The Australian Federation of Disability Organisations (AFDO) welcomes the intent and increased clarity announced today by National Cabinet on disability support reform, but families and people with disability need assurance that no one will lose support before new arrangements are fully operational, accessible and affordable.
National Cabinet confirmed $2 billion in funding for Thriving Kids, matched by states and territories, with rollout from 1 October 2026 and full implementation by 1 January 2028. The Prime Minister also stated that children with permanent and significant disability, including those with high support needs, will remain eligible for the NDIS.
National Cabinet also announced further measures aimed at moderating NDIS cost growth and changing state and territory funding contribution arrangements over coming years.
AFDO President, Grant Lindsay said: “This commitment is significant, but families need confidence that investment will translate into real, accessible supports on the ground.”
“People with disability and our representative organisations must be central to the design and delivery of Thriving Kids and any broader NDIS reforms.”
AFDO Chief Executive Officer Ross Joyce added: “Clearer timeframes that allow time to work with us on the initiative are welcome, but no child should lose access to vital supports until Thriving Kids is fully established, locally available, and backed by a capable workforce.”
“At the same time, reforms to funding and growth targets for the NDIS must not come at the expense of participants’ rights, access, or the quality of supports people rely on every day.”
AFDO’s Thriving Kids submission highlighted the need for:
- Clear, nationally consistent eligibility definitions
- Strong protections against new out of pocket costs
- Transition safeguards tied to service readiness
- Formal co design and governance roles for people with disability
- Equity measures for rural, regional and remote communities
AFDO notes the community continues to support early intervention and sustainable disability supports, but remains concerned about any approach that shifts children away from the NDIS or constrains access before alternative supports are fully in place.
AFDO will continue working with governments to ensure Thriving Kids and NDIS reforms are genuinely disability inclusive and deliver certainty for children with disability, NDIS participants, and their families.
ENDS
For media inquiries, please contact:
Ross Joyce, CEO – AFDO
mobile: 0402 842 040 (text preferred to connect) or email: ceo@afdo.org.au
About AFDO
For over twenty years, the Australian Federation of Disability Organisations (AFDO), a Disabled Peoples Organisation (DPO), is the pre-eminent national peak in the disability sector, along with its disability-specific and population or cross-disability members, representing people with disability with a total reach of over 4.5 million Australians.
AFDO continues to provide a strong, trusted, independent voice for the disability sector on national policy, inquiries, submissions, systemic advocacy and advisory on government initiatives with the Federal and State/Territory governments.
We work to develop a community where all people with disability can participate in all aspects of social, economic, political, and cultural life.
This includes genuine participation in mainstream community life, the development of respectful and valued relationships, social and economic participation, and the opportunity to contribute as valued citizens.
AFDO’s Full & Associate member organisations:
| Advocacy for Inclusion Inc. – ACT | Blind Citizens Australia |
| Autism Aspergers Advocacy Australia | Deaf Australia |
| Brain Injury Australia | Deafness Forum Australia |
| Deafblind Australia | Disability Justice Australia |
| Australian Multicultural Action Network | Physical Disability Australia |
| Disability Resources Centre – Vic | Polio Australia |
| Enhanced Lifestyles – SA | South West Autism Network – WA |
| People With Disabilities WA | Women With Disabilities ACT |
| Post Polio Victoria | AMAZE – Vic |
| Women with Disabilities Victoria | Aspergers Victoria |
| National Mental Health Consumer & Carer Forum | Bus Stop Films Ltd – Aust |
| Advocacy WA | Disability Voices Tasmania |
| AED Legal Centre – Vic | Integrated disAbility Action – NT |
| Arts Access Victoria | Lived Experience Australia |
| Disability Advocacy & Complaints Service – SA | Multiple Sclerosis Australia |
| Leadership Plus – Vic | National Union of Students – Disabilities Dept.
|
| National Organisation for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder | Star Victoria Inc |
| Parkinsons Australia | Tourettes Syndrome Assoc. of Australia |
|
Settlement Services International – Aust |
Youth Disability Advocacy Service – Vic |
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