The Advisory Group was co-chaired by Professor Frank Oberklaid, Co-Group Leader, Policy and Equity at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and an Honorary Professor of Paediatrics at the University of Melbourne, and Mark Butler, Minister for Disability and the National Disability Insurance Scheme, and Minister for Health and Ageing.
The Thriving Kids initiative is aimed at children aged eight years and under, with developmental delay and/or autism, with low to moderate support needs. It aims to provide children and their parents with support to thrive and move into school with as much support as possible.
The model of care proposed by the Thriving Kids Advisory Group aims to ensure that children with developmental delay and/or neurodevelopmental differences are identified as early as possible. And, that once a concern is identified, children and families are connected with appropriate support/s in a timely manner, matched to their level of need.
Model of care
The Thriving Kids model of care is based on a foundation of raising awareness and identifying early children with developmental issues, including:
- Providing access to information, advice, and navigation for parents
- Building the skills of parents
- Providing access to targeted supports for children and parents – these supports are intended to be provided by trained workers – usually allied health professionals such as speech pathologists, occupational therapists, and physiotherapists.
The Thriving Kids initiative is modelled on a ‘settings approach’ – that is, it will be offered where families go to get help if their child is developmentally vulnerable – at maternal child and family health centres, playgroups, early childhood education and care settings, schools, and libraries.
The proposed model is derived from the Advisory Committee’s Report on Thriving Kids. The report was written after an extensive consultation process and includes input from a recent Parliamentary Inquiry that was chaired by Dr Mike Freelander, Chair of the Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Disability and former paediatrician. The report can be found here: Thriving Kids Advisory Group Final Report.
When will Thriving Kids be up and running?
The Thriving Kids initiative is intended to be up and running in October this year and be fully established by January 2028. It will be delivered in partnership with the state and territory governments, with the federal government providing an initial $2 billion, to be matched by the state and territory governments.
There are still many details to be worked out – namely what programs the state and territory governments will implement and fund, and how national consistency will be ensured.
Royal Far West is pleased that the Thriving Kids model includes reference to virtual care, as we know that hybrid models are essential in rural and remote communities.
Royal Far West’s response to the Thriving Kids initiative model of care
Children in rural and remote Australia are up to twice as likely to start school developmentally vulnerable compared to city kids. The latest Australian Early Development Census (AEDC) figures show 60 per cent of children in remote areas are not developmentally on track to start school. Emotional maturity vulnerability is also rising, especially in regional areas.
In its submission to the Thriving Kids Parliamentary Inquiry late last year, Royal Far West argued for the prioritisation of developmental screening in the early years; workforce development; and the need for integrated systems between health, education, and child protection services. Royal Far West also indicated the importance of ‘navigator roles’ -allied health professionals who can assist parents and families find the best available services in a complex system – to help their children.
Without timely early intervention, many rural and remote kids face lifelong challenges in education, health, and well-being.
We look forward to more details about the implementation of the Thriving Kids initiative in rural and remote communities and welcome the opportunity to continue to engage with state and federal governments as it progresses.