Last updated: 1 July 2026
Ensuring access for our ‘Thriving Kids’
Thriving Kids is a major national reform designed to reduce reliance on the NDIS by establishing a new system of foundational supports for children 0-8 with mild to moderate developmental needs. These supports will be delivered primarily through state and territory services.
Early access to physiotherapy will be critical to the program’s success.
Paediatric physiotherapy can identify and respond to developmental concerns where children live, learn and play before a formal diagnosis is made. Early physiotherapy intervention can improve movement, participation, school readiness and long-term outcomes.
Physiotherapists also work with families and carers, focusing on practical strategies, everyday activities and changes to a child’s environment. This can reduce the need for more intensive and costly support later, easing pressure on the NDIS and health care systems.
The APA believes every child should have timely and equitable access to early physiotherapy assessment and intervention, regardless of where they live.
What a successful Thriving Kids program must include
A successful program must:
- embed physiotherapy in services that support children’s function, participation and development
- prioritise early identification and intervention, particularly in the first 1000 days of a child’s life
- use mixed commissioning models that include private practice
- introduce new Medicare or other funding items to improve access to affordable physiotherapy services.
Download Thriving Kids Fact Sheet
Implementation – State of Play
All jurisdictions have signed the Heads of Agreement on the National Health Reform Agreement, NDIS reforms and Foundational Supports. This signals a shared commitment to progressing the reform.
The first phase of implementation is occurring through Thriving Kids. Bilateral agreements will support services for children aged eight years and under with developmental delay and/or autism, and their families.
Procurement and implementation are underway across several jurisdictions, with the first services expected to commence from October 2026.
Bilateral agreements have been executed with:
- New South Wales
- Victoria
- South Australia
- Western Australia
- Tasmania
- the Australian Capital Territory
- the Northern Territory.
Queensland is the only jurisdiction without a published bilateral agreement. The Queensland Department of Families, Seniors, Disability Services and Child Safety has advised the APA that it is working with the Commonwealth to finalise an agreement.
The APA continues to monitor implementation across Australia and advocate for physiotherapy to be embedded within emerging service models.
The APA’s national position
The APA is advocating for physiotherapy to be recognised and embedded in Thriving Kids services across Australia.
A coordinated national advocacy program is underway. The APA has written to ministers in every state and territory and is engaging with government departments and implementation stakeholders.
Advocacy is being tailored to each jurisdiction's stage of implementation.
In New South Wales, where implementation is most advanced, the APA has launched a targeted government relations campaign. This work is focused on ensuring physiotherapy is reflected in service design, commissioning and delivery arrangements.
The APA is engaging with governments early because service settings and workforce arrangements are often established before procurement begins. The experience in New South Wales has reinforced the importance of influencing service models before commissioning decisions are finalised.
To support this work, APA has established an expert advisory group of physiotherapists with experience in paediatric practice, disability and early intervention. The group is available to support governments as they design and implement Thriving Kids services.
The APA's focus is to ensure children and families can access timely paediatric physiotherapy through service models that:
- recognise physiotherapists as essential members of multidisciplinary teams
- support the profession to work to its full scope of practice
- improve access, participation and long-term outcomes for children and families.
How the APA is influencing implementation
Thriving Kids implementation is progressing at different stages across Australia. The APA is engaging with governments and implementation teams to ensure physiotherapy is included in service design, commissioning and delivery.
Implementation advanced
New South Wales is the most advanced jurisdiction, with procurement underway through the NSW Thriving Kids model.
The initial expression of interest is the first major implementation step. However, it uses a relatively narrow commissioning approach, and it is not yet clear how paediatric physiotherapy and other allied health services will be included in future delivery models.
Lead agency: Department of Communities and Justice, reflecting a disability and community services-led approach.
APA activity
Since May 2026, the APA has been running a targeted government relations campaign to ensure paediatric physiotherapy is recognised and embedded in the NSW model.
The APA is engaging directly with ministers, government officials and implementation leads.
Key priorities
- access to paediatric physiotherapy
- recognition of physiotherapy within multidisciplinary care
- future procurement and commissioning decisions.
Agreement pending
Queensland has signed the national Heads of Agreement but does not yet have a published Thriving Kids bilateral agreement with the Commonwealth.
The state is also progressing its own early childhood and developmental reforms through recent budget investments. It remains unclear how these initiatives will align with national Foundational Supports reforms.
Lead agency: Department of Families, Seniors, Disability Services and Child Safety, reflecting a disability and community services-led approach.
APA activity
As at July 2026, the APA has begun engaging with key stakeholders and is monitoring opportunities to influence future service models and implementation arrangements.
Key priorities
- alignment with national Foundational Supports reforms
- opportunities to include paediatric physiotherapy in new child development initiatives
- future implementation and funding arrangements.
The APA will begin a targeted advocacy campaign as Queensland’s implementation plans become clearer. Members will be invited to participate as opportunities arise.
Implementation planning underway
Victoria has signed a Thriving Kids bilateral agreement and is actively planning its implementation.
Work is underway to develop the service model and delivery arrangements, providing an important opportunity to influence how paediatric physiotherapy is included in future pathways.
Lead agency: Victorian Department of Education, which is leading service design and implementation planning.
APA activity
Since May 2026, the APA has been engaging directly with the Victorian implementation team about the Thriving Kids model and the role of physiotherapy.
Physiotherapy representatives will continue working with the department to inform service design and implementation.
Key priorities
- recognition of paediatric physiotherapy within future services
- service design before procurement and commissioning
- integration with existing child and family services.
A Victorian advocacy program is underway. Members will be informed about opportunities to contribute clinical expertise and participate in consultations.
Early implementation stage
South Australia has signed a Thriving Kids bilateral agreement with the Commonwealth. Limited public information is currently available about service design, implementation or future commissioning.
Lead agency: Department of Human Services, through the disability and community services portfolio.
APA activity
Since June 2026, the APA has written to relevant ministers and is seeking opportunities to engage with government and implementation stakeholders.
Key priorities
- implementation and procurement timeframes
- the role of paediatric physiotherapy in future services
- opportunities to influence service design.
Members will be informed about opportunities to contribute expertise and support advocacy as implementation progresses.
Early implementation stage
Western Australia has signed a Thriving Kids bilateral agreement with the Commonwealth. Limited public information is currently available about delivery models, implementation arrangements or procurement.
Lead agency: Department of Communities, through Western Australia’s community services and disability reform structures.
APA activity
Since June 2026, the APA has written to relevant ministers and is monitoring opportunities to engage with government and implementation stakeholders.
Members of the APA Thriving Kids Expert Advisory Group have also participated in consultations in Perth.
Key priorities
- implementation and procurement timeframes
- the role of paediatric physiotherapy in future services
- opportunities to influence service design.
Members will be informed about opportunities to contribute expertise and support advocacy as implementation progresses.
Early implementation stage
Tasmania has signed a Thriving Kids bilateral agreement with the Commonwealth. Limited public information is currently available about implementation arrangements or future service design.
Lead agency: Department for Education, Children and Young People, reflecting an early years, child development and family support approach.
APA activity
Since June 2026, the APA has written to relevant ministers and has met with the department to discuss Thriving Kids implementation.
The APA continues to engage with the department as planning progresses.
Key priorities
- implementation and procurement timeframes
- the role of paediatric physiotherapy in future services
- opportunities to influence service design.
Members will be informed about opportunities to contribute expertise and support advocacy as implementation progresses.
Early implementation stage
The Australian Capital Territory has signed a Thriving Kids bilateral agreement with the Commonwealth. Further information about implementation and future service pathways is yet to be made public.
Lead agency: ACT Health and Community Services Directorate, through its child development, disability and community health responsibilities.
APA activity
Since June 2026, the APA has written to relevant ministers and is monitoring opportunities to engage with government and implementation stakeholders.
Key priorities
- implementation and procurement timeframes
- the role of paediatric physiotherapy in future services
- opportunities to influence service design.
Members will be informed about opportunities to contribute expertise and support advocacy as implementation progresses.
Early implementation stage
The Northern Territory has signed a Thriving Kids bilateral agreement with the Commonwealth. Public information about implementation remains limited, with governance and service delivery arrangements still emerging.
Lead agency: The responsible department is coordinating public information about Thriving Kids while broader implementation arrangements are developed.
APA activity
Since June 2026, the APA has written to relevant ministers and is monitoring opportunities to engage with government and implementation stakeholders.
Key priorities
- implementation and procurement timeframes
- the role of paediatric physiotherapy in future services
- opportunities to influence service design.
Members will be informed about opportunities to contribute expertise and support advocacy as implementation progresses.
Contact us
Have a case study or insights to share on your experience ahead of the Thriving Kids rollout?
Email the APA Media and Public Relations team at media@australian.physio.
Member experiences continue to inform and strengthen this work.