The promise is big. The risk is bigger.
The Commonwealth’s $2 billion Thriving Kids program could be a game-changer for children with developmental needs, or it could become another well-intentioned policy that doesn’t work for First Nations families.
First Peoples Disability Network (FPDN), the national peak for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with disability, welcomes new investment in supports for children and families following the Commonwealth’s Thriving Kids announcement.
FPDN has a clear message and an invitation for Minister Butler: “Work with us”
We want the program to succeed. To do that, it must be co-designed, community led and it must protect choice and control for First Nations families. “First Nations families want their kids to thrive, and they want practical support that respects culture and family decision-making,” said Tennille Lamb, FPDN Director of Policy and Strategy. “We are ready to partner with government, so Thriving Kids adds help where it is missing rather than taking rights away.”
What has changed and why it matters
The Australian Government has proposed a $2 billion program to provide supports outside the NDIS for children with mild to moderate developmental needs, with states and territories expected to match the funding and implementation to begin from mid next year. Several premiers have said they were surprised by the announcement and want detail before committing. The Treasurer has linked state agreement on Thriving Kids to the broader hospital funding deal now being negotiated.
The broader context
The federal debate about “foundational supports” is occurring while progress on Closing the Gap remains off track for most targets and children continue to experience unacceptable inequities. National child and family organisations and Aboriginal community leaders have called for better measurement and accountability on outcomes that matter for children, not only program inputs.
Where FPDN stands
The 2023 NDIS Review recommended building a continuum that includes mainstream services, foundational supports and the NDIS so families get the right help at the right time. We support that vision. The test for Thriving Kids will be whether it strengthens that continuum without forcing families into one-size-fits-all solutions or creating service deserts in regional and remote communities. “Foundational supports should expand options and improve access,” Ms Lamb said. “They must not be used as a shortcut to remove choice or push families into programs that do not fit their child or culture.”
What we heard from the sector and families this week
Coverage across national media and advocacy channels has ranged from cautious support to concern about rushed timelines, loss of individualised supports, and the risk of cost-shifting onto families, particularly mothers who already shoulder most unpaid care. States have sought guarantees on funding and detail on how Thriving Kids will integrate with existing services. “Families are asking for certainty,” Ms Lamb said. “We have already had frightened contact about the June 2026 change. That means services must be in place, culturally safe and accessible before any child is moved off the NDIS.”
We’re ready to partner—here’s how
FPDN supports the vision of building better pathways between mainstream services, foundational supports, and the NDIS. But good intentions aren’t enough, First Nations people with disability must be in the rooms where these decisions are made, decisions that directly impact the lives of their children.
“Foundational supports should expand options and improve access,” Ms Lamb emphasised. “They must not be used as a shortcut to remove choice or push families into programs that don’t fit their child or culture.”
Five commitments we are seeking to make Thriving Kids work:
- A “no child loses out” guarantee. Children keep current NDIS supports until alternative services are operating in their community, independently verified for quality and cultural safety. “Build first, transition later,” Ms Lamb said.
- First Nations co-design and leadership. Ring-fence funding for Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) to design, deliver and evaluate Thriving Kids supports, consistent with Closing the Gap Priority Reforms. Joint governance with peak First Nations bodies should be embedded from day one.
- Choice and control protected in practice. Foundational supports must add options, not replace rights. Where clinically indicated or due to complex family circumstances, individualised packages should remain available. Navigation support must be funded so families can choose culturally safe providers.
- A credible workforce transition plan. Stabilise local allied health and family support services, with targeted measures for regional and remote communities, and for women-led practices that predominantly support neurodivergent children. Avoid sudden funding shocks that break therapeutic relationships.
- Transparency and accountability. Publish a national implementation timeline, state and territory co-funding arrangements, coverage maps, and quarterly dashboards showing outcomes by Indigeneity, region and gender, aligned to Closing the Gap reporting.
Our immediate follow-up actions and formal requests to Minister Butler
FPDN is writing to Minister Butler today to invite a collaborative partnership and to request the following actions:
- Co-design arrangement. Establish a formal partnership with FPDN and peak First Nations child and family bodies to co-design Thriving Kids for First Nations children.
- “No gap” protocol. Issue a written protocol with the states that no child is transitioned from an NDIS plan until agreed services are in place locally, including culturally safe referral and navigation pathways.
- Workforce continuity fund. Create a time-limited fund to prevent service exits during transition, prioritising providers serving First Nations families and thin markets.
- Data and evaluation. Co-develop a First Nations outcomes framework for Thriving Kids that measures what matters for children and families, integrates Closing the Gap targets and reports publicly every quarter.
- Joined-up platforms. Align Thriving Kids with Connected Beginnings and other early years initiatives so families have one door access, and culturally strong help close to home.
- State partnership clarity. Publish the Commonwealth–state funding and governance arrangements, including any linkages to hospital funding negotiations, to give families confidence.
The Bottom Line
This is about being effective and ensuring our kids receive the best possible supports that specific to their needs.
“We support reform that strengthens the NDIS by building the services around it,” Ms Lamb concluded. “Thriving Kids can succeed if it’s co-designed with First Nations families, led by our community-controlled sector, and if government keeps its promise that no child will be worse off.”
About First Peoples Disability Network
FPDN is the national peak organisation led by and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with disability. We advocate for the human rights of 60,000+ First Nations people with disability and their families and work to ensure policies, programs and services are culturally safe, accessible and anchored in self-determination.
FPDN’s Director of Policy and Strategy Tennille Lamb is available for further comment and interviews.
For all media enquires please contact:
FPDN Media Team
Email: [email protected] or Mobile: 0429 291 730
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