NDIS Changes for Children: What's Actually Changing, and When
Published 22 July 2026 · Reviewed 15 September 2026 · Dr Robert Parry, MBBS FRACP, Paediatrician · reviewed quarterly, next review due December 2026
If you're a parent, you've probably seen headlines about the NDIS changing and wondered what it means for your child. Here's a calm, plain-English summary of what's changing for children, and the timeline, so you can plan without the worry.
General information, current as at September 2026. NSW has now published its own rollout timing. Some detail is still being confirmed, so always confirm with the official sources below.
The short version
The government is introducing a new programme called Thriving Kids for children aged 8 and under with developmental delay and/or autism who have low to moderate support needs. Over time, this group will be supported through "foundational supports", mainstream and community services, rather than an individual NDIS package. Children with permanent and significant disability, and children aged 8 and under with high support needs, will continue on the NDIS. See our guide to what foundational supports are.
What is changing
The main shift is how younger children with lower support needs are supported. Instead of an NDIS plan being the main door to help, families will be able to access support earlier and more directly through Thriving Kids, and without needing a formal diagnosis first, because access is based on a child's support needs.
What is not changing
Children with permanent and significant disability, and children aged 8 and under with high support needs, keep their NDIS support. If your child is already on the NDIS, they will not be automatically removed; any reassessment for children with low-to-moderate needs is expected to use the eligibility criteria in place before 1 January 2028, not new criteria. And support for ADHD is not part of these changes.
The timeline
The first Thriving Kids services become available from October 2026. In NSW, that first stage is general supports: peer support programs for parents, and supported playgroups for children aged 5 and under, provided by non-government organisations in local communities.
Targeted supports, which is where allied health therapy sits, begin in NSW from January 2027, with access through a central intake process managed by the NSW Department of Communities and Justice. More of both kinds of service continue to become available across NSW through 2027.
The main change to NDIS access for younger children with low-to-moderate needs takes effect from 1 January 2028. There is time to prepare, and support continues throughout.
What to do now
If you have any concerns about your child's development, the best step is the same as it's always been: seek advice early. Understanding your child's strengths and needs helps no matter which pathway they use. See our autism assessment page.
Contact our team on 02 4072 1877 to talk through an assessment for your child. Read the full picture in our guide to Thriving Kids and the NDIS changes.
This article is general information only and is not a substitute for individual medical advice. If you have concerns about your child, please speak with your GP, paediatrician, or our assessment team.
Frequently asked questions
Are the NDIS changes happening now?
Not yet. In NSW, Thriving Kids general supports begin from October 2026 and targeted supports, including allied health therapy, from January 2027. The main change to NDIS access for younger children with low-to-moderate needs applies from 1 January 2028. The rollout is gradual and progressive.
Will my child be taken off the NDIS?
Children already on the NDIS will not be automatically removed. Children with permanent and significant disability, and children aged 8 and under with high support needs, remain eligible under existing arrangements.
