DISABILITY Representative Organisations (DROs) have cautiously welcomed the Federal, State, and Territory Governments’ recent agreement on hospital funding and disability supports, including the high-profile Thriving Kids initiative.
However, the organisations warn that the critical challenge lies not in a single program, but in delivering a nationally consistent Foundational Supports system that works alongside the NDIS to meet the needs of people with disability across the country.
Concerns remain about transparency and national consistency.
National Cabinet has agreed for Thriving Kids to be fully operational by January 2028, with $2 billion contributed by the Commonwealth, matched by states and territories. DROs note that without publicly available implementation plans, clear national standards, and reporting on progress over the next two years, families will continue to face uncertainty about what supports will be available – and when.
The organisations also highlight the need for coordinated integration with the NDIS and broader Foundational Supports. Families, children, and people with disability must be able to navigate clear pathways as their needs change over time. Without robust intergovernmental agreements, minimum service standards, and transparent governance, DROs warn that support systems risk fragmentation and postcode-based inequities.
Safeguarding and crisis response are also critical. DROs call for national mechanisms that ensure people experiencing acute stress or system breakdown can access timely, wraparound support across health, mental health, and community services.
They emphasise that communities experiencing intersecting disadvantage –including language barriers, cultural differences, remote locations, and specific disability needs – are vulnerable during system transitions.
DROs urge targeted investment, training, role clarity, and support for workers, especially in regional, remote, and culturally diverse communities.
Training must build capability to deliver disability- affirming support, embrace neurodiversity, and respond effectively to intersecting identities.
Finally, DROs call for accessible, strengths-based communications that reflect lived experience, align with the National Autism Strategy, and move away from deficit-focused narratives.
