Victoria: Thriving Kids program to offer autism, developmental delay screenings as state’s NDIS alternative
A state-run NDIS replacement scheme for children with autism and developmental delays is preparing to launch.
A state-run NDIS replacement scheme for children with autism and developmental delays will offer screenings for three and four year olds.
Victoria’s Thriving Kids program will include two extra tests for children from October when it launches, the state government announced on Thursday.
One will be conducted before kindergarten and another before school, with clinicians and allied health professionals identifying development delays and connecting families with support.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.The assessments will be stacked on top of an existing 10 key ages and stages visits from when a child is born to the age of about three and a half.
“This is both assessment and early intervention at the earliest possible opportunity... so that kids get to prep ready to start on their education and school journey,” Children Minister Lizzie Blandthorn told reporters.
Parents will also be able to access a digital version of the “green book”, used to track their child’s milestones, health, growth, development and immunisations.
Children with autism are among about 160,000 people set to be shunted from the NDIS under federal minister Mark Butler’s major overhaul to rein in ballooning spending.
Governments jointly committed $10 billion over five years to fund supports outside the NDIS, including $4 billion for Thriving Kids.
Victoria has committed $514 million to its state-led program under a $874.3 million agreement with the federal government.
The program for children aged eight and under with autism or developmental delay with low to moderate support needs is expected to be fully rolled out nationwide by 2028.
Those with high support needs remain eligible for the NDIS.
It comes after the Victorian coalition, in an election pledge on Wednesday, promised to place occupational therapists and speech pathologists in prep classrooms across the state from term one in 2028.
Under the proposal, contracted allied health professionals would observe students, identify potential developmental issues and provide advice to parents.
Students needing a further specialist appointment would be able to claim a $500 subsidy.
More than 1.1 million Australian school students received an educational adjustment due to disability in 2025, representing 27 per cent of total enrolments.
Of those, 53 per cent had a cognitive disability and 36.3 per cent had a social-emotional disability.
