapt to the changes.
The $2 billion Successful Kids program was planned to start in July, but will now start from October.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Thriving Kids will be fully implemented by the beginning of 2028.
“The states have put forward to us the possibility of a short delay in the full implementation of Thriving Kids,” he said in Sydney on Friday.
“We agreed that the offer was reasonable and that we would do it right, so this is a positive move.”
State leaders have previously said they were surprised by NDIS Minister Mark Butler’s announcement of the Thriving Children plan in 2025 during a speech to the National Press Club.
Opposition health spokeswoman Anne Ruston said Thriving Kids’ delay was worrying.
“Young Australians living with a disability and their families are left in ongoing uncertainty due to a lack of clarity and detail around the new Developing Children programme,” he said.
ACT Premier Andrew Barr said jurisdictions will increase their contributions to the NDIS over the next five years.
“Two billion dollars will be matched to deliver Thriving Kids as the first phase of essential supports, with the Commonwealth providing $1.4 billion of its contribution to support states,” he said.
“The ACT, together with all jurisdictions, is committed to improving health outcomes for all Australians and putting the NDIS on a sustainable path.”
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