What is Thriving Kids?
Thriving Kids is an initiative that will provide information, services and supports for children aged 0–8 years with developmental delay and/or autism with low to moderate support needs, as well as their families, carers and kin.
The initiative represents a shift towards more accessible, community-based and family-centred supports and access not dependent on a diagnosis.
Thriving Kids will start progressive roll out in Western Australia between 1 October 2026 and 1 January 2028. Thriving Kids will complement existing supports across health, education and the NDIS, ensuring children and families continue to receive connected and coordinated services during the transition period.
Sector engagement
An online sector briefing was held on 7 May 2026 to provide non-government organisations with an opportunity to connect with the Department of Communities (Communities) and gain an insight into the next steps.
Sector organisations were invited to register their interest in participating in a six-week engagement program, with Expressions of Interest closing on Friday 5 June.
Communities will now host a series of online and in-person events in metropolitan and regional areas to:
- gather sector insights to inform the service design and delivery approach for Thriving Kids supports
- understand sector preparedness, capability and capacity, including workforce considerations, service gaps and operational needs
- ensure the model is designed to meet the needs of children, families and communities across WA, including in priority groups and locations.
Planned sessions
- Monday 15 June - Bunbury
- Tuesday 16 June - Geraldton
- Monday 22 June - Perth
- Tuesday 23 June - Perth
- Wednesday 24 June - online
What are the next steps?
Communities has engaged an independent consultant to partner in undertaking this consultation process. These consultation findings, along with the market sounding survey and additional community consultations will inform implementation planning for Thriving Kids supports ahead of rollout from 1 October 2026.
We look forward to working with the sector to ensure Thriving Kids is designed and delivered in a way that reflects the strengths, needs and diversity of WA communities.
More information
For more information or any queries about the Thriving Kids consultations, please email FoundationalSupportsWA@communities.wa.gov.au.
Online sector briefing - May 2026
An online briefing was held on Thursday 7 May 2026. This was the first in a series of targeted Thriving Kids consultations with Western Australian non-government organisations to further inform service design and understand sector preparedness.
The briefing covered the WA Government’s investment in Thriving Kids, the national model, service principles and WA streams and phasing approach. You can download a transcript of the briefing (PDF, 399KB).
This briefing builds on earlier Foundational Supports consultations and the recently released survey inviting organisations to share their insights and experiences to help build a clearer picture of programs and services across WA for children and families who will be supported by Thriving Kids in the future.
We encourage organisations to participate in this ongoing consultation to help shape Thriving Kids.
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