NDIS changes and foundational supports: what they mean for children
Published · Checked against official sources
As at 24 October 2026, some NDIS changes are already in effect, but changes to who can access the NDIS are not due to start until 1 January 2028. Foundational supports are supports outside the NDIS. Thriving Kids, for children aged 8 and under with developmental delay and/or autism and low to moderate support needs, is the first phase and began rolling out in October 2026.
The short version: the NDIS laws were changed in August 2026, and the Australian Government says some changes are in effect now while others are scheduled for 2027 and 2028. The government pages say there are no changes to how people access the NDIS until 1 January 2028. For children aged 8 and under with developmental delay and/or autism, the planned access changes depend on the child’s level of support needs, and some details are still being designed. This article separates what the official pages confirm is in place now from what is planned, and it will go out of date, so use the links at the end to check.
What are foundational supports?
The Australian Government describes foundational supports as supports in the community for people with disability that sit outside the NDIS. Governments have agreed to deliver them together, with $10 billion in joint funding over 5 years.
The government pages describe two kinds:
- General supports: for example, evidence-based information, help to build skills and confidence, peer and community connections, and help to find other supports.
- Targeted supports: for people who have extra support needs but do not need the NDIS.
Thriving Kids is described as the first phase of foundational supports, and $4 billion of the $10 billion has been committed to it. The government says it will keep working together on future phases, which are not covered here.
What is Thriving Kids, and what is available now?
Thriving Kids is an approach to early intervention for children aged 8 and under with developmental delay and/or autism with low to moderate support needs, and for their families. The pages say it started in October 2026, will grow over time, and that all supports will be available by 1 January 2028.
The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing lists these as available from October 2026:
- the Thriving Kids website
- the Thriving Kids Information and Resource Hub, delivered by the Raising Children Network
- a national phone line on 1800 882 436, where families can speak with a maternal and child health nurse about development and behaviour for children aged 8 and under (7am to midnight, 7 days a week)
- the Thriving Kids Autism Helpline on 1300 654 789, for families with children aged 0 to 8 who may be on a journey to an autism diagnosis or have one (8am to 7pm, 5 days a week)
State and territory governments are delivering a mix of new and existing services, so what is available depends on where you live.
What NDIS changes are already in effect?
The NDIS Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 passed Parliament on 19 August 2026 and received Royal Assent on 20 August. The government pages say these are already in effect:
- Tighter rules for asking for an early plan reassessment (from 27 August 2026). Only the participant, their plan nominee or child representative can ask, and only when there has been a significant and ongoing change. The NDIA has 90 days to decide.
- A new way pricing is decided. The Minister for Disability and the NDIS now makes the pricing determination, and the NDIS has published a 2026-27 pricing schedule effective 24 September 2026.
- A funding reset in some plans, starting 1 October 2026. Budgets for social, economic and community participation supports (50 per cent) and improved daily living skills supports (10 per cent) are reduced as plans are created, reassessed or renewed over 12 months. Some supports are excluded, and participants can keep using their current plan until it is reassessed or renewed. The Department notes the reset won’t necessarily mean a 50 or 10 per cent drop in what you spend, because many families don’t use all of those budgets.
- A new plan variation pathway (from 1 October 2026) for participants with high support needs who need 24-hour disability support.
- A new definition of NDIS supports. The NDIS says this makes it easier to understand what it can and can’t fund. It publishes a list of supports that are NDIS supports (37 categories) and a list of supports that are not.
- Funding periods in new and reassessed plans.
What is planned but not in place yet?
The official pages and the government’s September 2026 timeline list these as scheduled. The timeline says it will be updated as further dates are confirmed.
| Date | What the official pages say is planned |
|---|---|
| November 2026 | A Medicare Healthy Kids Check for 3-year-olds is added to the Medicare Benefits Schedule. |
| 1 December 2026 | The time to make a claim for supports is reduced from 2 years to 90 days. |
| 1 February 2027 | Plan rollovers change: when a plan reaches its reassessment date, a renewed plan is created and unspent funds are not carried over. The funding reset also begins to apply to plan renewals. |
| 1 April 2027 | Participants start to transition to new framework planning, with a support needs assessment. |
| Mid 2027 | Medicare Thriving Kids is available, offering information, advice and navigation by phone and video call. |
| 1 July 2027 | Expanded mandatory registration for providers of higher risk supports, such as personal care and daily living supports, begins to roll out. |
| 1 October 2027 | A panel of plan management providers begins, with a 6-month transition period. |
| 1 January 2028 | Access changes begin for new applicants, and Thriving Kids services are fully operational nationally. |
| 1 July 2028 | A new support coordination and connection function begins. |
What is still being designed?
Some of the changes above do not yet have full details on the official pages:
- New framework planning. The NDIS says support needs assessments are being developed with the University of Melbourne and the Centre for Disability Studies, and that more information will be available before implementation. Consultation on updated planning rules was scheduled to conclude on 14 October 2026.
- The new access assessment. The Department says a Technical Advisory Group will advise on thresholds and assessments for functional capacity. Consultation on the new eligibility assessment process was scheduled to run from 31 August to 2 October 2026.
- Thriving Kids and the law. The Department says it is still working on the design and details of Thriving Kids with states and territories before making any changes to the laws.
What does this mean for access to the NDIS?
The pages say people will keep applying to the NDIS the same way until 1 January 2028. From that date, the planned changes for children are:
- Children aged 8 and under with developmental delay and/or autism and low to moderate support needs will be supported by Thriving Kids instead of the NDIS.
- Children with permanent and significant disability, and children aged 8 and under with developmental delay and/or autism who have substantially reduced functional capacity (high support needs), will remain eligible for the NDIS under usual arrangements.
- Children aged 8 and under already in the NDIS before 1 January 2028 will continue to be reassessed under the criteria in place before that date. Once they turn 9, they will be reassessed under the new criteria.
If you are unsure what applies to your child, contact the NDIA or ask your child’s treating professionals.
Where can I check for updates?
- The NDIS “Securing the NDIS for future generations” page lists what is in effect and what is coming.
- The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing publishes the reform timeline and the Thriving Kids pages.
- The NDIA says it will let participants and providers know before changes happen, through its website and newsletters.
Free tools to help
- Funding Finder: a free guide to the payments and supports many families ask about, including NDIS.
Official sources
- Department of Social Services: Foundational supports for people with disability (1 October 2026)
- Department of Health, Disability and Ageing: About Thriving Kids (1 October 2026)
- Department of Health, Disability and Ageing: Implementation of Australian Government Thriving Kids supports
- Department of Health, Disability and Ageing: About the changes to the NDIS (2 October 2026)
- Department of Health, Disability and Ageing: Funding changes for NDIS supports (24 September 2026)
- Securing the NDIS for future generations timeline (September 2026)
- NDIS: Securing the NDIS for future generations (current as of 1 October 2026)
- NDIS: New way of planning (current as of 26 August 2026)
- NDIS: What are NDIS supports
- NDIS: Pricing arrangements (current as of 24 September 2026)
This article is general information. It isn’t medical, legal, financial or NDIS eligibility advice. Every child’s circumstances are different, and government programs and requirements can change. Check the official sources above before you apply.