7am ‘Thriving Kids’ and the plan to shrink the NDIS
Aug 27, 2025
Rick Morton, a senior reporter for The Saturday Paper and author, sheds light on the controversial 'Thriving Kids' initiative by the Australian government. He discusses how the plan aims to shift children with mild to moderate autism off the NDIS, raising concerns about the criteria for classification. Morton explores the implications of this policy on service quality and funding, as well as the erosion of trust in the NDIS. He emphasizes the critical role of early intervention and the nuances of disability funding in Australia.
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Plan To Divert Some Children From NDIS
- The government wants to divert children with mild-to-moderate autism and developmental delay out of the NDIS to protect the scheme's sustainability.
- Defining 'mild' and 'moderate' is controversial and will determine who loses individualized NDIS supports.
Claims Of Over-Servicing Are Unclear
- Mark Butler claims many children are being "over-serviced" under the NDIS, implying therapy intensity exceeds clinical norms.
- Rick Morton says evidence for over-servicing is unclear and improved outcomes reported by the NDIS complicate that claim.
Mainstream Supports Were Defunded
- Early NDIS arrangements led states to close many mainstream services and roll supports into the scheme, leaving few alternative services for families.
- That historic policy choice made the NDIS the "only port in the storm" for many children with developmental needs.