Mark Butler, the minister for Disability and the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), announced a new plan to “secure the future” of the NDIS.
Central to this plan is that children under nine with mild to moderate developmental delays or autism will transition from the NDIS to a new foundational support program called Thriving Kids. (previously Shorten's "Foundational Supports)
Speaking at the National Press Club, Butler argued the NDIS was never intended to serve this age group and it’s currently falling short of meeting their needs.
Thriving Kids will be jointly funded by the federal government and states and territories, with an initial A$2 billion committed from the Commonwealth.
The program is set to launch in July 2026 and roll out over the following 12 months. From mid-2027, children in this group will no longer enter the NDIS, but instead receive support through Thriving Kids.
So what’s behind this change, and is it a good idea?
The Conversation LINK.
the rate of growth of the NDIS has been excessive. children with "worried parents" have been accessing NDIS through willing psychologists prepared to issue diagnoses that enable access to NDIS funding..... for kids the parent thinks needs extra funding for their child.
its been a problem since 2014 when the system was rolled out by the Abbott Govt. and getting worse YOY.
Shorten thought to fix the problem and now Butler has rebadged the project, which provide developmental support but avoid the higher cost of inclusion in the NDIS...... thus reducing the so-called autism spectrum invasion, with Butler citing stats like 1 in 6 x 6 yr old boys being placed on NDIS who simply are a little slower than other kids, by the parental clucking assessment, and demanding the Govt improve the child's social development.
this alarming stat is the principle cause of the massive explosion in NDIS participation.
its about time this appalling problem was repaired.
