'A bit 1980s': Autism advocate says new program mostly a phone line so far

The ACT government says children under the age of nine will not yet be removed from the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) as it begins to roll out the Thriving Kids program.

A federal government initiative, Thriving Kids was announced as a way to better support children experiencing developmental delays.

Today, ACT Disability, Autism and Neurodiversity Minister Suzanne Orr announced Thriving Kids would begin to operate in the ACT from October 1, ahead of its official start date in January 2028.

All states and territories have opted in except for Queensland, but there are concerns it could mean some children will lose vital support.

But Ms Orr stressed that those currently accessing the NDIS would not lose that support.

Thriving Kids offers a phone line for parents or guardians to ring if they have questions about their child's development, regardless of whether they have a diagnosis or not.

"If you have a question on your child's development or delay, if you want to check in with an allied health professional, we will have those supports here,"

Ms Orr said.

'You've got a place to go'

Federal NDIS Minister Mark Butler released the model for Thriving Kids in February as part of a major overhaul of the way disability support is accessed and received in Australia.

Announced without warning last August, it aims to divert children under nine years old with "mild to moderate" developmental delays and autism away from the NDIS.

The first stage of the model centres on identification, where delays or support needs could be identified by a family member, a school or a health professional.

The next stage connects families to the appropriate support, and the later stages focus on providing that care depending on the individual needs of the child.

Some children will fall into categories deemed to be "low", "moderate" or "low to moderate" need.

Children with "significant permanent disability" will remain eligible for the NDIS. 

Those on the scheme before 2028 will stay on it, subject to the usual reassessment criteria.

"The first phase of the rollout will be a scaling up of our existing services, so we'll have more supports there to assist more people in our community and we'll continue to see that build," Ms Orr said today.

"And if you have a concern, if you just have a question, you've got a place to go."

Ms Orr said the program was "not about moving people off the NDIS".

"This is about meeting that unmet need within our community," she said.

"We'll continue to provide those supports and we'll continue to work through what it looks like for access to the NDIS and how Thriving Kids and the NDIS link."

Education Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said the funding would provide a "single point of contact".

"[It's] a clearer pathway for parents, carers and families where they do have concerns about their child's developmental delay or any aspect of their child's development," she said.

'A bit 1980s'

Autism Awareness Australia chief executive Nicole Rogerson told 666 ABC Canberra they still knew little about what the Thriving Kids program would deliver.

"A phone line? Okay, great. It feels a bit 1980s, but sure,"

she said.

"What are the people on the phone line going to tell the parents when they ring?"

Ms Orr said that with early intervention created by Thriving Kids, they would be "getting more people the support they need when they need it, which will actually work in helping to move through the system more seamlessly when you need it as opposed to having to wait".

But Ms Rogerson said with children able to access it without a diagnosis, the service would likely be overwhelmed.

"It's going to capture children with ADHD, children with speech and language delays, it's going to capture children with behavioural issues," she said.

"All I see in the future is wait times.

"And the real reality is that children with autism need quality early intervention."