Thriving Kids in Newcastle and the Hunter: What to Expect
Published 22 July 2026 · Reviewed 15 September 2026 · Dr Robert Parry, MBBS FRACP, Paediatrician · reviewed quarterly, next review due December 2026
Thriving Kids is a national programme, but how it reaches your family depends on where you live. Here's what's known so far for families across Newcastle and the Hunter, and what to do in the meantime.
General information, current as at September 2026. NSW timing is now published and is set out below. Hunter-specific detail, including which local organisations will deliver services, is still to come.
When it starts here
This has become much clearer. When we first wrote this page, no state had published its own timing. NSW has now done so.
In NSW, the rollout happens in two stages, and they are different things. From October 2026, general supports begin: peer support programs for parents, and supported playgroups for children aged 5 and under, provided by non-government organisations in your local community. From January 2027, targeted supports begin: goal-focused help for children who need extra support for a period of time, including allied health therapies delivered by qualified clinicians, individually or in small play-based groups. Access to targeted supports is 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 separate change to NDIS access for younger children still takes effect from 1 January 2028.
What is still not published is Hunter-specific detail: NSW describes services as arriving "across NSW" and "in your local community", but has not named which organisations will deliver them here, or in what order suburbs and towns are reached. We will update this page when that is published.
How it will be delivered in NSW
Under Thriving Kids, states and territories deliver general parenting supports, local information and navigation, and targeted allied health supports, while the Commonwealth runs national information, phone advice, and workforce initiatives. In NSW, the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) leads the rollout.
General supports will be provided by non-government organisations in local communities. Targeted supports will be delivered by non-government organisations commissioned by DCJ, and directly by NSW Government agencies in some locations, with access through a central intake process managed by DCJ. Which organisations will hold those contracts in the Hunter has not been published.
Hunter Children's Clinics is not a Thriving Kids provider, and we cannot refer your child into the programme. What we can do is assess your child and help you understand their needs, whichever pathway they end up using. Read our guide to what foundational supports are for more on what this looks like in practice.
What it means for Hunter families
The everyday advice doesn't change: if you have concerns about your child's development, seek help early. Whatever pathway your child eventually uses, a clear understanding of their needs is valuable, for their early years and for starting school.
Our clinics in Merewether and Carrington provide paediatric and developmental assessments and ongoing care for children across the Hunter. If you're unsure what these changes mean for your family, we can help you understand your child's needs and the options available. See our autism assessment page.
Book an assessment or contact our Newcastle team on 02 4072 1877. Start with 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
When does Thriving Kids start in the Hunter?
NSW has published its timing. General supports, meaning parent peer support programs and supported playgroups for children aged 5 and under, begin from October 2026. Targeted supports, including allied health therapy, begin from January 2027, with access through a central intake process managed by the NSW Department of Communities and Justice. More services continue to become available across NSW through 2027. Hunter-specific detail, including which local organisations will deliver services, has not yet been published. The separate NDIS access change takes effect from 1 January 2028.
Who delivers Thriving Kids in NSW?
The NSW Department of Communities and Justice leads the rollout. General supports are provided by non-government organisations in local communities. Targeted supports are delivered by non-government organisations commissioned by DCJ, and directly by NSW Government agencies in some locations, with access through a central intake process managed by DCJ. Hunter Children’s Clinics is not a Thriving Kids provider and cannot refer children into the programme.
