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Amaze has joined with Different Journeys, Yellow Ladybugs, Autism Valued and I CAN Network to release a joint statement on the Thriving Kids initiative and the transition from the NDIS. As autism community organisations, we believe it is critical that any reform affecting Autistic children is carefully staged and co-designed with the people it impacts most.
We know this period of change is creating uncertainty for many families. Please know that we are working together, sharing information and advocating strongly on your behalf. Below, you can read our joint statement outlining what we are calling for and the safeguards we believe must be in place to protect Autistic children and their supports.
We would like to give you some assurance about the newly released information on the Thriving Kids program.
Since it was announced in August 2025, there has been a lot more community input into Thriving Kids. Our five organisations want to acknowledge the consultation channels the Federal and Victorian Governments have set up and the efforts of our community to represent Autistic children and parents/carers. We welcome the December 2025 report ‘No child left behind’, from the Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Disability, and the report from the Thriving Kids Advisory Group, published in February 2026. We note the National Cabinet has agreed to the final design of Thriving Kids.
Many families and community members have shared that they are worried, confused, or overwhelmed after learning about the types of pathways and supports that will be included in Thriving Kids. While we understand that the intention is to better support Autistic children, we remain concerned about how the program will effectively replace individual supports that families currently access through the NDIS, with universal and place-based supports delivered through Thriving Kids. We are also concerned about what this means for children who currently rely on NDIS services and what it will mean for future NDIS access.
We are calling for the following in the implementation of the Thriving Kids model: clear, accessible information about eligibility; firm assurances that no child will lose NDIS access before Thriving Kids is fully operational; realistic timeframes for rollout; detail on how governments will address workforce shortages, build autism capability and support service navigation; and clarity on how Thriving Kids will fit within a broader Foundational Supports program.
Our five organisations are working together to understand the impact of Thriving Kids and to make sure Autistic children and their families are supported. Together, we will continue to advocate for:
We will continue to work closely with each other, our communities, and both the State and Commonwealth governments. Our goal is clear: to ensure Autistic people are at the centre of every decision about programs that affect their lives.