Lasting Connection
Understanding Thriving Kids:
A Practical Guide for Support Coordinators and Providers
Intro
Thriving Kids is a new early childhood support model focused on helping children aged 8 and under with developmental delay and/or autism, particularly those with low-to-moderate support needs, access support earlier. The proposed model indicates families may not need a formal diagnosis to access some supports, with a ‘no wrong door’ approach (details still being finalised) and strongly favours practical, family-centred supports delivered in the places children live, learn and play.
This creates an important opportunity to better understand how families may access early guidance, parenting supports, targeted intervention, and coordinated care before needs escalate.
We aim to provide clear, practical education to help understand emerging pathways and feel confident discussing early intervention options.
Is it Real?
Actually, not right now. It is launching (or planned to launch) in October 2026. The final model and engagement are yet to be finalised, but there is enough information to start preparing and gaining a high-level understanding.
What is Thriving Kids?
Thriving Kids is designed to support younger children and their families through earlier access to practical help, guidance, and targeted supports. It is intended to improve access to:
- Information, advice, and navigation
- Universal parenting supports
- Targeted supports for families needing more than general parenting help
- Support delivered in natural environments such as home, childcare, kindi, school, and community settings
Thriving Kids and the NDIS
Thriving Kids is intended to provide supports outside the NDIS for children with low–moderate support needs. Children with permanent and significant disability / higher support needs are expected to remain eligible for the NDIS (subject to usual arrangements). Governments have indicated NDIS access settings for some children may change from 1 January 2028.
Children with higher support needs are expected to remain within the NDIS, while Thriving Kids is aimed at children with low-to-moderate support needs who may benefit from earlier, shorter-term, practical support.
Our Early Intervention services are designed to provide early guidance, parent support, and short-term goal-focused intervention, rather than open-ended long-term care.
What We Know
Thriving Kids is expected to be fully rolled out by 1 Jan 2028 and that NDIS access changes are flagged for 1 Jan 2028.
What will The Barna Co Offer?
We will release key programs and packages focused on building traction early through practical, family-friendly supports:
- Early identification and guidance
- Developmental concern screening
- Parent coaching and capacity building
- Free guidance and navigation resources
- Short, goal-focused intervention blocks
- Support in natural settings
What does our support look like in practice
We aim to continue to try to provide free online resources to help provide self-education and guidance, but we know this isn’t always enough for concerned parents. So we offer a consultation to discuss in a non-judgmental session. Our program has been developed by parents, and so we know sometimes it’s hard to know who to ask and where to ask. We aim to provide support and guidance on next steps, including referrals to GPs, paediatricians, community supports, or the NDIS where relevant
Our thriving kids programs are designed for families, schools, child care services, and community groups. Providing programs either in a one on one support or group lead service.
Look out for more free resources from our experienced team:
- helping to understand and identify developmental concerns
- support materials for communication, routines, regulation, play, and participation
- guidance on next steps, including referrals to GPs, paediatricians, community supports, or the NDIS where relevant
Our disciplines
Our services may include:
- Speech Pathology – communication, social communication, feeding, visual supports, and parent coaching
- Occupational Therapy – regulation, routines, sensory needs, play, participation, and transitions
- Psychology – emotional regulation, parent coaching, adjustment, and family wellbeing
Our thriving kids approach
We believe families benefit most from:
One plan, one lead contact, and one set of shared goals.
Our focus is on reducing overwhelm, improving clarity, and helping families move forward with confidence.
Stay up to Date
Want more content like this? Register for The Barna Brief, our monthly email with availabilities, updates and practical tools or browse our other articles and references to keep building your understanding.
References and Further Reading
In the April 2026 edition of The Barna Brief, we discuss the NDIS pace plan changes and implications it has on planning budget and supports. Remember to try your hand at our cognitive corner and submit any questions you have to the 'Ask a Barnacle" section.
Struggling with new NDIS funding periods? Learn how budgets, components and instalments work — with practical examples for support coordinators.
Lasting Connection The Barna Brief – March 2026 Current Availability Behaviour Support Two experienced BSPs accepting new referrals Speech Pathology Immediate availability …
Is your child on track with their speech, language, play, and everyday activities?